Through The Trapdoor - The First Challenge

A shadow obscures the view from the dirty window panes. Hagrid. You have come to meet him, although he doesn’t know who you are, you still feel some anxiety. A fleeting glance to the chair next to you indicates [or invites] him to sit down. While Hagrid tries to make his way across the busy room your thoughts drift to the reason why both of you are here.

Hogwarts security is thorough but not enough to ward of someone with your capabilities… you have heard rumours… of a treasure hidden, of enormous possibilities…wealth, eternal life… hmm doesn’t that sound good...

Of course it does..., but you will have to overcome several tasks to gain your prize. That’s why you have come to meet Hagrid. He will know how to complete the first task successfully. The dog… that enormous three headed beast. The drool…you still shudder when remembering you came face to face with him.

You were looking straight into the eyes of a monstrous dog, a dog that filled the whole space between ceiling and floor. It had three heads. Three pairs of rolling, mad eyes; three noses twitching and quivering in their direction; three drooling mouths, saliva hanging in slippery ropes from yellowish fangs.

“Disgusting.”

“Wha’ did yeh say?”

“Oh, just talking to myself. Anything to drink?”

“Nah, I am covered, the barman is a mate o' mine.”

“So how are things Hagrid? Did I tell you, what I bought on a market in Sumbawanga? An egg of a newly discovered dragon species. It's purple and close to hatching."

“I have a rare dog of me own! Three heads, very obedient. He’s called Fluffy. Do yeh have the dragon egg with yeh?”

“Three heads? Oh my how I would like to see it. But isn’t he too big and dangerous?”

“Yeh can’t. He’s doing somethin' for Professor Dumbledore at Hogwarts. Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep. Now about tha’ dragon egg…”

“Oh I have it in my room. You may have it if you want. I can’t care for it myself. I will get it for you...”

…

As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls meet your ears. All three of the dog's noses sniff madly in your direction, even though it couldn't see you yet.

It’s time… now you have to face Fluffy to reach the trapdoor and complete the task or be eaten…


The Task: And there was music


Create a song which would put Fluffy to sleep.



Requirements:

1. The song must have original lyrics created by yourself. You can create a song based on an existing tune. Good examples can be found here (http://home.att.net/%7Ecoriolan/stone.htm#Fluffy_The_Dog)
2. Should be Harry Potter themed and mention Fluffy and the Philosopher's Stone (only stone allowed too) at least once.
3. You may use actual music to support your song (i.e. provide karaoke music or instrumental piece via Youtube or similar sites). In case you can't find this, provide the original song. It's easier to judge a song when you hear music behind it.

4. Possible Bonus points if you create a video of your song + music + lyrics.


Rules:

1. Only original work may be submitted. This obviously only applies to the song lyrics. You are welcome to use music made by others. We don't expect that you compose your own music.

2. If we find out that non original song lyrics are used, you will be disqualified from this task. Plagiarism is bad.


Tech stuff:

1. Use sites like Youtube to upload your potential video's, Photobucket is fine as well.
2. Provide an url or embedded link.
3. Please make your entry as anonymous as possible, so do not use your CoS username in the video or on the site you upload the video.


Submission

1. When you submit your song, it's finished and no alterations are allowed.
2. Submit your song to one of the following staffmembers: Hes (http://www.cosforums.com/member.php?u=52712), SusanBones (http://www.cosforums.com/member.php?u=47011) or Nadia (http://www.cosforums.com/member.php?u=118687).


Deadline: Midnight May 1st PST. (timezone converter (http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc))


Comments and questions can be asked in this thread.

Good luck!

will we get extra points if we actually compose a tune? Or sing it? (which probably won't happen :lol:)

Do we have to sing this song (I know in the video, but that's not a requirement)?

Let me get this straight. We're writing a song, but we don't have to actually find music for it?

I knew those warning owls will pay off some day... :rotfl:

I'm SO in! :tu: :D

Oh, wow :err:

Hmm, I've never actually tried filking myself. Maybe I'll give it ago if I get inspired. :D

Oy vey... :lol:

This is going to be fun :lol:.

Wow, it's all I can say now :wow:

Two things,
Do I have to make a long song?

and, just to be clear, we send it as a message?

Okay, my questions are done.This looks like fun!:)

May we play the song as well, if we are talented in the music arts? Record ourselves playing the tune and put it with the lyrics?

Two things,
Do I have to make a long song?

and, just to be clear, we send it as a message?

Okay, my questions are done.This looks like fun!:)You would send your entry to one of us in an OWL.

May we play the song as well, if we are talented in the music arts? Record ourselves playing the tune and put it with the lyrics?Yes, you could play the song yourself.

Fun fun funn! :)

I'm very excited. Even though writing songs isn't one of my given talents, I'll give it a go.

So is there a min or max length for the song?

Sounds like a lot of fun! *is still cracking up at some of the examples songs*

With the music, if we provide you with the original song (with the original lyrics) in addition to our revised addition, will that help in your judging?

:err: I don't really know if I'm going to give this a go...

Let me get this straight: we can provide a video with the original music, with our own lyrics on the side, that have to fit the original music, right? Just written lyrics. Because if I sing, I'll put not only Fluffy but all the Mods to sleep - either that or they'll just put earplugs on or leave the room/forum screaming. :lol:

Plus, I know how to embed a video, but have no idea how to record myself and put that online, the way Aaron did in his Holiday Calendar entry. :no:

Does the music have to be a lullaby, or so boring that Fluffy is sure to go to sleep? Does Fluffy sleep through, say, rock music? ;)

ETA - I'd also like clarification on whether there is a minimum or maximum length. :)

Those examples gave me an idea :evil:

I've just finished writing the lyrics, but I don't have the patience to find a decent lyric-less version of the original song (Key word: decent. The one I did manage to find barely sounded like the original.)

I think I'm just going to submit my lyrics and a youtube video of the original song being performed at a concert.

And then this challenge will be out of the way and not distracting me from what I'm supposed to be doing... like finding a job. :scared:

Well, an idea came to me and I gave it a go. I Fluffyvised this song I was thinking of, and I think is ok, probably need to change a few bits :lol:
Though it repeats itself tons (cos thats what the original song does). Is that a problem? If there is a min or max, is there a min or max disluding repeated stuff? :lol:

Plus, I know how to embed a video, but have no idea how to record myself and put that online, the way Aaron did in his Holiday Calendar entry. :no:

I momentarily forgot about this :blush:

You are all evil. That is all I have to say.

Oooh, sounds fun! :D

BTW, is it just me, or is the entire fourth paragraph copied straight from PS/SS? :hmm:

You are all evil. That is all I have to say.

That is why I am a Slytherin. :D :evil:

BTW, is it just me, or is the entire fourth paragraph copied straight from PS/SS? :hmm:
It was the same thing for the Triwizard Tournament, if you remember. The text of the challenges are always quotes straight from the books. Then the Mods add the adjustments made to fit the on-line contest format. Like, "The First Task is Dragons. [...]" - then we learn that we had to draw a dragon instead of getting past one.

Should I just write the song and say I set it to this tune or must I do something else. Please help.

So is there a min or max length for the song?

No, there isn't.

With the music, if we provide you with the original song (with the original lyrics) in addition to our revised addition, will that help in your judging?

Well you could do that, especially if the song isn't wellknown. It's not an requirement though.

