Congratulations to our finalists!
Grand Prize: “Year of the Rat” by Elijah Wolfson
Second Prize: “A 49ers Nutcracker “footBALLET” by Lauren Atkins
Third Prize: “Re: SF Ballet Magical Memories Nutcracker Video Contest” by Jacob Chalkley
And a special thank you to our semi-finalists:
“Nutcracker Memories” by Martin Shulman
“Sugarplum/007” by James Harding and the 7th grade class at The San Francisco School
San Francisco Ballet invites you to celebrate 65 years of Nutcracker in America by creating your own short Nutcracker-inspired video! It's easy! Enter by November 29 for a chance to win one of the fabulous prizes.
- Reenact or re-imagine a magical scene from Nutcracker OR create a video depicting your favorite magical Nutcracker memory.
- Your video must contain at least one Nutcracker character. (If you need ideas, click here to read the Nutcracker story)
- Videos must be 65 seconds long. That’s one second for every year Nutcracker has been a holiday tradition in America, since SF Ballet first staged it on Christmas Eve 1944!
- “San Francisco Ballet” must be mentioned or displayed visually in the video.
- Be creative! Be funny! Innovative characters, dancing, scenery, costumes, and props will be judged favorably.
- Featuring San Francisco settings or a San Francisco landmark in your video in some way will be judged favorably.
- Videos must be tasteful and family-oriented. Any videos containing inappropriate content will be immediately disqualified and removed from the contest.
- View the Contest Launch Video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks2hD2u9fX0.
- Under the video, click the button that says “Post a Response”. YouTube will prompt you to either select a video file currently on your computer, choose a video you have previously uploaded to YouTube, or record a video from an existing camera attached (or built into) your computer.
- When you have completed selecting/uploading your video, SF Ballet will automatically be notified that your video is ready for approval.
- Send an email to sfbmail@sfballet.info with "Magical Memories Nutcracker Video Contest” in the subject line. In the body of the email, please provide your name, address, telephone number, valid email address, YouTube username, and the link to your video on YouTube. Also, per the Official Rules, please attach a signed consent form for each person appearing in your video.
- Once your video appears in the response tab on the launch video page on YouTube, you are officially in the running. Don’t forget, the number of views your video receives on YouTube will be taken into account when determining the semi-finalists, so be sure to promote your video with family and friends!
Be sure to enter before the contest submission deadline at 11:59pm PST on November 29, 2009.
Grand Prize
A six day-five night trip for four to Aspen, Colorado, including flight, deluxe hotel accommodations, rental car, and entertainment. In addition, the grand prize winner will receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, and a commemorative book, San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five, filled with stunning images of the Company. (Approximate value of Grand Prize package = $6,710)
Second Prize
A two-night stay at The Fairmont San Francisco, with daily breakfast, dinner for two at The Tonga Room, two Center Box seats to a performance of San Francisco Ballet’s Swan Lake in January 2010, including a VIP backstage tour. In addition, the second prize winner will receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, and a commemorative book, San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five. (Approximate value of Second Prize package = $2,265)
Third Prize
Dinner for two at Seasons Restaurant, located in the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, as well as a $300 gift certificate to Amazon.com. In addition, the third prize winner will receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, and a commemorative book, San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five. (Approximate value of Third Prize package = $1,010)
In addition, the two remaining semi-finalists will each receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, as well as the commemorative book San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five.
- All video submissions must be posted to YouTube between November 2, 2009 at 12:00am and November 29, 2009 at 11:59pm PST. All entries must be uploaded to YouTube to participate in the contest. SF Ballet will not accept files sent via email.
- While multiple persons may wish to create an entry together, there must be a single individual contestant officially representing each entry.
- Each contestant may submit no more than two videos.
- Contestants must be 18 years of age or older, must have access to the Internet, must have or register for a YouTube.com account and must have a valid email address and telephone number.
- Employees of San Francisco Ballet, Comcast Corporation, Concept One Communications, and Crown Media United States, LLC, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible to participate in the contest.
- The contest is limited to contestants residing within the United States, except residents of New York, Florida, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, territories of the United States and wherever taxed, prohibited or restricted by law.
- Please ensure that you have read and agree to the Official Rules and Regulations
- Five videos will be selected by San Francisco Ballet to be semi-finalists, based on creativity, relevance, and adherence to the guidelines, rules, and regulations listed above. In addition, the number of views each video receives on YouTube will be one of several factors taken into consideration in selecting the semi-finalists, so be sure to promote your entry with your friends, family, and coworkers!
- The five semi-finalist videos will be announced on December 2nd and posted on sfballet.org/contest where the public can view the top entries and cast their vote for their favorite Magical Memories Nutcracker video. In addition, the top five videos will be available for viewing on Comcast OnDemand. The winners will be determined by popular vote on sfballet.org, with voting concluding on December 13 at 7:00pm PST.
- The winners will be contacted on Tuesday, December 14th, and announced on the contest page of SF Ballet’s website.
| Grand Prize | Second Prize | Third Prize |
Grand Prize
A six day-five night trip for four to Aspen, Colorado, including flight, deluxe hotel accommodations, rental car, and entertainment. In addition, the grand prize winner will receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, and a commemorative book, San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five, filled with stunning images of the Company. (Approximate value of Grand Prize package = $6,710)
Second Prize
A two-night stay at The Fairmont San Francisco, with daily breakfast, dinner for two at The Tonga Room, two Center Box seats to a performance of San Francisco Ballet’s Swan Lake in January 2010, including a VIP backstage tour. In addition, the second prize winner will receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, and a commemorative book, San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five. (Approximate value of Second Prize package = $2,265)
Third Prize
Dinner for two at Seasons Restaurant, located in the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, as well as a $300 gift certificate to Amazon.com. In addition, the third prize winner will receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, and a commemorative book, San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five. (Approximate value of Third Prize package = $1,010)
In addition, the two remaining semi-finalists will each receive a four-pack of tickets to see San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker this December, as well as the commemorative book San Francisco Ballet at Seventy-Five.