Stage Directions | ETC Debuts Online Video Contest for Schools

Videos demonstrating “enthusiasm, talent and creativity” can be submitted to the ETC contest until Feb. 12, 2012.

This sounds like an invitation for a lot of fun. ETC wants the next viral video to be about them, and are sponsoring a contest for high school and college students to make sure it is! Between October 1 and Feb. 21, 2012, students can upload a video demonstrating their “enthusiasm, talent and creativity” for a chance to win an ETC lighting console for their school. More details and a demo video featuring contest creator and ETC IT specialist Jon Ironside after the jump.

ETC announces “Show Us Your ETC™” student-video challenge

Middleton, WI (September 29, 2011) -- Enthusiasm, talent, and creativity — that’s the ‘ETC’ in ETC’s “Show Us Your ETC” contest. ETC® (Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.) is challenging students to demonstrate their ‘ETC’ in an original video. The three top videos will each win an ETC lighting control console for their U.S. high school, college, or university.

The contest details are at www.showusyouretc.com. The first-prize winner will get to choose between an Eos®, Ion®, or Element™ console. The 2nd- and 3rd-prize winners will choose from the remaining two consoles. The homemade videos will be judged on their ‘ETC-ness’ and use of ETC as a theme and motif. The videos — under five minutes in length — will allow for a lot of artistic license. Contest creator and ETC IT specialist Jon Ironside has posted video samples (he’s the bearded guy starring in them too): “These are examples of what I thought might happen when you crossed ETC with popular viral videos, but I’m sure that all the students out there with a passion for theater and lighting will have better stuff. I’m excited to see what fun, creative things they come up with.”

Students can start uploading video entries in October, via YouTube. The final day to enter will be February 21, 2012. During the entry submission time, the public will be able to view and vote for their video favorites. Their vote will be combined with the votes of contest judges Ironside, ETC CEO Fred Foster, and industry luminary Richard Pilbrow. ETC will announce the winners at their popular Student Session at USITT 2012, in Long Beach, CA. They will also show all of the semi-finalist videos, whose creators will get exclusive ETC swag and copies of Pilbrow’s new book A Theatre Project.

For more information on ETC’s Eos-line consoles: www.etcconnect.com