Let me get this straight: we can provide a video with the original music, with our own lyrics on the side, that have to fit the original music, right? Just written lyrics. Because if I sing, I'll put not only Fluffy but all the Mods to sleep - either that or they'll just put earplugs on or leave the room/forum screaming. :lol:

Yes, that's right. No need to sing if you can't :lol:

Does the music have to be a lullaby, or so boring that Fluffy is sure to go to sleep? Does Fluffy sleep through, say, rock music? ;)


No, that's not a necessity. Our Fluffy falls asleep to anything, as long as there is some melody and rythme to it and not a whole lot of screaming :lol:


Well, an idea came to me and I gave it a go. I Fluffyvised this song I was thinking of, and I think is ok, probably need to change a few bits :lol:
Though it repeats itself tons (cos thats what the original song does). Is that a problem? If there is a min or max, is there a min or max disluding repeated stuff? :lol:

No, not a problem and you may repeat as much like you want. As long as there is a bit of variation :)

Not something like...

I want Fluffy to go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep

Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeep now!
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

etc.

Oooh, sounds fun! :D

BTW, is it just me, or is the entire fourth paragraph copied straight from PS/SS? :hmm:

Yep, Hagrid could say better then anyone else :D

Should I just write the song and say I set it to this tune or must I do something else. Please help.

Yes, write the song and provide a video of the tune (if it exists). If we know the tune, it's easier to follow the flow of the song. However if you can't find it online, it's not a huge problem :)

Okay I got that. :) Thank you Hes. :)

Not something like...

I want Fluffy to go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep

Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeep now!
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

etc.


Such talent, such creativity! :rotfl:

This is an example of how it shouldn't be. Are you implying I can't write HP songs?

Two questions:

* We are allowed to post YouTube videos that we didn't make ourselves, right? Just as long as that video has the tune we're using for the song?

* Is it OK if we use a song in another language than English? As long as you have the tune, the original language of the lyrics shouldn't matter, right? Music is, after all, universal. I do understand that we write our songs in English. I wouldn't put the Mods through a "Fluffy go to sleep" song in Vietnamese. :lol:

This sounds like fun. I actually did something similar (write different lyrics for a well-known song) for a colleague's farewell party. Then a group of us rehearsed singing the song with the new lyrics and sang it together at the party. It was a riot.

This is an example of how it shouldn't be. Are you implying I can't write HP songs?

Of course not! We all know you're the mastermind behind Wizard Rock! :p

But I really want to hear to a couple of you sing! Don't worry, we're not American Idol :lol:

Two questions:

* We are allowed to post YouTube videos that we didn't make ourselves, right? Just as long as that video has the tune we're using for the song?

Yep.

* Is it OK if we use a song in another language than English? As long as you have the tune, the original language of the lyrics shouldn't matter, right? Music is, after all, universal. I do understand that we write our songs in English. I wouldn't put the Mods through a "Fluffy go to sleep" song in Vietnamese. :lol:


It's fine :)

Of course not! We all know you're the mastermind behind Wizard Rock! :p

But I really want to hear to a couple of you sing! Don't worry, we're not American Idol :lol:

I am too modest to brag about my talents :whistle:

We are not? But you confessed to me that Simon Cowell is your idiol when it comes to judging.

2. Should be Harry Potter themed and mention Fluffy and the Philosopher's Stone (only stone allowed too) at least once.
Does this mean we don't have to include "Philosopher's Stone" we can just include "Stone"?

Does this mean we don't have to include "Philosopher's Stone" we can just include "Stone"?

Yes exactly, since Philosopher is such a long word, it's fine to just use stone.

Yes exactly, since Philosopher is such a long word, it's fine to just use stone.This makes me very happy! :D

Another chance to show my ignorance: please define filk.

By Urban Dictionary:
Filk music is a musical movement among fans of science fiction and fantasy fandom and closely related activities, emphasizing content which is related to the genre or its fans, and promoting broad participation. Filkers are people who participate in this movement.
Gary McGath

This looks like great fun. Now I just have to figure out how on earth I'm going to manage it.

Not something like...

I want Fluffy to go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep

Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeep now!
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

etc.


:rotfl:
Dang, back the the drawing board it is!

This sounds fun. I already have an idea for a not so serius song, but I think I will look for something more original first and fall back on it if I need to.

PST = Pacific Time? As in, the time zone in which the US city of Los Angeles is located?

PST = Pacific Time? As in, the time zone in which the US city of Los Angeles is located?

Yes :)

Think I may have to declare myself out of this one unless I get a sudden flash of inspiration or actual song writing talent.

SQUEE! What a great challenge!! I may even sing, as long as anyone who listens promises to keep it at a low volume to avoid any possibility of loss of hearing. :D

ETA: OH MY GOD I HAVE THE BEST IDEA EVER. Even though only, like, three people here will actually appreciate it. But they're the ones who count. :D

I'm willing to give this a go. Having never overdubbed or videoed anything in my life, no better time than the present to give it a shot I guess. :D

Unbelievable as it is, Morning Star just got some inspiration to write a song! :wow: That has never happened before! :D Perhaps, if I find a way I can make it possible, I will sing! Cover your ears, this is going to be ear-splitting singing... :D No, it wont, but I do very much look forward to find the result of this contest both for me and all the wonderful and talented people on CoS Forums! :D

If we tape ourselves singing do we have to have an image on the video, or can we just have the sound and a blank screen?

If we tape ourselves singing do we have to have an image on the video, or can we just have the sound and a blank screen?
IMO, it'd look better if you put a picture on the screen, even if it's the same picture throughout the song. Unless your song is lively, a blank screen may lull the Mods to sleep. It's Fluffy you have to put to sleep, not the Mods. :)

I have another question: What happens after May Day, after all the entries are in? The Judges confer and rate the entries? How long will we have to wait for the results to be posted?

I don't envy the judges, btw, considering the potential number of entries and the many talents some students have already shown in previous contests. No wonder they closed off the other threads in the Quibbler! They need all the (wo)manpower they can get for this. :lol:

If we tape ourselves singing do we have to have an image on the video, or can we just have the sound and a blank screen?

I have no problems with that at all :)

I have another question: What happens after May Day, after all the entries are in? The Judges confer and rate the entries? How long will we have to wait for the results to be posted?


How the judging will go will be revealed when it's May 1st :)

I can't give you a time how long it will take, it all depends on the amount of entries and availability of the staff at that time.

They will probably have it like the elections. Some of the contests will be judged by the mods others polls. This is one that they pobably don't want use to know how they are judging it.

Even though my song is finished, I am not going to send it in right away, so that I can make changes if I want.

I think my post may have been inadvertently ignored so I shall ask my question again. I hope this is okay. What we have to submit are the written version of the lyrics. Optional is a recording, am I correct?

I think my post may have been inadvertently ignored so I shall ask my question again. I hope this is okay. What we have to submit are the written version of the lyrics. Optional is a recording, am I correct?

I overlooked your question, sorry about that.

Yes, we do need the written lyrics, that's the most important thing.

Anything else is optional but can/will earn you bonus points.

Would I be correct to assume that all the entries will eventually be posted in a thread somewhere? Or will it only be the winning entries?

Yes, of course they will all become visible :)

This is going to be a real challenge to complete. Excellent! :D

I overlooked your question, sorry about that.

Yes, we do need the written lyrics, that's the most important thing.

Anything else is optional but can/will earn you bonus points.
That's all right, you probably saw my post before I edited it with the actual question! Thanks for the answer. That's what I thought, but wanted to make sure. I don't want to send an incomplete entry!

