Here are some ideas for selection criteria that were developed by AFDA (South African School of Motion Picture), and used in student film evaluations. I have developed them further for use in Screendance evaluations. The 60secondsdance.dk selection committee will also be using them to evaluate and select the top 10, the overall winner and the runner up for 60seconds.
Perhaps some could be adopted and/or amended and used by selection committees.
So far the screendance maker has no means to view any criteria. Can we not publish these online each time there is a call?
60secondsdance.dk
Criteria for judging dance videos/films 2011
Theme: sted/place
The most important criteria: creativity and originality, amplifying the intention, the choreography of movement, adaptation of movement to the camera, the movement of the camera, the rhythm of the edit, the narrative – linear or poetic, the location, costume, objects, set, overall aesthetic “look and feel”, sounds and music used to amplify the notion of “place” or “sted”. We will look out for how “place” or “sted” is translated with kineasthetic and visceral impact, immediately translated and understood by the viewer. We will also take into consideration if the screendance maker has fulfilled all the competition rules and requirements.
The above was published online at www.60secondsdance.dk.
Below are the judges criteria, not published.
Headings from AFDA™
NARRATIVE: Intention, Idea, Concept, Event Progression, Narrative Progression
PERFORMANCE: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Emotional and Physical
MEDIUM: Lighting, Camera work, Movement/Camera/Affordances, Edit
AESTHETICS: Look and feel, Locations, Set, Costumes, Art, Design
CONTROL: Marketing, Management, Finance and Law
- NARRATIVE/CONCEPTUAL RELEVANCE/ INTENTION
Does it reveal/express/explore sted / a place, what, where?
Is this place/intention clear?
The Idea / Concept / Place – originality?
Does the idea come through in 60seconds?
Does every frame speak to/about the intention? Or place?
Structure / Event Progression - Beg/Middle/End is this clear?
Does it tell “a story”?
Simplicity/Complexity in narrative?
- PERFORMANCE/EMOTIONAL/KINAESTHETIC AFFECT
Empathetic impact on viewer - emotional and kineasthetic impact?
Is the emotional tone clearly amplified by the performance?
Is there a visceral impact on the viewer?
Do the performers erformance relate to the place & intention?
Are the performers using the environment to shape their character and movement?
How is the environment used by the dance/dancers?
Are the affordances, the choreography within the location amplifying the
intention?
Performers relation to the camera?
- MEDIUM
Style of delivery
Choreography - use of affordances, intention & place to shape choreography, use of medium/camera to shape choreography, re-adaptation to the camera
Dance style/genre - what type is used to support the intention? Dance style – pedestrian, dance for the camera, adapted to the camera…
Camera work or recording of the image
Camera operation and movement
Adaptation of movement/choreography to the medium/camera
Are affordances shaping the choreography & affecting the choice of shots?
Is it challenging the use of the camera?
Choice of shots and Angles
Handheld / locked off, Dogmatic / Cinematic Experimental / Traditional
Quality of shoot HD / DVPAL
Lighting design
Composition of the shots - adaptation of movement/choreography to the medium/camera
How is the environment used?
Is it shaping the composition of the shots?
Edit / Post production
De-Interlaced/ Compressed
The edit: cuts, rhythm, pace, timing, movement through the shots
Linear or Vertical Montage – fragmented/multi-threading/looping narratives Repetition in edit: predictable and/or unpredictable
PATTERNS OF PREDICTABILITY & UNPREDICTABILITY THAT
MAY BECOME BOTH PREDICTABLE & UNPREDICTABLE
Special Effects
Poetic amplification
Text - spoken/sub-titles/text
Sounds – Diegetic or no sound from set? Music - composed or not?
- AESTHETICS
General “look and feel”
The world of the narrative and character – clearly defined?
The visual form of the narrative clearly defined?
Design Fabrication?
Structuring and manipulation of the design
Location or set and use of it
Costume
Props
- CONTROL
All documents signed, scanned and submitted on time. Not doing so means disqualification.
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