48MVP Official Filmmaking Rules

These rules are for the 48 Hour Music Video Project. To view the rules for the 48 Hour Film Project, please click here.

The following rules apply to each participating film team and band:

1. Definitions
• The 48 Hour Music Video Project ("48MVP") is a film competition where bands and film teams are paired in order to make a music video in only 48 hours.
• "Band" refers to any musical band or solo artist.
• "Film Team" refers to any filmmaker or filmmaking team.
• "Kickoff" refers to the start of the competiton where each band and each film team will be paired through a random drawing/selection process described below, and be required to make a music video of one of the band's songs.
2. Times
• The 48 Hour Music Video Project ("48MVP") will occur in cities around the world on different weekends throughout the year.
• The 48 Hour Music Video Project will occur between a Friday 7pm local time and the following Sunday 7pm local time. This is the "Official 48 Hour Time Period". (Days of competition may vary in some countries.)
• The participating group/team must complete its film/video work in time to deliver it to a location to be announced, on Sunday by 7:30pm.
• Only works that meet the deadline will be officially part of the competition. All films received on Sunday (on-time and late) will be screened.
3. All creativity in the development and creation of the music video must take place during the "Official 48 Hour Time Period". Any creativity work in advance of the competition weekend is prohibited. Creative work includes, but is not limited to:
• Writing the script
• Rehearsing
• Costume/Set Design
• Shooting
• Editing
• Sound Design
• Rendering
• Outputting to tape or other media
4. The only work to begin prior to the "Official 48 Hour Time Period" is:
• Organizing Crew
• Organizing Cast
• Securing Equipment
• Scouting/Securing Locations
5. Bands must provide a recorded version of at least one song for use in the music video, ready for use at the time of the Kickoff. After being paired at the Kickoff, bands and film teams may select a different song, if the band would like to present multiple choices. The Band will have the ultimate decision-making power in what song is selected.


6. All footage must be shot within the 48 hour time period of the project.
• No stock footage or footage shot or created at another time may be used.
• Animation and special effects are permitted, but must be created during the 48 hour time period. (Note: Stock footage as part of a special effect in a third party special effects program is permissible.)
• Still photographs are permitted, provided that the team has the rights to them. The photos do not need to be created during the 48 hour time period; however, stills created outside of the official 48 hour time period may not be used in sequence to create the illusion of motion.
7. Each participating film team and band must have a representative at the official Kickoff Event of the 48MVP.
• At the event, each Team Leader and Band Producer must submit a complete Team/Band Leader's Agreement, signed by its leader. (This form can be found on the 48 Hour Film Project website.) A team or band may not participate without submitting this agreement.
• Each film team will draw the name of 2 bands at the Kickoff and will select one. Film team leaders will be provided with information on the bands in advance. The last team to draw will only have one option of a band. Drawing order will be established in a random drawing.
8. All cast and crew must be volunteers.


9. Any type of video or film camera may be used, however, a maximum of only three cameras may be used to shoot footage for use in your video. Sound recorders are allowed in addition to this three camera limit.
   
   Cameras used for a purpose other than recording video footage (for example, as props, editing decks, sound recorders, or to record solely behind-the-scenes footage) are allowed in addition to this three camera limit.


10. The song to be used in the music video must be an original song with full rights to the music, lyrics and performance owned by the band.
    
    A participating band is expected to use pre-recorded music; however the participating group must have the rights to any music used in its video and must provide releases for all music used. As with music, pre-recorded sound effects are allowed, but you must have rights to use them.


11. Song parodies (i.e., use of identifiable pre-existing compositions with new or altered lyrics or music) may not be included in the video without a signed release from the composition's rights holder.
    
    This rule applies without regard to whether the song parody arguably constitutes "fair use" under US or international copyright law.


12. The finished video may be a maximum of 5 minutes in duration—not including credits.


13. Credits at the end of each video are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. The 60 seconds is considered additional to the length of the video. (That is, a video may be 5 minutes long, with an additional 60 seconds of credits, for a total running time of 6 minutes.)
    
