43
Here are the Winners!
2019 Spielberg Division Winner
2019 Sandler Division Winner
Voting has now concluded
Spielberg Division Winner
Warren G. Harding
Sandler Division Winner
Columbiana
Thank you to all the students and staff that have helped with this year's High School Music Video Challenge. To see this year's entries, click here.
If you or your school would like to participate in our next music video challenge, please contact Todd Franko at tfranko@vindy.com
Who can sign up?
- Any high-schooler who can organize part or all of their school to make a music video. Only one video per school. You must get school boss-man blessings!
How to Enter
- To enter and get final instructions, email schoolvideo@vindy.com. See the official rules for more details.
Some Featured Artists That are Participating in This Year's Contest.
JD Eicher
“The music that I’m writing and releasing is really mirroring who I am and where I am at that time in my life. It’s easy to perform songs when they’re very true.” So says JD Eicher, the Youngstown, OH-area born and bred musician who is set to release The Middle Distance via Rock Ridge Music on May 6, 2016. “I’m really glad that my career has taken the longer, ‘scenic’ route, because the music I’m writing now has a certain truth to it that I’m not sure I would have found otherwise.” The Middle Distance marks the first album Eicher will issue since sunsetting the moniker, JD Eicher & the Goodnights, used on the trilogy of titles, The Shape of Things, Shifting, and Into Place, released previously. Why the change? Eicher explains: “It's really just a shortening of the name. The band is still together, and this was a careful decision we made together. It felt natural with the conclusion of our album trilogy project, the personal nature of this new music, and a desire to simplify.”
Northern Whale
Northern Whale is an Alternative/Indie band from Austintown Ohio, formed by Jake Stephens (bass and keyboards), Jake Capezzuto (vocals and guitar) and Brandon Fisher (guitars) in 2009. Tyler Shaffer (drums) joined the band in 2010. In the fall of 2010, the band began working with producer Bob Beals and recorded "Janie" and" They Take It All". In 2011 "ANTS!", "It's Going Down Tonight" and "I Don't Know Why" were recorded. All five songs were recorded at Imperfekt Musik in Austintown Ohio. Since 2010, Northern Whale has played the following venues: The House of Blues, Cleveland; Hot Topic, Boardman; First Night Canfield, Canfield; 5th Quarter, Austintown; McMahon Hall, Canfield; Havana House, Niles; Great Lakes Mall, Mentor; Greenstock, Niles and the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon; Cleveland; Lemon Grove, Youngstown; Relay for Life, Austintown.
Jordan DePaul
Based out of Nashville, TN Jordan Depaul is a pop singer-songwriter who continues to push the boundaries of the genre. Blending his lyrical honesty with his unparalleled melodic sensibility, his songs will make your heart pound in more ways than one.
The Vindys
Since 2013, THE VINDYS have become one of the most sought after, premier bands in the Northeast Ohio area with their unique blend of pop, jazz, and rock. They have been described as “a vibrant slice of vintage pop theatre.” (Music Connection Magazine) and “slinky, sultry, and jazzy” (Guy D’Astolfo, The Vindicator). Through the incorporation of multiple genres into one cohesive sound, The Vindys have the ability to appeal to a wide audience. Their versatility and incomparable style is one of the many reasons why The Vindys are a rarity amongst other groups. Their professional sound, as well as alluring stage presence and magnetic charisma, is supported by the band’s background and expertise in music performance, education, and production.
Spirit of the Bear
"Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, but now located in Columbus, Spirit of the Bear launched themselves quickly into the local spotlight after forming in the summer of 2014. Their sound, a unique blend of indie rock and electronic influences, is prevalent throughout their recordings and live performances, and this element makes Spirit of the Bear one of the most exciting rock acts around today. The band consists of James Harker (guitar, vocals), Danny Svenson (keys, electronics), Ethan Schwendeman (keys), Mike Perorazio (Bass) and Jamie Vitullo (drums, percussion). The group's versatility and wide breadth of musical background makes for a sound that is original and complex, while still relatable to its audience."
Bonus Content
Here are some cool extras you should check out.
About Your Video
- Judging criteria for winning video will include:
- Best use of campus and community, including number of people and places in the shoot.
- Communicating the theme of the song you select.
- Overall technical production quality — video, audio, lead singer lip-synching, editing, choreography, etc
- Celebrate your school!!
- New this year: Divisions
- You need to claim a division based on your school’s structure:
- SPIELBERG — if your school has set AV, Video and Media instruction of any sort, you will be deemed Spielberg-like and be placed together.
- SANDLER — If your school has no official programming or staffing in this area of expertise, you’re in the Sandler division.
The winning school:
- This whole contest is mainly a pride thing to showcase your schools.
- For the winners, it will also be a trophy thing. So winning schools will have that coming.
General Rules
- Video must be student-produced. Teachers/staff should only supervise, keep students out of trouble, and do weird things on camera for the sake of laughs.
- Participants must send commitment to tfranko@vindy.com .
- All videos must be submitted to The Vindicator by Friday, March 15, 2019.
- You must use a song listed on the VINDY HS MUSIC VIDEO list on Spotify.
- Open to ALL high schools in 5-county Vindy coverage area: Mahoning, Columbiana, Trumbull, Mercer and Lawrence.
- Winners will be determined by judges who are some pretty cool people. You’ll also get to sandbag the voting process by getting all your friends to vote for you as well. Get your enemies to vote, too. That will happen in April.
Video Absolutes
- Please use the song in its entirety — uncut, unmixed, etc. Don’t go extended techno on us!!!! No countrifying it. Hip-hoppin’ it is a no-no
- Your video can use scripting/acting before the song and after the song, but no 4-part HBO documentaries!!! Maximum video length is 6 minutes.
- Students can choose
- The strict lip-dub format of a single-camera shot with people lining the hallway from start to finish of song. (See South Range)
- An acted/scripted video that is less people, but more theatric and storytelling. (See Girard)
We suggest that a great video will blend both concepts.
For a full list of the rules, click here. We encourage you to bend them; find loopholes; surprise us and the community. And produce a great video that celebrates your school and shows your creativity.