I’m very glad to announce the following:

From Canon USA & Vimeo:

“Canon USA and Vimeo are advocates and supporters of artists and artists’ rights. We would like to make it very clear that the creator of any submission in the Story Beyond The Still contest retains ownership of that submission – period. Canon USA does own the copyright in the final, combined video comprised of Vincent’s chapter and all winning chapters, however, each chapter itself is still owned by the user who submitted it (similar to a newspaper – the publisher owns a copyright in each full edition, but the specific articles could be owned by a number of different parties).

There has been some commentary on the contest forums and within message boards that claims that Canon USA and/or Vimeo are engaging in a “rights grab” of sorts with respect to contest submissions, and are taking ownership of users’ submissions. This is simply not true. It is no one’s intention to take ownership over any user’s submission.

Of course, in order to offer its services and operate the contest, both Vimeo and Canon USA need certain rights licensed to them - to accept, store and display video submissions, to use clips/stills to promote the contest, and to let other Vimeo users view and comment on the submissions - and efforts were taken to restrict the scope of the licenses as much as possible, keeping in mind the legal realities of conducting a contest like this one.

We want this to be a contest that celebrates creativity and collaborative film making. It is our goal that this is fun and engaging experience for all that participate.”

As you know - we win some (above) and we lose some (below) - that’s just the way life goes and I think Canon and Vimeo are doing a great thing with this contest  and it’s very important to remain focused on that fact. (more…)

The Canon & Vimeo contest page is live!

Please check it out - and see the videos as they come in

(You can enter NOW but have almost a month before we hit the first deadline.)

There is also a forum page for you to ask any questions and to share insights with others.

These the prizes that the winners will be able to choose from (total of 6 winners.)

So here are the rules…

And now let me translate them for you in plain english as best I can:

You can enter as of January 15th (now)  but there is no rush - you have just under a month to enter your submission for Chapter 2 - the first deadline is February 11, 2010  at 11:59.59 p.m. E.S.T…

Here’s how the competition works:

Canon gave me a still image to interpret into a short film.   My short film then ends on the still image below.

This image is your "starting point" for chapter 2 - your interpretation of it need not be exact or literal...

Now it’s YOUR turn to interpret the image above into your own 2-4 minute film- and end on YOUR still image… (more…)

I know a lot of your are waiting to find out a bit more about the rules to this Canon & Vimeo film contest - not to mention the deadlines etc.   For now - let me simply say:  stay tuned.   Once the rules and regulations do come out: you’ll have a few WEEKS to get your short film ready - fair enough?  (For now -consider the Jan 15th date to be the announcement date of future details - NOT your deadline.)

Now back to the more interesting topic of “Contests.”  I think it’s important for you to understand my philosophy on contests in general - for you all to have a better understanding of where I am trying to guide this next journey of ours.

When I was 15 - I entered my first photo contest at the local camera store named “Westside Camera” on 87th and Broadway in New York City … to this day I know people who once worked there (the camera store has since become a franchise…)

The contest rules were simple… (more…)

I think it’s safe to say we’re all adults and that we all know there is more than ONE camera company out there…  Most of your know I use Canon cameras for my HD DSLR filmmaking - and my buddy Chase Jarvis uses another camera company’s cameras…

BUT - this post is not about companies - it’s about finding and rewarding new talent - something that Chase and I have both shown an interest in helping to do.   So go here and take a few moments to vote and help award a lucky filmmaker $25,000 - only good can come of that!   Chase has helped to put together a great film festival of his own - and I want to throw my support his way.

Chase has been a pioneer in the world of photography blogs and has always taken the lead when it comes to sharing with others.  I wish him - and both the $25,000 audience choice winner, and the $100,000 grand prize winner -  the very best of luck!

In a little over a week it’ll be your turn to enter your short film in the Canon / Vimeo contest - details and rules etc. will be announced shortly on Vimeo’s site.