    The end credits must include the words:
    
    "This video was made for the 48 Hour Film Music Video Project. www.48musicvideo.com"
    
    Opening credits are considered to be part of the video, and therefore count against the 5 minute maximum. Additionally, if your video has opening credits other than simply the video's title, you must include one of the following:
• the text "[your team name] presents" immediately followed by "a 48 Hour Music Video Project" or
• the text "a 48 Hour Music Video Project" immediately following the title of your video "a 48 Hour Music Video Project" should not be in quotes and may be entirely lowercase (i.e., "a 48 hour video project").
14. The finished video must be in NTSC. Your video must be submitted on one of the following media:
    • (preferred) a self-contained Quicktime file with no proprietary codecs on either:
      - a data DVD, or
      - a USB flash drive
    • miniDV
    • playable DVD
    If your video does not conform to the submission requirements, it may be disqualified. Also, if your video cannot be viewed on 48HFP equipment, it may be disqualified.


15. Notes on submissions:
• We recommend that each team submit two copies of the final video.
• We recommend that you make sound levels relatively even throughout your video. (If your video has uneven sound or sound that peaks, it may be modified to protect the playback equipment.)
• Projection specs vary from theater to theater and are beyond the control of the 48HFP. If your video is very dark, it may be difficult to see in the theater.
• All videos received on the evening of the deadline (on-time and late) will be screened, presuming they are eligible.
16. Before the finished video begins, the media should have:
• 5 seconds of black
• A title card with: team name, title, genre, city, and date
• A title card with: "This video was made for the 48 Hour Music Video Project 2011. www.48musicvideo.com"
• 2 seconds of black
• Your video
17. Each team must secure releases for talent, crew, music and locations (and any other applicable releases) for the film team and the band, which must be turned in to the project organizers with the finished film/video. (The release forms can be found on the 48 Hour Film Project website.) The film/video will not be screened before the 48 Hour Film Project Organizers receive the signed releases.


18. Decision Making Authority. It is hoped that band and film teams will work collaboratively to produce a video that meets the needs of both parties. However, the film team leader will have the final decision making authority in all matters pertaining to the creation of the video, except the choice of song, which will be selected by the band member who signed the team leader agreement (Band Producer).


19. Ownership of the Films: In the case of the 48 Hour Music Video Project, the Team Leader owns the music video and the Band Producer owns the rights to the song. Both parties have the right to post the video to webpages and to use it on a demo reel, or a band webpage. Other uses of the 48 Hour Music Video follows the rules of the 48 Hour Film Project films, as stated on this webpage.
    
    In the very unlikely event that the video is sold, the proceeds should be divided 50% to the Team Leader and 50% to the Band Producer. Should the 48HFP sell the film on behalf of the parties, the proceeds will be split as follows: 10% to 48HFP; 45% to Band Leader; 45% to Film Team Leader.


20. Because the band has committed time and resources to the project, all film teams are required to finish the video, even if it is turned in late. Late videos will screen but are not eligible for judging.


21. The Band must appear in the video at least one time. The only exception is if the Band does not want to appear in the video and calls the 48MVP Producers to receive approval in advance to NOT appear in the video.


22. The Team Leader must submit a Certification Statement with his/her completed Entry, certifying adherence to all Official Rules.


23. To be eligible for the Project, Entries must be the original work of the Entrant; must not infringe third-party's rights; must be suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent); must not contain obscene or pornographic material; may not contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization or entity; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations; and may not contain any copyrighted elements (other than as owned by the Entrant and/or 48HFP).
    
    Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by the 48HFP, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate will be disqualified. 48HFP reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible. 48HFP also reserves the right to refuse to screen a video or to make an announcement at the screening regarding the content of the video.


24. The Entrant should not distribute their video in any way before the premiere screenings. This includes uploading the video to any website or screening the film for groups of anyone other than the team.


25. To be certified as an "Official 48 Hour Music Video," each participating group's film/video production must follow all rules herein. The 48 Hour Film Project Organizers reserve the right to screen only certified "Official 48 Hour Films."


26. No Entries (media or documents) will be returned.


27. 48HFP and Project Parties may, in their sole discretion, disqualify Entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant.


28. All certified "Official 48 Hour Music Videos" are eligible to compete for the title of Best 48 Hour Music Video in its city.


29. The 48 Hour Film Project Organizers may add to or amend these rules at any time prior to the beginning of the 48 Hour time period.



Every second counts, when you have 48 hours to make a music video!