Not something like...

I want Fluffy to go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep

Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeep now!
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

etc.


There goes my idea... :whistle: Just kidding...Well, this is going to be interesting :p I'm not that great at writing songs but this will be SO MUCH FUN!!!!!
1 question though.... will we be eliminated if we dont do good on a challenge or will we be able to do all of them?

There is absolutely no elimination.

This challenge will have a winner but if you don't do well this time, you will have the other challenges to gather points. The points awarded for each task will count towards an overall winner(s) at the end.

Well, I am excited. I like writing. I'm okay at writing poetry. I'm not very good at writing songs, but I have done it before (part of another online game), so I'll see what I can do with this. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! I'm glad I have my new computer (yes, it came just in time for the first challenge just like I wanted!) so I can watch all the videos.

Wow.... what a challenge! I have just been snooping around a bit, and yet again I have discovered that my computer has a few bits and pieces of software which I didn't know it had.

hehe. There's a threat of everyone having to listen to Klio sing. You have been warned. :lol:

I'm looking forward to hearing you sing...or should I be preparing the earplugs? ;)

Not something like...

I want Fluffy to go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep

Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeep now!
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

I'll make sure not to do that :rotfl:

Edit: Dang it! That's so catchy!

:rockon: Fluffy go to sleep, Fluffy go to sleep, Fluffy go to sleep, Sleep now!

I'm looking forward to hearing you sing...or should I be preparing the earplugs? ;)

:hmm:

Yay! Thanks Hes!
Well, Wij just got some inspiration!!! Off i go! *goes to write song*

We don't actually have to compete in all the challenges do we?

got a quick question about the video, does it have to be a video? I found the song I really want to use, but there's not video for it. when I send in my entry, can I give you the link to the page where the song can be found?

For the lyrics, can mock-swearing be used? Substituting @#$% for another word, for example.

Sounds like fun. Hopefully I can fit this into my work schedule.

Oh so every single entry will be awarded points?

Wow I don't envy the Mods! :whistle:

We don't actually have to compete in all the challenges do we?

No, but if you want to have a chance to win the prize at the end (the big one for the overall winner) you should participate in as many challenges as possible.

got a quick question about the video, does it have to be a video? I found the song I really want to use, but there's not video for it. when I send in my entry, can I give you the link to the page where the song can be found?

That's alright, as long as we can hear the song easily.


For the lyrics, can mock-swearing be used? Substituting @#$% for another word, for example.

Well if you have "swear", I guess it's alright.

Oh so every single entry will be awarded points?


Yes, it's the same as like how it was done during the Triwizard Tournament.

I have a question: Are we allowed to tell other people what we're doing, like what song we're using or what kind of video?

Oh, and if I'm singing/playing instruments, can I have someone else (someone not on CoS) singing or playing also? Or does it have to be just me?

I have a question: Are we allowed to tell other people what we're doing, like what song we're using or what kind of video?

You may tell them, but there might be a catch. During the whole contest we will keep an eye out for potential voting blocks that are based on the Houses. We want people to vote for the best entries and not for house mates/friends.

Oh, and if I'm singing/playing instruments, can I have someone else (someone not on CoS) singing or playing also? Or does it have to be just me?

Yes, it's okay to have another person to accompany you.

Does that mean that not just the mods/judges will see my song, but it will eventually be exposed to the whole board? Or will that be just the top contenders? *dies*

Not something like...

I want Fluffy to go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep

Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeep now!
Fluffy go to sleep
Fluffy go to sleep
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

etc.

Oh, darn it, I guess I have to write a new song now...I mean, that is just so catchy! :rockon:Fluffy go to sleep, Sleeep now!, Fluffy go to sleep

Okay, I think I will actually try making a video. Just, be prepared to plug your ears/run screaming from the room when you hear it. =) (No, I am not joking. Totally serious here.)

EDIT: Yes, of course they will all become visible

WOAH, woah, woah, woah, am I to understand that people other than the mods will hear my (terrible) singing??:scared: Uhhhh....Maybe I will not make a video...

I heard Simon Cowell is one of the judges. :relax:


I have some ideas, just need to see what to do with them. I'm excited to see all the entries.

You may tell them, but there might be a catch. During the whole contest we will keep an eye out for potential voting blocks that are based on the Houses. We want people to vote for the best entries and not for house mates/friends.

Yes, it's okay to have another person to accompany you.

OK, thanks a lot. :)

Does that mean that not just the mods/judges will see my song, but it will eventually be exposed to the whole board? Or will that be just the top contenders? *dies*

Yup everyone :elaugh:

But I promise we won't judge the actual singing like American Idol.



Since my Fluffy song is so popular I wonder if I should claim ownership and wait for the royalties :rockon:

Ouch. That definitely puts a damper on my enthusiasm.

Though I suppose just posting the lyrics in text format with a recording of someone else singing the song I based it off would garner fewer points.
:snap:

Since my Fluffy song is so popular I wonder if I should claim ownership and wait for the royalties :rockon:

An ice cream truck just passed by a little while ago and now i keep on humming the Fluffy song to it.... Fluffy go to sleep, Fluffy got to sleep, Fluffy go to sleeeep Fluffy SLEEEP NOW!!!!

:rockon:.... okay it's getting annoying now... Its stuck in my head :grumble:

Ohhh excellent :elaugh:

:grumble:

So, am I right in thinking that the judging, voting (or whatever) is supposed to be anonymous - i.e. any lyrics or videos should not include our user name?

So, am I right in thinking that the judging, voting (or whatever) is supposed to be anonymous - i.e. any lyrics or videos should not include our user name?

Yes, if possible. I understand it can be difficult, if your account on a video hosting site is the same or similar. But if people can try to avoid it, that would be helpful. If not, we might find away around it. But I don't know that yet.

I didn't even think as far as video hosting sites yet! :lol:

Too true...

So will you get more points if you actually sing the song or will having superior lyrics be enough to get us the total amount of points possible?

Wait, how can we have an anonymous video? Is there any way of getting an anonymous video to someone? I am confuzzled...

Also, is it okay if we have someone else singing our song on the video? Because I would really not like anyone else in the world to hear my singing, but my sister has a great voice and she said she would be happy to sing my song on a video, if she is allowed.

The Admins are going to post the songs/videos for everyone to see and they want to keep the authers secret, so
If you are going to put the video on a photobucket page or video server, don't use your real name, so that no one can look at the properties and figure out whos it is. If you are just using a you tube song, it doesn't matter.

So will you get more points if you actually sing the song or will having superior lyrics be enough to get us the total amount of points possible?

Well you can win bonus points that's all I am going to say for now.

Wait, how can we have an anonymous video? Is there any way of getting an anonymous video to someone? I am confuzzled...

Just don't use your CoS username.

Also, is it okay if we have someone else singing our song on the video? Because I would really not like anyone else in the world to hear my singing, but my sister has a great voice and she said she would be happy to sing my song on a video, if she is allowed.

Okay, but make it clear it's not you but your sister.

Is it OK to use an instrumental tune that doesn't have lyrics but which has a single clear melody to which we can fit lyrics? (hope that makes sense). I don't actually have any ideas yet, just wondering...

From what the mods have said it should be ok but I think that if the tune is well known it will probably be better received.

^ Doesn't matter now anyway - I came up with another idea which I've finished and have just submitted - eeek! :D

wait for the Rigdoctorbri to get his grove on...Fluffy will be in slumberland...

