FAQs

• How can I promote my film on Northern Lights?

  When you upload or add your video to Northern Lights, you will be prompted to add a title, description and tags to your video. Make these as descriptive and accurate as possible to help other people find your video when searching the website. Once you’ve added your video you can also invite your friends and family to view it by sharing the link on Facebook and Twitter.

• When and how can I see the finished film?

  The film release is planned for late 2012 and will involve a tour of Scotland. Please sign up to our mailing list to make sure you hear about its release, and check back on the Northern Lights website,Facebook page and Twitter for up to date information. The film will eventually be available to view on the site so everyone will have an opportunity to see the finished film.

• What happens to my footage if it’s not selected for the film?

  All of the footage will remain on YouTube and possibly included in the Northern Lights legacy website which is planned for later in the project.

• If my footage appears in the film, will I receive any payment or a credit in the film?

  If selected for the final cut of the film you will receive a credit as a co-director of the film using the name you submitted when you uploaded your video. There is no payment for any footage included in the film. If your footage is selected, your name, images of you or a clip from your video may be used to promote the film. You agree to this as part of the Terms and Conditions when you upload your video.

• Who owns my footage if it’s selected?

  You will retain ownership of your footage throughout the process. As explained in the Terms and Conditions, you are granting Northern Lights the non-exclusive rights to include the footage in the film and the legacy website and to exploit the film in all media forever.

  If you want to learn more about copyright look this helpful site here. http://www.learncopyright.co.uk/demo/

• Does it have to be documentary footage or can I make a drama?

  We want you to show us your life, your world and your Scotland and we want you to be creative about how you do this. This is a documentary film project so we expect that most footage will be of a ‘documentary’ nature. However you can play with performance, genre or style as much as you like. We are not looking for works of fiction and we also ask you to be filmic so no animated submissions please.

• What if I want to withdraw from the project?

  If you remove your footage from YouTube before the 21 June 2012 you will be withdrawn from the project. After this date, it will be understood that you have consented to be included in the project, even if you change your mind. You agree to this as part of the Terms and Conditions when you upload your footage to the project.

• What happens if my video is selected?

  If selected for the final cut of the film you will receive a credit as a co-director of the film using the name you submitted when you uploaded your video. (But you will not receive any payment.) If your video is selected, your name, images of you or a clip from your video may be used to promote the film. You agree to this as part of the Terms and Conditions when you upload your video.

• How will I know if my footage is selected?

  At the point of upload we will ask for your name, email address and telephone number so we can contact you if your footage is being considered for inclusion in the film. This won’t happen immediately but will happen at some point after your initial submission and at the latest within a month of the 21 June 2012 deadline. Even though we have requested your original footage it doesn’t mean you will be included in the final film.

  We will only use the personal data you provide us to contact you regarding the film. For example, we may need to request further information from you, such as the release forms or request physical copies of your video, so please retain your original copies of your video!

• What do you mean by original footage?

  When you upload your footage to the project, YouTube will process the footage so that it can be viewed on their video channel. This processing (or compression) changes the quality of the footage. Have you ever noticed how video on YouTube can look at bit blocky?

  If we want us to be able to use the footage in the final film we may need to get the original footage that is on your computer or it might still be on the device you used to shoot the footage.

  We advise you to move this footage to a safe place on your computer so when we contact you it will be easy to find and send to us.

  We’ll give you very clear instructions on how to send the original footage to us. This will usually be another upload (not to YouTube) or perhaps we’ll ask you to send a physical copy (DVD or memory card) through the post.

• How will the footage be selected for inclusion in the final film?

  The director, Nick Higgins, will decide which footage will be in the final film. He will be looking for contributions that respond to the project questions in a creative and powerful way. He is not looking for the next masterpiece but for authentic and honest contributions. The project is open to everyone and Nick is especially interested in content from those using a camera for the first time so content is more important than technical ability. That said, we can only use footage of an acceptable sound and picture quality so please watch our How-tos for helpful hints on good sound and camera technique.

