That is great!  Wonderful job with vent.  I still haven't mastered that!  lol
I'm considering doing a stage puppet entry.  I have their "Oreo" the skunk.  She's REALLY sweet!  Just not sure what to do with her yet. They say you can have someone on the outside of the stage, and even do it at a performance.  So...I was thinking of doing it during our children's church, and having one of my staff on the outside of the stage.  Just really not sure what to do it on yet....hmmmmmm.....
Sara

I was thinking of doing it during our children's church, and having one of my staff on the outside of the stage.

That is a great way to use her! The kids would love it!  Just remember to show us a picture!!

Just thought I would let you all know that the winners have been announced You can see them on the Axtell website. http://www.axtell.com/videocontest2010.html I was not in the finalists but they posted the scores and I was 5th place out of 53 entries so I feel pretty good about that. Thanks for all of you who took the time to encourage me!

WOW! 5th out of 53............................. You'll always be #1 to us.

You'll always be #1 to us.

Aw...shucks!   But THANKS!! 

Awesome job!  I loved your video!  ;-)
Some constructive criticism needed here...for me.  :D
I entered some videos in the puppet category, and looking at the scores,
I was surprised to see that I got the lowest scores in the whole entire category!!!!
I didn't expect to win, after seeing the amazing things there, but I surely didn't
expect to receive the lowest.  Can you all give me some ideas of why that would be?
I've never done this before, so it's all new territory. 
This first one was simple, so I didn't do too much...but....I guess I didn't think it was that bad!  lol



Let me know what you all think!
Congrats to all the winners!  ;-)
Sara

Sara,  I thought your second two videos very very cute!   And the first was very simple, not much of a story line it is true.  Why the low scores - I wish I could tell you!  This was my first time entering a video contest too and you are right there were a LOT of very creative things going on there!! All I can say is that I am glad I didn't have to judge - the variety in the entries was vast - how would you begin to start!!  I think you have developed a great character and I would just say STICK WITH IT!!  You are obviously having a place in the ministry at your church and bringing joy and happiness to the children is what it is all about anyway!    I have entered competitions at festivals before and I always try to remember that my goal is to learn where I can improve and go from there.  Look at where your highest scores were and take that as an indication of where your strengths are, then look at your lowest scores and do what you can to improve.  Sometimes it is out of our hands and then you have to just say, "I did what I could with what I had available to me!"  Again, remember if you are reaching the children your are fulfilling the main goal!  And it is obvious you are reaching the children.  I KNOW that children would love to watch those clips - and they would learn from them too!!

Thank you for your encouragement!    I am happy with what the Lord is doing through my ministry.  I just wish I knew what they saw, so that I could improve!  lol
Oh well, we are heading off to Poland in March, and will be there for 6 months.  My daughter won third place in the children's catagory...so, we will be able to get a simple puppet anyways! 
Thanks again!
Sara

Couple of things I know they watch for in most competitions:
1. Eye contact with the audience (camera in this case), not turning your (puppets) back to the audience, etc.
2. Story lines and intros that capture you and draw you in.  They aren't real big on puppets just talking.

Have you ever seen Amanda Cowles perform?  She was at IFest and is at some of the Festivals OWS does. I do not know if there are videos on You Tube, but she sells a cd.  One of the classes she taught at IFest was about the little things you do with a puppet that make a big difference.  If you watch her, she adds so many little things to the puppet that really makes it come alive.  We learned a lot from her.

Hope this helps.

I agree with MsPuppet about eye contact ...I can't stress enough about good eye contact it makes the puppet believable and keeps people interested because they think it is talking to them.  I saw a glimpse or two of it near the end...one spot is around 1:12 (the first video with the skunk talking alone) but you need to maintain that through out as much as possible without making it look like it is staring at everyone....lol.

The voice for the puppet is nice as well you have some nice puppet movement.

The other thing, since this competition was not affiliated to a religious group (just saying) as a suggestion keep it on a neutral topic for speaking on since it is an international competition...better to keep it focus on something that many can relate to since you don't know your audience and who is judging this contest.  I am not sure if there was a religious section I am only guessing that out of what I have quickly gathered about this contest.  

Hope this helps a bit....

Daryl H