Oh my...:lol: I'll have to see about this one. I'm no songwriter. ;)

I love the samples though, great work everyone!

Is it OK to use an instrumental tune that doesn't have lyrics but which has a single clear melody to which we can fit lyrics? (hope that makes sense). I don't actually have any ideas yet, just wondering...
Actually, if I understood Prof. Hagrid right, I think that's exactly what we're supposed to do. Post a tune (or song if we can't find an instrumental version) so that the Judges can check that your lyrics fit in with the melody (like, have the right number of syllables to match the notes).

What's this about posting everyone's videos? Does that mean we will be part of the judging, not only the Mods?

I had understood it that the people who submit their own videos should not do it from an account with a username that would help the Mods identify them, so that they can be judged "blindly" (the way justice is blind). Maybe I misunderstood. :hmm:

What's this about posting everyone's videos? Does that mean we will be part of the judging, not only the Mods?

It will be revealed after the deadline how the judging will go. But be assured the videos will be posted for everyone to admire.

I had understood it that the people who submit their own videos should not do it from an account with a username that would help the Mods identify them, so that they can be judged "blindly" (the way justice is blind). Maybe I misunderstood. :hmm:

Well when you send us the video we obviously know who made what. But we still want videos to be as anonymous as possible.

Which should give you a hint of how the voting will be. I won't say anything more for now.

I had understood it that the people who submit their own videos should not do it from an account with a username that would help the Mods identify them, so that they can be judged "blindly" (the way justice is blind). Maybe I misunderstood. :hmm: Well when you send us the video we obviously know who made what. But we still want videos to be as anonymous as possible.

Which should give you a hint of how the voting will be. I won't say anything more for now.

OooOOohHhoh.... I see. I think I understand why this is significant;)


Darn. I already submitted my video, and at the beginning I said EXACTLY who I was by username:lol: Hopefully the mods (not mops, my typo) won't kill me for making them edit it:whistle:

Should our lyrics be confined to the events of PS/SS? Or can we reference things that occured later in the series? Would doing that lower our possible score?

Should our lyrics be confined to the events of PS/SS? Or can we reference things that occured later in the series? Would doing that lower our possible score?

It should be HP related, so if you want to write about another HP event that's fine. Just mention Fluffy and the (Philosopher's) stone :)

Actually, if I understood Prof. Hagrid right, I think that's exactly what we're supposed to do. Post a tune (or song if we can't find an instrumental version) so that the Judges can check that your lyrics fit in with the melody (like, have the right number of syllables to match the notes).


:lol: No, no, I meant were we allowed to use a song that never originally had lyrics, for example the Lord of the Rings theme. I know we needed to post an instrumental version of the song we'd chosen. :). Already done mine now anyway, so it doesn't matter.

I think that I have an idea :clap: Not a good one mind you, but an idea...

Can we just submit lyrics to the song itself? I sadly have no way of being able to make a video for it... :(

Can we just submit lyrics to the song itself? I sadly have no way of being able to make a video for it... :(
Just take a video from YouTube, and put your own lyrics below it, that's what I did. Send either the link or the embedded video or both (I sent both to make sure the Mods would get everything.)

It's actually fairly easy to make a video with Windows MovieMaker (comes free with every PC), but it takes a fair amount of time. I wanted to try my hand at it, but just couldn't spare enough time to look for appropriate pictures and try to fit pictures and lyrics together. :whistle:

I was trying to see if I could figure out another song, but it is hard once you have a different tune in mind. It keeps popping into your head.

What are the tag codes for a youtube type vid?

What are the tag codes for a youtube type vid?

video code

the video code is found in the url...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...here

Wow, that is like much simpler than I thought... I now have two youtube examples of the music and my lyrics ready. All I need to know is... do I need to record myself actually singing them, will I be able to figure out how to do that and upload it onto a vidhosting site, and am I really brave enough to let all of you hear my rl singing voice...
Oh, and could I possibly put together a video of PS movie footage to go with it. But probably not.

Does it matter if we don't use the the music from a whole song, if it's really long?

Does it matter if we don't use the the music from a whole song, if it's really long?

No, make the song as long as you want :)

When we send our entries in to one of you guys is there any particular heading you want on it? I'm sure you guys get owls all day, so do you want it to say:

"Though the Trapdoor-First challenge" or is putting "First challenge" fine?

For me personally it doesn't matter, when we see the song and video we know what it is about :)

No, make the song as long as you want :)So you don't mind that I've already composed this hour long song?

Is it midnight at the end of May 1st, or midnight at the beginning of May 1st?

It's Midnight May 1st PST. (timezone converter (http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc)) :)

Gertie - this is not clear, actually.

I am assuming that's why Lyra asked, because we discussed it in the Ravenclaw Common Room.

'Midnight May 1st' can mean the night between 30th April and 1st May, or the night between 1st May and 2nd May. - That's a 24 hour difference, so it matters. Especially to people who, like me, have an awful habit to go close to deadline. ;)

(AFAIK, international treaties tend to specify 00:01 on the date of the day following the midnight - that avoids ambiguity ;) )

Do we have to send a video or can we send in an mp3 of the song...or us singing it. I was thinking of playing the song and singing over the top of the original music, but I don't know about how to do a video, so could I just send you the mp3 file?

Just take a video from YouTube, and put your own lyrics below it, that's what I did. Send either the link or the embedded video or both (I sent both to make sure the Mods would get everything.)

It's actually fairly easy to make a video with Windows MovieMaker (comes free with every PC), but it takes a fair amount of time. I wanted to try my hand at it, but just couldn't spare enough time to look for appropriate pictures and try to fit pictures and lyrics together. :whistle:
I can't do that either. I don't have the ability or the time to do that.

Is it midnight at the end of May 1st, or midnight at the beginning of May 1st?

Gertie - this is not clear, actually.

I am assuming that's why Lyra asked, because we discussed it in the Ravenclaw Common Room.

'Midnight May 1st' can mean the night between 30th April and 1st May, or the night between 1st May and 2nd May. - That's a 24 hour difference, so it matters. Especially to people who, like me, have an awful habit to go close to deadline. ;)

(AFAIK, international treaties tend to specify 00:01 on the date of the day following the midnight - that avoids ambiguity ;) )

May 1st is a Friday. You have all day on Friday, May 1st to get the entry to us. The deadline is 11:59:59pm plus 1 second Pacific Time on Friday, May 1st. So, as soon as the clocks turn to May 2nd in the Pacific US Time zone, it is too late.

Do we have to send a video or can we send in an mp3 of the song...or us singing it. I was thinking of playing the song and singing over the top of the original music, but I don't know about how to do a video, so could I just send you the mp3 file?
Funny, I know how to post/embed a video, I'm not sure if we can post an mp3 file on a forum page. :p

Denise, it's really easy to make a video. I learned how to do that for the Ministerial elections last year, and it took me no time at all to get the workings of it. Windows MovieMaker, which comes with every computer running on Windows, is very user-friendly. It's child's play, really.

If you don't want to make a video, you can give the link to one on YouTube or another hosting site that plays the melody you want, and add your lyrics on the side, or rather below the video. I understand several contestants did it that way. :)

Good luck! :)

Fawkesfan1, you don't have to make a video if you don't have the time, but sending a video from YouTube takes less than a minute. :)

If I wanted to do a video that has pictures in it that I obtained online, do you need a "credits page" to be included?

