AmEx Creates 15-Second Video Contest

The Web gets yet another corporate video contest, this one backed by a large banner buy and structured around the advertiser's Tribeca Film Festival sponsorship.

American Express is asking video hobbyists and aspiring filmmakers to submit their 15-second clips online for a chance to win $15,000.

The contest, which runs through April 26, is part of the company’s sponsorship of the Tribeca Film Festival and its “My Life. My Card.” campaign.

Participants are asked to conceive their submissions around one of thirteen topics, such as “childhood ambition,” “fondest memory,” “alarm clock,” and “favorite movie.” A sophisticated microsite is home to the promotion, offering details of the contest and a gallery of recently submitted clips.

To promote the effort, American Express has bought prominent ad placements on a variety of big sites, including Yahoo, AOL, MSNBC, AtomFilms.com and the American Movie Channel’s Web presence at AMCTV.com. Paid search ads, on keywords like “film contest,” are appearing on Google.

“This online competition not only encourages storytelling but also helps to bring the spirit of the Tribeca Film Festival and filmmaking to an even larger group of people,” said an American Express spokeswoman.

Web-enabled video competitions have been big over the past year. Companies launching their own film contests have included Chrysler, Ford, Verizon and Intel. American Express itself sponsored an Amazon-hosted film contest as part of its Festival sponsorship last year.

Film directors Martin Scorsese and M. Night Shyamalan are among the judges for the “My life. My card.” competition. In addition to the cash prize, a winner will be flown to New York and honored at the Tribeca Film Festival there. 100 finalists will each receive iPods pre-loaded with all of their short-listed videos.

Some of the contest submissions will be showcased on American Express’ “My Life” podcasting channel on iTunes and on Moviefone.com/tribeca, an AOL-owned site with Tribeca Film Festival movie showtimes and coverage.

The 15-Second Clips Competition requires all entrants obtain and fax signed model releases and premises permits for outside actors and familiar locations. AmEx declined to say whether it would use any of the user-created footage in its broadcast or online video ad campaigns.

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Whitepapers

US Mobile Streaming Behavior
Whitepaper | Mobile

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

5y

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Streaming has become a staple of US media-viewing habits. Streaming video, however, still comes with a variety of pesky frustrations that viewers are ...

View resource
Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups
Whitepaper | Analyzing Customer Data

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

5y

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics f...

Data is the lifeblood of so many companies today. You need more of it, all of which at higher quality, and all the meanwhile being compliant with data...

View resource
Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people
Whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its peopl...

2y

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. It provides expert insight on how companies can ret...

View resource
Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy
Report | Digital Transformation

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

1m

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource