From: Brook Hinton (email suppressed)
Date: Tue Jan 20 2009 - 11:36:07 PST
Online submissions make sense only if they are subject to the restrictions,
just like any other submissions are re format etc. Suggestions:
1. Festival specifies the EXACT type of file to accept - resolution, data
rate range, and codec. ((e.g., h.264 as an mp4 or mov, 640x480 (or x 360 for
widescreen), 800k to 1.5m/s. Such files are becoming as universal now as
mp3s.)) No variations accepted.
2. There are plenty of free sites that host online video - the festival
doesn't need their own server and should also not have to download the files
unless they want to. Submitters could be given the option to use something
like blip.tv or their own web site's server, but the options should be
specific and restrictive enough so that there's no question they will work.
3. The submissions should still be watched by the curators/screening
committee together in a room with a good projector, just as the DVDs would
be.
If the maker submits a file in the wrong format, a link to some other host,
whatever, sorry. The same as if they submitted the wrong physical format.
The festival doesn't have to just accept the vast insane range of format
horror possible online - just specify what you can handle and stick to it.
All of this biased by my utter, complete, total hatred of the DVD format
(having nothing to do with any like or dislike of online video).
Roger's point about server storage and greenhouse gases, though, is a valid
and important one. There is a movement to greenify that world, but it has a
long way to go.
_______________________________________________________
Brook Hinton
film/video/audio art
www.brookhinton.com
studio vlog/blog: www.brookhinton.com/temporalab
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.