The Ontario Mining Association’s high school video competition So You Think You Know Mining has attracted more than 80 high-quality entries for the 2011 edition of the contest. The deadline was March 31 and the bulk of the two to three minute films were received within the 24-hour window before midnight that day.
This is more than double the number of entries received in each of the first two years of the competition 2009 and 2010. The geographic range of the source of these videos showing the benefits of mining through the eyes and talents of high school students greatly expanded. Teenagers in Mississauga, Markham, Sudbury, London, Timmins, Toronto, Collingwood, Woodstock, Pickering, Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay, Georgetown, Stratford, Clinton, Kingston, Ottawa and other centres have electronically submitted their mining stories. Ontario’s mining industry is a presence in all areas of the province and all regions of the province are represented by SYTYKM productions.
While the quantity of entries has increased, from a cursory viewing of a portion of the entries, the quality of these productions has also been greatly enhanced. The judges this year are going to have a difficult time indentifying the winners in each category – Best Overall, Best Directing, Best Writing of an Original Screenplay, Best Music, Best Comedy, Best Animation, Best video in a language other than English and the People’s Choice Award. The competition is fierce and a lot of talent and creativity is on display in these productions.
There are five people on the SYTYKM judging panel for 2011. Jack Blum is an actor, film producer and president of REEL Canada. Christina Blizzard is a columnist for Sun Media. James Cullingham is an independent movie producer and professor of film and media at Seneca College in Toronto. Gord Nicholls is the night television news anchor for CTV in Sudbury and a journalism professor in the school of communication at Cambrian College in Sudbury. Dominique Dionne is Vice President Corporate Affairs for Xstrata Nickel.
The OMA thanks these volunteer judges who lend their own artistic talent, time, experience and expertise to assess the hard work of the students who enter the SYTYKM competition. Without their support, the OMA would not be able to run this meaningful and successful province-wide video competition.
This year $25,500 in awards and prizes are available. On line voting for the People’s Choice Award is expected to run from April 25 to May 31, 2011. You will be able to view a selection of the top videos on the OMA website www.oma.on.ca and vote for your favourite. All People’s Choice voters will be eligible to win an iPod from a random draw.
The school of the winner of the Best Overall category will receive $500 and all schools, which supported three or more SYTYKM entries, will be entered into a random draw for $2,000. An early bird draw has already been awarded and other prizes include $5,000 for the Best Overall and $2,500 for the winners in each of the other categories.
Check out the SYTYKM blog on the OMA website and @OntMiningAssoc on Twitter. All roads lead to Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on Wednesday, June 1 for the SYTYKM awards gala where the much coveted Oscar-style SYTYKM trophies and cheques will be presented. Watch for details. It is an event you won’t want to miss.
Note:
Watch award winning So You Think You Know Mining videos on the OMA website ww.oma.on.ca
Click on the SYTYKM box and see the SYTYKM winners from 2009 and 2010. The award ceremonies for both those years can also be viewed.
Who will take home the top prizes in 2011?