Silver

Extra Life Gaming Marathon

Batavia

Documentary

Entry Description

Every year people across the country play video games for 24 hours in hope of raising money for Children's Hospitals; and this is our story.

Judge 1

Positives: I liked the development of the narrative. There was the factual content of what the marathon was, the why, the how, who and when. There were moments of emotional connection when the boys discussed how the group had changed from the last year to the present year. The editing was very good. No one talked too long...there was a constant change of boys being interviewed.

Improvements: The soundtrack was not as well developed as the camera and editing. It would have been good to get a little more information about the organization. Is this something that happens around the country? How much has the organization earned?

Judge 2

Positives: This has a really great opening scene, plenty of shots that include a full room of gamers, close-ups, and discussion right away about charity work for the Children's Hospitals. Also, the "talk chair" where people discussing issues was a great idea, and putting their name on the screen so I knew who I was looking at was nice. What makes this documentary good, was the illusion of time. You told the audience (me) that 25 hour had passed, and you made it interesting by continuing to show what was happening at that mark.I'm not a gamer, but I wanted to watch this entire video because even the perspectives of playing the games through the eyes of the gamers was interesting. It got better as time went on because there were a series of scenes (a mini story plot within the plot) about a guy falling asleep. AND, a website about it, genius... because it involves your viewers.

Improvements: Be careful. At the end of the video it sounds a little infomercial-ish. You don't want to sell a product, you want to keep this documentary style with a little plug at he end. It's a fine line.

Judge 3

Positives: Great idea.

Improvements: Content lacks a clear presentation of purpose. The message needs a greater structured focus.