WHAT SHOULD MY FILM BE ABOUT?

As one of the three pillars of our constitutionally based governmental structure, the federal judiciary of the United States plays a key role in ensuring the continued strength of our system of checks and balances. At the core of the judicial branch is the principle of judicial independence, the understanding that the men and women selected by the president and confirmed by the Senate to interpret and apply the Constitution will not be influenced in their decision-making by political factors or pressures. Increasingly, the federal judiciary has become the object of attention and pressure from political parties, interest groups, and others, who have sought to influence the individuals chosen by the president for the federal bench, the impact that Congress has on the process, and even how judges vote on individual cases. 

Videos can be humorous, dramatic, historic, documentary, or can take other approaches.

CRITERIA

Videos will be judged on:

• Effectiveness at conveying message;
• Originality;
• Relevance;
• Incorporation of the Constitution and constitutional interpretation;
• Consistency with themes in Keeping Faith with the Constitution and the ACS Mission Statement;
• Production technique;
• Memorability. 

RULES

A comprehensive list of rules is available here.

SUBMISSIONS (for help with submissions, please contact videocontest@acslaw.org)

To submit entries:

1. Contestants must submit their video online by creating a free account at YouTube.com and then visiting ACS’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYGb1oInWw.
2. Below the video player there will a button that says "Post a Comment." Click on this button and then a text box will appear that says “Respond to this video." Click the link that says “Attach a Video” to the right of the text box.
3. On the next page, click on “Upload a Video” at the top and follow the onscreen directions to successfully upload your video. 
4. Please include the title of your video and under Tags enter “ACS Video Contest” (without quotes but with the appropriate spaces). Please note: you CANNOT select “private” for your video share settings. It must be set to public in order for you to properly submit your video. 
5. Contestants must also submit an online entry form, available here. Contestants will receive a confirmation email.  Online submissions must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on May 15, 2010.  Contestants may also mail entries to ACSLaw Video Contest, 1333 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Mail entries should be in the form of a CD or DVD disc, with the video in an accessible file format. Mail entries must include a completed contest entry form and must be postmarked by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on May 15, 2010. Mechanically reproduced entries and faxes are prohibited.
6. Any questions on submission should be directed to videocontest@acslaw.org.