Calling All Video Moguls...

Do you ever watch TV and think, “I could make a better commercial than that”?
Well, students, here’s your chance to do it yourself.

Your 25 seconds of digital brilliance may be worth some serious cash. All you need to win and get your spot on TV is a video camera, an idea, and Internet access. Read on.

Enter an original 25-second student-made TV commercial designed to get students to ride the Omnitrans bus. Once your commercial is posted online, get your friends and fans to vote for you.

Visit the official contest home page...

Get Started...
To enter the contest, complete these two steps:

Step 1: Create an Account. Remember your screen name–you'll need it for the next step.
Step 2: Complete the Official Omnitrans Registration form.

Just want to vote for your friend's video?
All you have to do is create an account - and you're ready to go!

Prizes

• First prize: $1,000 cash
  Winning commercial airs on local Cable TV in May.
  
• Second prize: $500 cash
•  Third prize: $250 cash
•  $100 each to 7 finalists
  

Guidelines

• Contest runs 2/9/09-3/27/09
• Only spots with completed registrations accepted
• Omnitrans will review all spots prior to posting
• Finalists determined by highest average ratings
• Minimum of 100 ratings required to achieve finalist status
• Omnitrans selects winner from 10 finalists
• Second and third goes to spots with highest ratings after winner selected
• All finalists receive a prize

Tips for Winning

• Make sure to review and follow the rules.
• Omnitrans panel will select the winner from the Top Ten finalists.
• We’re looking for creative, student-focused videos.
• Keep it fun, keep it clean.

Rules of the Road. And the Airwaves

There are certain rules your commercial has to follow to be on TV. Namely, no swearing, no naked people, nothing too violent or dangerous or offensive. Also no illegal activity. There are a few more. Click here for the lawyers’ complete list of official rules. Please read and follow them all. But don’t worry, you won’t be quizzed.

• You must be a STUDENT, age 13 or older living in the Omnitrans service area of San Bernardino County or attending school in the service area. Winners will need to verify their student status and/or residency.
• Your video must be submitted by 9:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on March 24, 2009.
• Videos must be in English.
• Videos must be one of the following formats: .mpg, .mp4, .mov, .flv, .avi, .wmv.
• Maximum file size for your video: 100 MB.
• Video must be exactly 25 seconds. No more, no less. (The winning spot will be “tagged” with an additional 5 seconds.
• Finalists will be required to send a talent release form for each person appearing in the video to Omnitrans by mail or fax before March 24, 2009. (It’s a good idea to get the form signed when shooting your commercial!) If a person shown in the video is under age 18, their parent’s signature is required on the talent release form. Click here to download the form.
• You can film on the bus, as long as you contact Omnitrans first and do not disrupt service or distract the driver. For more information click here.
• Submissions must be all original content, except for imagery provided by Omnitrans.
• Any music must also be original or in the public domain and not protected by copyright. (Just because you paid to download it, does not mean you can use it in a commercial!)
• Again, no dangerous, offensive or illegal actions, images or language please. Be safe out there!
• Multiple submissions cannot exceed 10 per entrant. That should be plenty!
• Enter the contest by creating an account then complete the Omnitrans registration form.
• Omnitrans will review all spots prior to posting online, so your spot won’t appear right away.
• Tell your friends! Once your commercial is posted online, get your friends to vote for you. The top 10 finalists will be determined by popular vote (based on average rating) but you must have at least 100 ratings to qualify as a finalist. Omnitrans will select the winner from among the top 10 finalists. Second, Third and Finalist prizes will go to commercials with the highest average ratings after the First Prize winner is selected.
• Finalists will be required to provide an uncompressed file of their commercial so it can be tagged and played during the Omnitrans May cable television schedule if it is the winning spot. Finalists will receive details on where to send the file March 30, 2009 and will be required to submit the file by April 3, 2009.
• Winners will be announced on May 2, 2009 at the Inland Empire 66ers baseball game. All finalists will be given tickets to the game, although you don’t have to attend to win. Good luck!

We hope to see you at the DIY TV Winner unveiling
at the IE66ers baseball game in San Bernardino on May 2, 2009.