I looked at the Windows Movie Maker on this laptop, and can't even figure out how to import video.

I have figured out the webcam, though I'm not sure if I'd be able to upload a video recording.

Still waiting to see if SageRacer can borrow a USB mic.

I looked at the Windows Movie Maker on this laptop, and can't even figure out how to import video.
You just import the video recording into the "Collections" page, the way you import music or pictures.

Then you put the screen on "show storyline" and drag the videoclip into the appropriate square.

I use mostly stills, though. For the Cedric Campaign videos I made, I used videoclips from GoF, that boushh very kindly ripped from the movie dvd for me. I still haven't learned how to do that. But you can play around with stills quite a bit, with "video transitions" and "video effects" (zoom in or out, fade in or out, etc.) You can make a pretty cool video using only pictures. In .jpg format, or .gif format (gif format is animated, so it's as good as a mini videoclip.)

For example, look at this video I made (nothing to do with Harry Potter), it's composed entirely of .jpg or .gif images (see the image of the tear running down the girl's cheek for example) - sorry, the song is in French, but you can just look at the pictures, you'll see what I mean.

WQGquDlcm3s

Yes, ripping videos is something I still haven't figured out, either.

That is of course a bit of an obstacle for the movie maker!


One thing that's a bonus is that you can make animated things with ImageReady (if you have it) or some other animation programmes and import them to the movie maker. I find that it's a lot easier to control things that way.


I yet have to upload a finished video to YouTube, though. Just hopeing that it won't be too much of a problem! :)

So you don't mind that I've already composed this hour long song?

Well an hour long song is a bit long, you need to keep your audience ;)

Do we have to send a video or can we send in an mp3 of the song...or us singing it. I was thinking of playing the song and singing over the top of the original music, but I don't know about how to do a video, so could I just send you the mp3 file?

All fine by me. If you can't make a video, it's alright. Don't worry too much about it.

If I wanted to do a video that has pictures in it that I obtained online, do you need a "credits page" to be included?

Only when you use fanart and if you want you can credit the music artist. Movie stills are obvious, we know where they come from.

Darn it! I'm going to have to do some major trimming. ;)

Okay, I've played with MovieMaker some more and imported movie stills from the web.

Cool! Thanks, Fleur! :huggles:

I yet have to upload a finished video to YouTube, though. Just hopeing that it won't be too much of a problem! :)

YouTube is pretty much the easiest website to use I've seen in my life. You won't have a problem. :)

How do I get actual short clips from the movie, instead of just stills?

For us US readers who read the Sorcerer's Stone instead of the Philosopher's Stone, it is permissible to refer to it as Sorcerer's Stone, isn't it? :lol: (I know only Stone is required.)

For us US readers who read the Sorcerer's Stone instead of the Philosopher's Stone, it is permissible to refer to it as Sorcerer's Stone, isn't it? :lol: (I know only Stone is required.)

Rule 2:
Should be Harry Potter themed and mention Fluffy and the Philosopher's Stone (only stone allowed too) at least once.

:evil:

How do I get actual short clips from the movie, instead of just stills?
You rip them from the dvd. There are several softwares to do that. I haven't tried it, though. Those clips take an awful lot of memory to store. You can do it but a series of stills is just as effective. Have a look at the Cedric Team's Holiday Calendar entry. Fleur made that one, she used both stills and a few clips, and it worked well. Here it is for reference:

UFPMrZ5P1nA


So you don't mind that I've already composed this hour long song?
Whoa!!! :wow: With the expected number of entries, people may not be ready to sit through an hour-long song. You may get the award for longest entry, though. :cool:

My entry is about 2 minutes. I thought it was quite enough. :rockon:

And hour long song!?! :wow: *faints* At least you know that Quirell is stuck in the Mirror of Erised!

I just realized what this whole thing was about, so I'm way behind. :whistle:
I'm nervous. I'm not really known for having any songwriting talents, but I'm known for being open to making a fool out of myself. So I will be trying. :lol:

I hasn't got a DVD of the Sorcerer's Stone, precious. I might have it on VCR. What I was wondering is, is it possible to get short clips of it on the web. I drove myself loopy trying to find the trap door part of the movie on youtube the other day. Or was it yesterday? It might have been, but it feels longer ago.

are we allowed to use lyrics from not copyrighted songs like happy birthday and jingle bells? :whistle:

are we allowed to use lyrics from not copyrighted songs like happy birthday and jingle bells? :whistle:
I'm sure that Jingle Bells is copyrighted. :)

We don't want you to use lyrics word for word from someone else and say that you wrote them. You can use the music, though.

Jingle bells is copyrighted, really?

oh well my idea wasn't really using the complete song or anything, it was sort of a really really poor joke that i just felt like doing before the actual song where i sing like random songs.

but then again, i don't think i could put together really anything in one day...

Happy Birthday actually is copyrighted.

ah well, at least i asked :D

Rell's right. Surprisingly enough, Happy Birthday is copyrighted. I was astonished to learn that a few years ago.

who's it copyrgihted by anyways? :hmm:

A couple of sisters, I think.

The melody of "Happy Birthday to You" comes from the song "Good Morning to All", which was written and composed by American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) sisters Patty Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Hill) and Mildred J. Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred_J._Hill) in 1893 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1893).


The melody of "Happy Birthday to You" comes from the song "Good Morning to All", which was written and composed by American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) sisters Patty Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Hill) and Mildred J. Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred_J._Hill) in 1893 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1893).[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_birthday_song#cite_note-2) They were both kindergarten school teachers in Louisville, Kentucky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville,_Kentucky), developing various teaching methods at what is now the Little Loomhouse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Loomhouse).[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_birthday_song#cite_note-3)[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_birthday_song#cite_note-4) The sisters created "Good Morning to All" as a song that would be easy to sing by young children[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_birthday_song#cite_note-5). The combination of melody and lyrics in "Happy Birthday to You" first appeared in print in 1912, and probably existed even earlier.[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_birthday_song#cite_note-6) None of these early appearances included credits or copyright (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright) notices. The Summy Company registered for copyright in 1935 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1935), crediting authors Preston Ware Orem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Ware_Orem) and Mrs. R.R. Forman. In 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990), Warner Chappell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner/Chappell_Music) purchased the company owning the copyright for US$15 million, with the value of "Happy Birthday" estimated at US$5 million.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_birthday_song#cite_note-7) Based on the 1935 copyright registration, Warner claims that U.S. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America) copyright won't expire until 2030, and that unauthorized public performances of the song are technically illegal unless royalties are paid to it.
In European Union (EU) countries the copyright in the song will expire December 31, 2016.
The actual U.S. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America) copyright status of "Happy Birthday to You" began to draw more attention with the passage of the Copyright Term Extension Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Term_Extension_Act) in 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998). When the U.S. Supreme Court (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States) upheld the Act in Eldred v. Ashcroft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldred_v._Ashcroft) in 2003 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003), Associate Justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associate_Justice_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_the_Unit ed_States) Stephen Breyer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Breyer) specifically mentioned "Happy Birthday to You" in his dissenting opinion.[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_birthday_song#cite_note-8) Professor Robert Brauneis (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Brauneis&action=edit&redlink=1) went so far as to conclude "It is doubtful that 'Happy Birthday to You', the famous offspring of 'Good Morning to All', is really still under copyright", in his heavily researched 2008 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008) paper

I hasn't got a DVD of the Sorcerer's Stone, precious. I might have it on VCR. What I was wondering is, is it possible to get short clips of it on the web. I drove myself loopy trying to find the trap door part of the movie on youtube the other day. Or was it yesterday? It might have been, but it feels longer ago.
Then you has a prrroblem, prrecioussss. You can download a video from YouTube onto your hard disk for your enjoyment, but you can't use clips from it, that's considered stealing. Also, when you download, you do it in .flv format, which MovieMaker doesn't recognize as a movie clip format.

