“Your Voice, Your Choice” Documentary Competition Judging Rubric

Videos entered in this competition should explore how beverage companies target marketing campaigns towards children or promote some as being “healthy” when they are not; issues concerning sugary drinks – the empty calories, how they affect kids’ sleep and attention spans, how they cause cavities, or how they increase the potential for obesity and life-threatening diseases.

Entries may follow traditional documentary style, which focuses on in-depth reporting, or the dramatic re-enactment style, which uses a short film to make a point about the subject.

Entries are limited to 10 minutes. Judging criteria are as follows:

• Adherence to Topic and Clarity (25 points)
  Although there is a wide range of issues surrounding the topic of “Better Beverage Choices”, entries should present a clearly focused opinion related to sugary drinks and pervasiveness of unhealthy drink choices in our community. These opinions should be supported by relevant, factual information and interviews or testimonials. Entries are limited to ten minutes, but keep in mind, the longer the video, the more likely it is to stray off topic or lose focus.
• Creativity (25 points)
  Entries should present information in an exciting and entertaining way. Any number of elements including re-enactment, news-style and informal interviews, reporter stand-ups, supporting b-roll footage, handheld “undercover” footage, voice-over narration, and graphical representations may be combined to create and support the story. You want to inform the audience while keeping their attention.
• Comprehensiveness (25 points)
  Topics should be explored and supported thoroughly, which requires focusing in on a few issues surrounding the broader topic of sugary drinks. Support your overall opinion with in-depth research and primary sources, such as interviews. You want to film as much as you can, even if a good amount is left out of your final entry. Select only the best quotes and supporting clips for the edited version.
• Technical Merit (25 points)
  Up to five points will be awarded for each of the following technical elements:
  1. Clarity of sound and volume. External microphones should be used in interviews and whenever possible.
  2. Creative, yet steady camera work. Shots should be properly framed with sufficient headroom, leadroom, and noseroom. Any “undercover” footage should be clearly established as such, and not be distractingly unsteady.
  3. Appropriate lighting
  4. Editing smoothness
  5. Graphics

Our best advice? Watch some professional documentaries and notice how they presented and supported their information.

• Bully (2011): Exploring the subject of school bullying from a personal angle, this eye-opening documentary tracks the stories of five different families whose children are struggling to defend themselves on a near-daily basis.
• Food, Inc. (2008): An unflattering look inside America’s corporate controlled food industry.
• The Cove (2009): An amazing true story that is one part action-adventure thriller, one part documentary and a completely heart-pounding call for help from the world’s oceans.

For help identifying primary sources, check out the resources page. For interviews, considering speaking with anyone who might buy, sell, or come into contact with the health effects of sugary drinks. They might be parents, kids, health providers, teachers, professionals, or restaurant managers. Keep in mind that these are only suggestions. We want to see creativity!