Coastermania Film Contest Question?

Does anyone know who was the top five videos for the film contest and who was the lucky winner? If not that's ok because i was unable to go and i was wondering if mine was one of the top 5.

I don't know who all the entries were, but the five finalists were, in order of appearance...

o a 1991 video of Magnum XL-200
o a look at HalloWeekends 2008
o a really good video showing the park's coasters
o an even better video showing everything in the park
o One enthusiast's maniacal preparations over the last 100 days for CoasterMania

The "100 days until CoasterMania" project was the winner, and from the general crowd reaction while it was being shown, I'd say it was probably a runaway favorite. Heck, I even voted for it, and the Magnum video was mine! :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I made the 4th video. I was really glad it made it in...though, I thought I sent in a different one, so I was surprised when that one showed up on the screen. I was happy nonetheless. I thought the overall concept of the film festival was great. I hope they bring it back next year.

Anyone know who did the Halloweekends video??

I liked all the entries. Yours had a nice nostalgic feel to it Dave (not personally but in general:)) and yours was awesome Michael. I've seen it (and the 3rd one) before on youtube and yours is up there on my favorites list. The 100 days countdown was just soooo funny I couldn't resist but to vote on it. Congrats to both of you for your videos making it in the presentation.

Now I'm kind of bummed I didn't check out the film contest. I would have liked to see the Halloweekends video.

My video was actually a project that I put together to test an offline edit suite I had just put together, hence the total lack of any effects of any kind. It was done in 1991 using footage I shot with a single-chip VHS camcorder, and I honestly didn't think it had a chance. I only submitted it because I knew that Magnum was supposed to be the star of the weekend, and I wonder if the fact that it focused entirely on Magnum was the reason it made it to the show. All four of the other videos were of higher technical quality, and in my opinion, #3 and #4 both were of greater artistic merit, although one...I forget which...seemed to rely too heavily on some gratuitous visual effects.

I suppose I could have submitted my Dragster video from 2003, but that is, quite frankly, a little less than flattering... :)

Personally, I enjoyed the film festival, although they really needed to do it in a room where they had some light control, and they really needed to have the setup done before the house opened. And am I the only one who thinks that popcorn would have been a nice touch? :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I had a really, uh, "robust" idea for a film, but just didn't go through with it. I doubt it would've made the finals for content.

RideMan said:
Personally, I enjoyed the film festival, although they really needed to do it in a room where they had some light control, and they really needed to have the setup done before the house opened. And am I the only one who thinks that popcorn would have been a nice touch? :)

I was thinking popcorn would be a good addition also. We all need to suggest that when the COASTERMANIA survey sight starts in a week.

As I was walking past the Hot Summer Lights show Saturday evening, I thought to myself that it would be a neat thing to showcase the winning video on the large screen just prior to Hot Summer Lights show. I'm sure the crowd waiting to see the usual show would be excited to see something out of the ordinary for the park.

Anyone know where I can view the winning video?

I asked Bryan Edwards if he could post the wining video and he said he'd like too. I know that's not an answer. But, maybe it will be in the blog in the next week or so.

I thought that Bryan said at the luncheon that he was going to put the winning video up on the new coastermania website in the next week or so. That, along with the feedback that he asked for about this year's format.