There may be a way to rip clips from the VCR if you have it connected to your computer, but I don't know if that way really exists and I certainly don't know how to do it. Try googling "rip from vcr" and see if you come up with anything.

Someone more techie-savvy may have a better answer than what I can give. At any rate, good luck!

I turned my entry in a couple of days ago, so now I can relax. :relax:

ETA: Lyra, have you tried videohelp? They have all sorts of neat tricks they can show you, for quite a lot of things. I mostly use it to "dezone" my dvd players so I can play dvds from Europe, but I saw they had plenty of other Help categories. Once again, good luck!

I'm sure that Jingle Bells is copyrighted. :)

We don't want you to use lyrics word for word from someone else and say that you wrote them. You can use the music, though.

Does it matter that I kept a very tiny number of the original lyrics? :whistle:

but then again, i don't think i could put together really anything in one day...

You still have more then a week ;)

Does it matter that I kept a very tiny number of the original lyrics?

A few words is allowable :)

A few words is allowable :)
It'd also help to remind the judges of the original lyrics and the tune, which can't be too bad. I mean, for example, if you used, say "The Sounds of Silence" that starts off with "Hello darkness my old friend" and put "Hello Hagrid my dear man" instead, but then all the rest would be different, it would be acceptable, even helpful, wouldn't it?

It's a rhetorical question on my part, because I used a piece of music without any lyrics at all. And it was extremely difficult to find words to fit, much more difficult than if I had tried to use something that already had lyrics, I think. :agree:

It'd also help to remind the judges of the original lyrics and the tune, which can't be too bad. I mean, for example, if you used, say "The Sounds of Silence" that starts off with "Hello darkness my old friend" and put "Hello Hagrid my dear man" instead, but then all the rest would be different, it would be acceptable, even helpful, wouldn't it?

It's a rhetorical question on my part, because I used a piece of music without any lyrics at all. And it was extremely difficult to find words to fit, much more difficult than if I had tried to use something that already had lyrics, I think. :agree:

Maybe, yeah. But it doesn't matter that much to be honest. If you know the original song, the tune, that should be enough.

You still have more then a week ;)



A few words is allowable :)

im barely going to have enough time to sleep this week, never mind composing and performing a song :p. I'm only going to have like 1 or 2 days at most

and if a few words is ok, my idea will work :D

Hopefully, if one starts with a song well suited to being a lullaby, keeping words & phrases like "go to sleep," "lay down," and "while you're dreaming" would be okay, right?

Funny, I know how to post/embed a video, I'm not sure if we can post an mp3 file on a forum page. :p

Denise, it's really easy to make a video. I learned how to do that for the Ministerial elections last year, and it took me no time at all to get the workings of it. Windows MovieMaker, which comes with every computer running on Windows, is very user-friendly. It's child's play, really.

If you don't want to make a video, you can give the link to one on YouTube or another hosting site that plays the melody you want, and add your lyrics on the side, or rather below the video. I understand several contestants did it that way. :)

Good luck! :)

Fawkesfan1, you don't have to make a video if you don't have the time, but sending a video from YouTube takes less than a minute. :)I still can't do it -- I don't really have the time to learn how to do that sadly -- with my own comp down. All I can do is write up a song that has rhythm to it.

All I can do is write up a song that has rhythm to it.

Which is perfectly fine!

Really everyone, if you aren't able (for any reason) to create a video, don't stress yourself out. Just write a song and maybe add video of the original song. That's great as well.

I still can't do it -- I don't really have the time to learn how to do that sadly -- with my own comp down. All I can do is write up a song that has rhythm to it.
Computer down certainly is a problem. Can you borrow a friend's computer or go to a Kinko's or something? It takes less than a minute to get the link to a YouTube song and post it. Type the title of the song (usually there's several versions of it if it's well-known), pick the one you like, copy the link with "copy and paste", et voilà! Paste the link in your entry, plus the lyrics, owl everything to one of the Mods in charge of this, and you're done. You don't need a computer to write lyrics, as you already know. :cool: But you do need to have some music to go with your song, that's where YouTube can be of help.

Good luck! :)

Which is perfectly fine!

Really everyone, if you aren't able (for any reason) to create a video, don't stress yourself out. Just write a song and maybe add video of the original song. That's great as well.
Thanks for clearing that up Hes :).

Computer down certainly is a problem. Can you borrow a friend's computer or go to a Kinko's or something? It takes less than a minute to get the link to a YouTube song and post it. Type the title of the song (usually there's several versions of it if it's well-known), pick the one you like, copy the link with "copy and paste", et voilà! Paste the link in your entry, plus the lyrics, owl everything to one of the Mods in charge of this, and you're done. You don't need a computer to write lyrics, as you already know. :cool: But you do need to have some music to go with your song, that's where YouTube can be of help.

Good luck! :)
Nope can't do that -- since my friends live further away. So it'll be just some lyrics from me.

My entry is a song in French, with English lyrics (written by me). I'm putting in the YouTube link for the French song, so that people can follow the rhythm and that the verses are the same length. I trust that's OK? :whistle:

Hah, all I could do to wrestle the computer from my sister here. :rolleyes:

We didn't really have to create a video from scratch, right? Because we both used something we found on YouTube, we just put our own lyrics on the existing music. Hope that's OK.

Go Gryffindor!!

Good luck to Hufflepuffs too, since my twin somehow managed to get Sorted into a different House than me. I ask you!! *shakes head* :no:

As long as the lyrics are different and completely original, I'm sure its fine, I think there will be some overlap of videos. so I think you guys are ok.

Yup all okay, i've owled you two back as you will see :)

How's the judging actually going to be? Will the teachers decide or will the fellow students do that?

How's the judging actually going to be? Will the teachers decide or will the fellow students do that?

It will all be revealed when the entries are in, so probably on May 2nd :)

It will all be revealed when the entries are in, so probably on May 2nd :)
That's six whole more days to wait... http://freezone.photoimpact-international.com/images/emoticons/girl-smiley-fingertap-gigi.gif

Grrrr!! :argh:

I've recorded me singing my song but can't upload it. There is some problem with the computer not recognising a device and my husband thinks he may not have installed the drivers...

Anyway - there is a video of the original song on YouTube so i may have to post that with my lyrics :shrug:

:huggles: Hope you get it working!

I figured out Windows Movie Maker. (It really is as easy as Fleur and Muggle_Magic said.) I have pictures and I found a midi and a converter so I have the video set to music...so far without words. I've gotten over most of my cold, but this quickly changing weather and air conditioning just after my cold won't let me sing. (Literally, every time I try I have to cough or clear my throat every few lines and sound like Umbridge. *hemhem* :rolleyes:)

Still, I'm very happy with my entry. A bit more tweaking over the next couple of days and I have to figure out how to upload it but I'll have it done in plenty of time. :clap:

Anyway - there is a video of the original song on YouTube so i may have to post that with my lyrics :shrug:

Which is what I have done just now! *gulp*

Amazing, Den!!! :)

I am still figuring it out - but then, I haven't had much time yet to deal with it...

eheh first I have heard of this. So like we just make a video of a song and it can be say 30 seconds?

