***Please note - The submission form questions must be completed in full for your entry to be considered.***
IS THIS OPEN TO ANYONE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD?
Yes. Yes it is.
HOW DO I GET MY CHORT TO STAND OUT?
First thing is rather obvious – make it funny. We watch all of them so entertain us. Chorts 2018 had 270 entries so we have a lot to watch.
It needs to demonstrate the comedy and character(s) straight away. 2 minutes isn’t long, but if it has 1 minute 45 seconds of build up most people won’t make it that far. So avoid filler! You don’t have to use the full 2 minutes. A brilliant 30 second Chort is just fine by us.
Another way to help keep up the pace is in the editing. If your Chort is a single monologue, break it up with cuts in the right places. Don’t be afraid to be creative folks.
WHAT SHOULD I FOCUS ON IN MY CHORT?
Characters are hugely important in comedy, so this is your chance to try them out and let them shine.
We recommend focussing on one or two main characters and use the 2 minutes to demonstrate how they interact with others and the world around them.
This does not mean you need to film lots of characters to show interaction. Be creative. Even having someone shout off camera, or an interaction told as part of a story helps showcase your main character.
We also love well crafted, repeatable sketches. Can the concept or character in your sketch be repeated with different circumstances and still provide the same level of humour? Think about how this is done in all of the best sketch shows you have seen.
And focus on what is the “thing” of the sketch. Understand what really makes it funny, heighten that thing and don’t get confused or worry about everything else. Can this joke or “thing” that makes it funny be repeated?
Remember we are looking for something that has potential to be a series of short episodes or sketches.
Think about your audience too. Can you do something relatable and original that a particular group of people would recognise and love? If it’s a sketch or character with no relatable references or behaviours, it’s less likely that anyone will engage with it.
WHY MAX 2 MINUTES?
We’ve spent years working with comedy creators, speaking to producers, and sharing content with fans. It comes down to this:
Creators – 2 minute videos are very accessible. You don’t need filming and editing expertise. You need a short script, an actor (or animator), and a computer or smart phone. Anyone can do it. In 2 minutes you have the chance to quickly convey who your character is and why they are funny, a vital skill for getting the attention of your audience
Producers and fans – short attention span. No one wants to watch a long video from someone they don’t know. BUT if people like a short video, they will watch more. If they are only committing to 2 minutes, there is less resistance to watching
IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF CHORTS I CAN SUBMIT?
Yes. You can submit one video per Chort idea or character. If you are working on 2 or 3 different characters, then you can submit one Chort video per character / idea.
IF I HAVE ENTERED A PREVIOUS CHORTS COMP, CAN I ENTER AGAIN WITH THE SAME CHARACTER / IDEA?
Yes but we would like to see a different video, not the same one entered previously.
If you have entered before and not been selected as a finalist, consider how you could improve your character(s) and idea before submitting it again.
CAN I ENTER IF I’M UNDER 18?
Yes, we just ask that a parent or guardian accept responsibility for you and agree to the challenge rules.
Please ask your parent to submit on your behalf adding the following text to the submission in the large text field Names and roles of the creative team:
“I submit on behalf of [insert name], as their parent / guardian and give my permission for them to enter Chorts 2019.”
WHAT ABOUT STOCK FOOTAGE / MUSIC IN MY CHORT?
You can use music and stock footage that is cleared for use in your Chort. Make sure you have cleared the copyright for anything you use. If you don’t hold the complete rights for the music / stock footage, don’t use it.
DO I RETAIN FULL CREATIVE OWNERSHIP OF MY CONTENT?
Yes absolutely! The intellectual property in the work is yours and we do not make any claim on this, so we won’t take the world or characters you develop without permission. However, please remember by taking part you grant us an in-perpetuity, world-wide, royalty free, non exclusive license to promote, publish, sample, and sub-license the work. This allows us to promote Chorts and help share your comedy in a way that reaches an audience of engaged fans.
Any more questions? Just send us an email to theccteam@thecomedycrowd.com