It’s a ritual as old as TV: A potential showrunner pitches their idea to a network. If execs like it, it gets greenlit–and the creator gets cash and production resources to make their project a reality.
Digital content creators don’t really have their own version of this pipeline. They did once, with YouTube Red, and they still can be picked up by streamers like Netflix or do a deal with companies like Spotter, where they license their back catalogs in exchange for a lump sum of liquid capital. But when it comes to making YouTube or TikTok videos, creators–especially up-and-coming creators–usually have to self-finance upfront.
Over the last couple of years, though, we’ve seen a rise in contests where creators are given cash and resources to make their dream projects. There’s Creator Camp, which got its start bringing creators to beautiful locations and giving them inspiration and backdrop to make short films, then progressed to a partnership with Patreon where it gave 10 digital content creators cash to make their own high-production films, then held a film festival showing off the results. (One film from that festival, Two Sleepy People, just starred in its own theater run.)
Subscribe to get the latest creator news
The latest contest comes from camera company Canon. The Canon First Cut Contest calls on digital creators to pitch their dream idea in a video up to three minutes long–and those videos will be judged by a panel of top creators, including Colin & Samir, Josh Richards, Michelle Khare, and Rory Kramer.
“We want to see your best pitch for your dream project. Create a video–whether it’s a trailer, proof-of-concept film, pilot episode, sizzle reel, or anything else your imagination dreams up,” Canon says. “Make sure you show us your storytelling skills and cinematic vision on screen. Skip direct-to-camera or talking-head-style pitches that just tell us what you have in mind.”
Creators should post their videos to YouTube, TikTok, and/or Instagram by 11:59 p.m. EST Nov. 21, and tag @canonusa with the hashtag #canonfirstcutcontest.
From there, entries will be winnowed down to just 12 videos. Each of the 12 finalists will be flown to Los Angeles for a screening and given what Canon calls the “ultimate creator kit”–an EOS R50 V camera and an RF-S14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens.
In LA, finalists will be hosted by creators Alisha Marie and Zane Hijazi, and will get to see their entries screened for judges.
Judges will select four grand prize winners, each of whom will get $25K and an hour of “one-on-one mentorship with one of our judges” to develop their idea further.
Interested creators can submit an entry form here (don’t forget to also post your video!).