You should read the forum wide announcements Wick ;)

Well 30 seconds is okay, although you may find it's a bit short compared to most entries.

Well I read the rules and some posts...what does forum wide announcements mean? But I think I got it. I'll make it longer...

If you go to any (sub)forum you will see an announcement posted under the name of the forum. Currently it's Announcement: Come and participate in our Contest.

Anyway, we won't be too strict with the lenght of the song, just make sure it's not shorter then three verses/strophe.

What? First you tell me an hour might be too long and after I shortened you're telling me I need more than three lines? :no:

I meant stanza, sorry a translation error from my side. Three stanza at least.

However I think it's pretty logical that only three lines is not a song that would qualify.

Yay!! have uploaded recording onto my computer :clap:

I have a question about the anonymity thing - My photobucket account has the same user name as I have on here so can I use it anyway - I don't know how else to do it - and won't the mods know who it is anyway because like - the owl I send to them with my entry will have my name on? :hmm:

Yay!! have uploaded recording onto my computer :clap:

I have a question about the anonymity thing - My photobucket account has the same user name as I have on here so can I use it anyway - I don't know how else to do it - and won't the mods know who it is anyway because like - the owl I send to them with my entry will have my name on? :hmm:

We ask people not to use any name by which the video can easily be connected to you. So try if you can upload it on a site like imageshack (http://www.imageshack.us/). If that's impossible, owl one of us.

Of course the mods will know that you made it, it's not for ourselves that we ask for anonymity.

(Literally, every time I try I have to cough or clear my throat every few lines and sound like Umbridge. *hemhem* :rolleyes:)
That could be an interesting entry, if you can put lyrics to "hem hem". :lol:

I have to figure out how to upload it but I'll have it done in plenty of time. :clap:
That's even easier than figuring out Movie Maker. Just log in on YouTube, click on "Upload" then "upload video" (there are two options, can't remember what the second one is) and follow the instructions. Put in the title and description, add the tags, don't forget to "Save your changes", and when the thumbnails come up, know that they give you 3 pictures to choose from for your thumbnail. In that regard, Vimeo is much better, it gives you 9 pictures, plus it allows you to choose the picture you want (besides the 9 they pick at random) for your thumbnail. Since I discovered Vimeo, part by chance, part thanks to Fleur, I prefer it to YouTube, actually. It's a smaller site, so you don't have as wide an audience, but it has a lot more options for features than YouTube does. It's also a lot friendlier, and their Help feature is pretty good.

Well, I've gone ahead and sent my entry in -- before I was 100% satisfied with it, because I keep seeing "the internet cannot display the page" and I don't want to wait till the last minute only to have the whole web go bzzzert on me.

Blargh.

I still kind of hope the entries get thinned out a bit so that if my entry is way below the standard of every one else's, I won't be embarrassed when the whole board gets to see it.

Lyra your entry is really good, no need to worry!

Of course the mods will know that you made it, it's not for ourselves that we ask for anonymity.Ah Okay *feels like a dunderhead* :blush:

Thanks, Hes. I doubt if I'd ever have been fully satisfied, being a perfectionist.

That could be an interesting entry, if you can put lyrics to "hem hem". :lol:


That's even easier than figuring out Movie Maker. Just log in on YouTube, click on "Upload" then "upload video" (there are two options, can't remember what the second one is) and follow the instructions. Put in the title and description, add the tags, don't forget to "Save your changes", and when the thumbnails come up, know that they give you 3 pictures to choose from for your thumbnail. In that regard, Vimeo is much better, it gives you 9 pictures, plus it allows you to choose the picture you want (besides the 9 they pick at random) for your thumbnail. Since I discovered Vimeo, part by chance, part thanks to Fleur, I prefer it to YouTube, actually. It's a smaller site, so you don't have as wide an audience, but it has a lot more options for features than YouTube does. It's also a lot friendlier, and their Help feature is pretty good.

I'll check them out.

What if I use my photobucket account (I think I can do videos there) and use TinyURL to disguise the name of the link? People could still follow the link and figure it out if they try, but it won't be obvious. I just don't want to open an account I probably won't use again if I don't have to.


EDIT: Also, would you prefer YouTube as it can be embedded or is there a way to embed videos from photobucket or vimeo or wherever?

I meant stanza, sorry a translation error from my side. Three stanza at least.

However I think it's pretty logical that only three lines is not a song that would qualify.

Me being serious: Three stanzas! That's not a lot, but I was thinking one stanza was plenty. Fortunately, I have written more than one stanza.

Well, I have just got three stanzas or thereabouts. It clocks in at just over a minute at the moment.... but it might get a bit longer to fit with the video I am doing....

Also, would you prefer YouTube as it can be embedded or is there a way to embed videos from photobucket or vimeo or wherever?
It's possible to embed a video uploaded on Vimeo (I embedded several on my other chat site), but if you use it, you'd better choose a different pseudonym, because the name of the author appears on the first frame, under the title of the song.

Photobucket may be a problem because they reject pictures that may be copyrighted, including Harry Potter movie pictures, I've had the problem before, when I was doing the Cedric videos for the elections. I finally used YouTube, both for the elections and this time, for the contest - I asked a friend to upload my video for me on his account. He has no link whatsoever with CoS, so my anonymity is guaranteed. :cool:

Well, I have just got three stanzas or thereabouts. It clocks in at just over a minute at the moment.... but it might get a bit longer to fit with the video I am doing....
But the song doesn't have to be cut up in stanzas, does it? Mine is, but what if someone wrote a very short song, all in one piece, maybe 20 lines long? Is that too short? No stanzas is not grounds for disqualification, is it? :hmm:

I'll check them out.

What if I use my photobucket account (I think I can do videos there) and use TinyURL to disguise the name of the link? People could still follow the link and figure it out if they try, but it won't be obvious. I just don't want to open an account I probably won't use again if I don't have to.


EDIT: Also, would you prefer YouTube as it can be embedded or is there a way to embed videos from photobucket or vimeo or wherever?

I am not familiar with TinyUrl. But from your describtion it would still reveal your name.

You know, just send it in, I think we can upload it to CoS forums youtube account if it's a big problem.

both vimeo and Photobucket can embed by the way.

Me being serious: Three stanzas! That's not a lot, but I was thinking one stanza was plenty. Fortunately, I have written more than one stanza.

Well, I have just got three stanzas or thereabouts. It clocks in at just over a minute at the moment.... but it might get a bit longer to fit with the video I am doing....

Look I think it's a given that we don't want songs that only consist of about three to 10 lines and nothing else.


But the song doesn't have to be cut up in stanzas, does it? Mine is, but what if someone wrote a very short song, all in one piece, maybe 20 lines long? Is that too short? No stanzas is not grounds for disqualification, is it? :hmm:

No. 20 lines is fine.

Look I think it's a given that we don't want songs that only consist of about three to 10 lines and nothing else.

I've done just this. Should I change anything? Please help.

I've done just this. Should I change anything? Please help.

Huh, your song is 37 lines if I counted correctly. So no need to change!