• What are the benefits of submitting via the Northern Lights YouTube channel?

  If you decide you don’t want a YouTube account and would like to submit through the Northern Lights YouTube channel this is completely fine. You are still fully engaged with the project and the community will be able to leave comments on your work that you can read on YouTube. The only difference is the comments won’t arrive in your inbox and you won’t be able to engage in a one-to-one dialogue with our guest reviewers. Any work submitted via the Northern Lights YouTube channel is still eligible for the awards fund.

• What are the benefits of submitting via my own YouTube Account?

  If you decide to submit footage from your own YouTube account you will benefit from the maximum engagement with the Northern Lights project as you’ll receive notifications by email every time somebody comments on your submission, including, possibly, our guest reviewers.

• How do I submit my footage to Northern Lights?

  Submitting your footage to Northern Lights is simple – just follow the step by step guide on the Northern Lights website. All footage is submitted to the project via the Northern Lights website. When you visit the Northern Lights website, you can choose whether to log into the site with your YouTube ID. If you have an existing YouTube account, you will then be able to select any of the videos that you’ve uploaded to your channel, and add them to Northern Lights. You can also upload video directly from your computer from the Northern Lights website. If you do this whilst logged in to the website with you YouTube ID then any videos you add will be also added to your YouTube channel. If you don’t have or want a YouTube account you can still submit your videos, and these will appear on YouTube as part of the Northern Lights channel’s uploads. If you would like to create your own YouTube account click here for easy step by step instructions.

  Once you’ve clicked to upload your video, or add your existing YouTube videos, to Northern Lights, you will be asked to give your video a title and description, and invited to answer some short questions about your video such as what you shot your footage on, where was it shot (town, village, region etc), what’s special about it etc.

• Any other permission I need to get?

  If your footage is selected for inclusion in the final film you will need to supply consent forms for the people featured in the footage.

  http://wearenorthernlights.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/NorthernLights_Consent.pdf

  Anyone under 18 years featured will need to have a special minors consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

   

  http://wearenorthernlights.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/NorthernLights-ConsentMinor.pdf

  If you are filming on private property (i.e. not your own home or a public park) you need permission from the owner and if your footage is selected for the final film we may need to ask the owner to sign a location release form.

• Do I need to subtitle my video if it’s not in English?

  We would love to receive some Gaelic and foreign language submissions to the project and there is absolutely no need to subtitle your footage at this point. If you would like to subtitle your work on YouTube so people understand it then you can use the caption function on YouTube that you can read about here.

• Should I edit my video?

  No. The director is looking for raw footage from which to create the finished film.

• Can I submit footage that has already appeared in TV or film?

  Yes but you must inform us of this and you must be the copyright holder.

• Can I submit footage that was made before the start of the project?

  Yes, in particular if you wish to answer the question, what do you wish you had seen?

  You must however be the copyright owner of any footage you submit or if it is family archive have permission from the copyright holder.

• Are there any restrictions on what I can or cannot film?

  You can film anything and anyone as long as you have permission. Any footage deemed by Northern Lights to be slanderous, promoting goods or services, advocating intolerance, violence or bigotry, intentionally inaccurate in the representation of persons or places or not suitable for a PG audience will be removed from the site, and the submitter may be banned from further entry. We will contact you letting you know your footage was not suitable for submission. Your footage must also comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines.

  Please do not add a soundtrack to your footage. We ask you not to include any music in your video unless this is your music and you own all the rights to it e.g. you are a band who has written a song and you film yourself performing the song.

  When deciding on a location for your footage remember that the location will be published on YouTube and potentially in a film so if it’s a private property you’ll need permission from the owner to film there.

  Your footage must have been shot in Scotland.

  or it must address Scotland and the questions proposed by the Northern Lights project,  see the 3 questions.

• Am I eligible to submit to Northern Lights?

  You must be 14 and over to submit footage to the Northern Lights project.
  Your contribution must be uploaded via our website between 20 March and 21 June 2012 to be eligible to appear in the film.