The Cabbie from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

When I was asked to interpret the still image of an abandoned teddy bear at an airport terminal - a thousand different interpretations flooded my mind.

I wanted to create a dynamic film that took the audience on a journey and showed off many of the strengths of this new breed of HD DSLR cameras.   This breed of cameras’ low light capabilities and light weight allow you to do things you’d never thing of trying with traditional cameras.    But almost more importantly:  I had to make sure that we made a film that both photographers brand new to filmmaking  as well as more seasoned filmmakers  felt that they could easily follow.

This project is about bringing EVERYONE into the fold - regardless of their prior experience or their access to “toys.”   We’re looking for a series of ORIGINAL films that spotlight your talent and creativity.

We are not asking anyone to try to make a polished Hollywood film… ideas always win in my book. The quality of execution always plays a role of course - but on this one contest it will take a clear back seat.

The Story Beyond the Still - Behind The Scenes from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Hey - let me be honest here for a moment:  I’ve always been a bit skeptical about the value of promoting oneself on one’s blog.  That probably is why I was more than a year late to both the blogging thing and then yet another year late to Twitter party…

That being said,  when you can harness the power of the web to either: a. share with others or  to b. even better, to help others - then I’m totally sold on the concept.

A few weeks ago someone I had just met called me out of the blue.  While we were far from longtime friends  - what she needed to share with me was clearly pretty heavy.  I’ve been a photojournalist for most of my life and I can tell pretty easily when someone is having a tough time sharing something with me - so I pretty much cut her off to try to ease the difficulty for both of us…

“What’s up?”  I interrupted…

“My ____ found out she has cancer and …”

“Ok - no problem” I interrupted ” How can I help?”

The best thing about the web and/or art - is that it can take on a much bigger meaning than you / your initial intent ever purported to do.  Art can exceed our intent as mere artists - and it can  (or perhaps other people’s interpretations can)  lead to things that we (as artists) never even dared to imagine.

I can say that one of the best parts of being an “artist” is to have a total stranger see something in what you (the artist) created, that you yourself never could have imagined or thought of yourself when you first engaged in the act of making the piece that they are interpreting.  And if that person themselves is not what some would consider to be “an artist” themselves - I’ll admit to finding this entire process even more fascinating… I’m not even sure I’m making any sense but here’s what I do know:

You know what’s better?  When that same piece of “art” (a.k.a.: your photograph) can somehow benefit someone else.

In short: please check out the following link: http://issuu.com/resourcemagonline/docs/onecase

Should you ( or anyone you know)  purchase a print, I can pretty much guarantee it will make a big difference in someone else’s life.

Literally.

So check it out - and share the link -  And help someone else get through a difficult period of their lives.

p.s.:  On a totally separate note:  I am extremely excited to help launch the Canon & Vimeo film contest in less than 48 hours from now.  The intent of this contest was pretty simple:  to find a way to let OTHER people partake in this crazy HD DSLR filmmaking thing.   I hope that you will appreciate the little video that I shot to launch the contest, and that more importantly:  you feel that you can push yourselves to take the contest and the following chapters to new heights.   The purpose of this contest is to help spread the excitement amongst all of YOU.   To make everyone feel like you/they/we  can partake in this technological paradigm shift.

To be clear: I think it’s safe to assume that these relatively new HD DSLRs cameras will likely NOT change Hollywood films overnight - BUT - they might just help make filmmaking more accessible to the future generations of filmmakers.  Hopefully we will find that the next generation of filmmakers will no longer be judged by their access to fancy Hollywood filmmaking toys - but instead that they will be judged by their ideas and vision (uninhibited by technological limitations.)

I’ll definitely admit to being a bit of an idealist, but I think that this new technology can help to level the playing field - and enable the yet  undiscovered talent to spread their wings - based on their creativity - and not their access to fancy toys…

I guess time will tell…

For now - check this out if you’re interested in any of what I’m sayin’.