Yay! *breathes sigh of relief* Thanks so much, Hes. :) Sorry, for the silly queries, I keep getting confused. :blush:

Yay! *breathes sigh of relief* Thanks so much, Hes. :) Sorry, for the silly queries, I keep getting confused. :blush:

It's okay. It's my own fault for mixing up my English :lol:

I couldn't think i was able to make a video, but I finally made it. It took me two days (it's still not very good though :lol:). The problem is that I made it with imovie and I can't post it neither on Photobucket nor YouTube. I don't know what to do.

It's possible to embed a video uploaded on Vimeo (I embedded several on my other chat site), but if you use it, you'd better choose a different pseudonym, because the name of the author appears on the first frame, under the title of the song.

Photobucket may be a problem because they reject pictures that may be copyrighted, including Harry Potter movie pictures, I've had the problem before, when I was doing the Cedric videos for the elections. I finally used YouTube, both for the elections and this time, for the contest - I asked a friend to upload my video for me on his account. He has no link whatsoever with CoS, so my anonymity is guaranteed. :cool:



I am not familiar with TinyUrl. But from your describtion it would still reveal your name.

You know, just send it in, I think we can upload it to CoS forums youtube account if it's a big problem.

both vimeo and Photobucket can embed by the way.


Thanks for the answers, ladies. One more question: I looked in the BBCodes section and didn't see anything on embedding other videos. How would you embed videos from Vimeo or photobucket? (I'll probably use Vimeo or YouTube with a non revealing name so you won't have to go to the effort of reuploading somewhere else but I'd like to know for future reference.)

Thanks again.

I couldn't think i was able to make a video, but I finally made it. It took me two days (it's still not very good though :lol:). The problem is that I made it with imovie and I can't post it neither on Photobucket nor YouTube. I don't know what to do.

I made mine with imovie too. Select share under the file drop down menu then select quicktime and the top bar and compress movie for web on the drop down, then youtube will accept it :)

I made mine with imovie too. Select share under the file drop down menu then select quicktime and the top bar and compress movie for web on the drop down, then youtube will accept it :)

Thanks, I submitted my contribution a few minutes ago. That's weird to see my own creation on YouTube :lol:.

Thanks for the answers, ladies. One more question: I looked in the BBCodes section and didn't see anything on embedding other videos. How would you embed videos from Vimeo or photobucket? (I'll probably use Vimeo or YouTube with a non revealing name so you won't have to go to the effort of reuploading somewhere else but I'd like to know for future reference.)

Thanks again.

Html will be switched so embedding shouldn't be a problem :)

I just finished making mine and come back to check who to send it to only to realise I needed to put music behind my singing (whoops)...and it has to be 3 verses? hmm I only have 2, I guess it's back to the drawing board

If I get my adio recording thingy (not mine, actually, borrowed it from my uncle) and that recording program thingy to work, there will be a video from me! :D Though perhaps you would want to cover your ears, I cannot sing to save my life... ;) Father probably knows how to use it, if I ask him for help.

Nooo! I forgot to take a picture, I need it if I find time to make a movie instead of just sound! I hope I have time to fix that tomorrow... :whistle:

I must say I am highly impressed by the amount of entries so far. Well done everyone ^_^

Think I have managed to make mine long enough now, just have to re-record. That was easier that I expected actually, still not perfect but don't think I really have time to make it better

I just finished making mine and come back to check who to send it to only to realise I needed to put music behind my singing (whoops)...and it has to be 3 verses? hmm I only have 2, I guess it's back to the drawing board
The Mods say they mean stanzas, not verses. It is my understanding 2 stanzas is OK, as long as the whole song is not too short (about 20 lines is about right, Hes said). :)

Denise, there's an "Embed" option on vimeo, the second icon down, on the list to the right of the picture. :cool: For YouTube, it's even easier, you do [yt-] then the series of letters and figures that's your song's ID number, then [/yt-] (no "minus" sign, I only added it so that the site here didn't think I was embedding a non-existent video. :lol:

The Mods say they mean stanzas, not verses. It is my understanding 2 stanzas is OK, as long as the whole song is not too short (about 20 lines is about right, Hes said). :)


I've already sorted this out with Lucy privately :)

The Mods say they mean stanzas, not verses. It is my understanding 2 stanzas is OK, as long as the whole song is not too short (about 20 lines is about right, Hes said). :)
Yikes! My entry is 2 stanzas but only 13 verses (one minute in length.) Is it too short? :scared:

The Mod I sent it to didn't say anything about it being too short when she acknowledged receipt. Am I OK or should I add a few verses? But wait, I can't change my entry once it's submitted.

*worried* :whistle:

If there were anything wrong, we had mentioned it. :)

If there were anything wrong, we'd have mentioned it. :)
Whew! Thanks! :huggles:

*starts breathing again*

Yikes! My entry is 2 stanzas but only 13 verses (one minute in length.) Is it too short? :scared:
Maybe you'll get the award for shortest song entry. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_6.gif

Seriously, Pal Al, I wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure you'll be fine. My own entry is about 2 minutes long. Considering the number of expected entries, I thought it better not to wear out the viewers. Short and to the point, with nice pics and/or lyrics, if possible witty and imaginative would be the way to go.

But I'm not one to give advice here. The last two contests, I ended up with the consolation "Moral Fiber" prize, so maybe I should just keep quiet. Go back under the rock where I was hiding all through the Triwizards Tournament. Except this time, maybe this couch http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/various/054.gif will be a bit softer than that rock. I had good company under that rock, though.

*reminisces fondly*

I believe I (among others) spent some time under that rock sharing moral fiber (in chocolate form). I'm continuing to tweak my entry a bit, but once I turn it in, I may need a rock to hide under. I, too, shortened my song from the original considering how many entries there are likely to be. Still about 2:30, but the whole thing is over 3:30 and all I cut off was an instrumental part and a repetition of the chorus.

This does seem to be the most confusing contest I've been in. At first, there seemed to be almost no rules, then a minimum was posted and that minimum was confused, misunderstood, misquoted and not made part of the basic rules. Dav_muggle struggled to get his done (he's not filled with inspiration on this challenge, though he was really looking forward to joining in a contest on the boards), only to have it returned to him to add one more line. You can't add one more line and stay with the tune of a song. The song already has a given length. He'd have to double the length of his entry (do the chorus twice) for it to work. He hasn't been following this thread (all 10 pages), just looking at the original post for the basic requirements. Now he's frustrated and doesn't know what to do. He knew it was too short to win any prizes, but he just wanted a legitimate entry for this challenge and to move on. :sigh:

I believe I (among others) spent some time under that rock sharing moral fiber (in chocolate form).
Yes, but you ended up winning the non-Champion writing contest, didn't you? And got a cool UT right away for that.

This does seem to be the most confusing contest I've been in. At first, there seemed to be almost no rules, then a minimum was posted and that minimum was confused, misunderstood, misquoted and not made part of the basic rules.
There was a minimum set? Where? When? Last I looked (which admittedly is some time ago, when the contest first started), there was no minimum or maximum, until someone said she wrote an hour-long song, which made everyone faint. :lol: Anyway, rhetorical question, since my entry has been turned in for several days now.

Dav_muggle struggled to get his done. [...] Now he's frustrated and doesn't know what to do. He knew it was too short to win any prizes, but he just wanted a legitimate entry for this challenge and to move on. :sigh:
I fully sympathize with his frustration, but I have no doubt he'll do well. I hope he'll manage to squeeze in his extra line somehow. It's a good start though. Gets him in the swing of things in the forum. And if he ends up with "Moral Fiber", tell him it's not so bad. I learned to live with it quite comfortably. :cool: