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Giz's Lego Minifig Contest: Win The Best Vintage Sets Ever
Posted by Jesus Diaz at 11:00 PM on August 25, 2008
To mark the 30th Anniversary of the minifig, Gizmodo is celebrating a video contest with Lego. The objective: to create a movie in honour of the minifig. The short could be made using any technique you want as long as it's creative and fun (check the full rules after the jump). The prizes? Huge ones. First, the most amazing vintage sets ever: the Galaxy Explorer and the Yellow Castle--needless to say, the value of these sets, which are new in their original boxes, goes off the charts. The third prize will be a special set designed by Lego owner Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, plus there will also be smaller vintage space and town sets, a whole bunch of the new vintage minifigure series, and some newer sets for the runner-ups. Yes, a whole brickload of incredible stuff.
AU: This is a US contest, but thought you guys should know about it anyway. There's nothing in the T&Cs that says you can't enter and win, so go nuts!
And if those prizes weren't enough to run to get your camera out, we have asked the best Lego movie directors--Nathan Wells, David Pagano, and Nate Burr--to create three exclusive movies to inspire you. Even if you are not participating, you really have to watch these.
30 Years of Music, by Nathan Wells
Go Miniman Go, by David Pagano
Living in Meatspace, by Nate Burr
Nate, David, and Nathan will be the three judges in this contest along with Lego's director of Marketing Communications Keith Malone, and myself. Here are the rules for the contest:
Theme
The videos don't have to be about the 30th anniversary itself, like the two great odes to the minifig that David and Nathan have created. They just have to use the Lego minifig. Nate's, for example, is a good example of an alternative theme: just one funny skit, like the famous Death Star canteen short that uses Eddie Izzard's monologue.
One good line of work could be a 30-second fun short on any moment of technology history. Like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak making the original Apple in the garage, the first astronauts arriving to the moon, Bill Gates retiring, a scene from a tech movie like Tron or War Games, or some famous advertising.
But don't be constrained by that. The bottom line is that, as long as it is original, creative, and revolves around the Lego minifig, you are in.
Technique
Remember that your videos don't have to use stop-motion techniques--although obviously these give the best results to tell a story--and we all are partial to stop-motion because it's just cool. However, keep your mind open and explore other possibilities.
Duration
A 20- to 30-second short--the duration of a typical TV ad--will be the minimum to enter the contest.
Due date
October 15th will be the limit.
Format
No need to go High Definition. A 520-pixel-wide video in crystal-clear MPEG-4 format will be enough.
How to send it
To send your video, we recommend you to use the free delivery service YouSendIt.com. Address it to jesus at gizmodo.com
Prizes
• First and second place: Galaxy Explorer or the Yellow Castle. Whoever wins first place picks the set he or she wants. The remaining set will go to the second place winner.
• Third price: A special set designed by Lego owner Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen.
• Runners-up: a ton of smaller vintage space and town sets, new vintage minifigure series, and newer sets.
Do you have any questions? Write them in the comments and we will answer them. Standard Gawker contest rules apply. [Go Miniman Go]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
hugh
Posted August 26, 2008 10:46 AM
rightio here my video http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=nuJhL2vFOos there's a squeal in post production at the moment (its much better) but any giz readers have a look leave a comment and shamelessly pug it to you mates and granny
Hectorvex
Posted 6:12 AM 26/8/08
@hu_hu_cool: I think everybody can - unless you live in Tennessee... sorry Tennessee....
Hectorvex
hu_hu_cool
Posted 10:03 PM 25/8/08
Can anyone enter?
hu_hu_cool
2-7offsuit
Posted 11:09 PM 25/8/08
Third price?
2-7offsuit
Joseph
Posted 11:09 PM 25/8/08
Nathan's is crazy!
Joseph
Hectorvex
Posted 11:37 PM 25/8/08
Does anyone else find it odd my previous "Tennessee" comment keeps getting pushed to the bottom as the most recent comment because it says I made it in the future? I'm awesome. I can time travel... well... at least my comments can.
Hectorvex
ideaman2020
Posted 11:34 PM 25/8/08
oops. Strike that first post.
Durned Enter-key not behaving...
ideaman2020
Elliuotatar
Posted 11:33 PM 25/8/08
That first one, holy shit.
Elliuotatar
ideaman2020
Posted 11:33 PM 25/8/08
@strider_mt2k: Darling Bank Manager;
Give me some more money. You Bastard!
May the seed of your loin be fruitful in the belly of your woman,
Neil
ideaman2020
ideaman2020
Posted 11:32 PM 25/8/08
@strider_mt2k: Darling Bank Manager;
ideaman2020
strider_mt2k
Posted 11:22 PM 25/8/08
@Hectorvex: Nice!
strider_mt2k
strider_mt2k
Posted 11:22 PM 25/8/08
Were I to enter I'd like to re-create an episode of "The Young Ones", perhaps the one where they go on University Challenge.
strider_mt2k
scrag
Posted 11:22 PM 25/8/08
My Head Asplode
scrag
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 11:58 PM 25/8/08
Sadly, this contest was already won by the genius who first married Star Wars minifigs to Eddie Izzard.
OMG! Ponies!
yogibimbi
Posted 11:55 PM 25/8/08
@Hectorvex: well, the last movie is all about time travel - maybe you are the mentioned time traveller come back to our time to doom this contest so we can fall prey unprepared to our lego-overlords some time in the future...
yogibimbi
the_amazing_doug
Posted 11:53 PM 25/8/08
omg. stop with the friggen legos!
the_amazing_doug
yogibimbi
Posted 11:52 PM 25/8/08
brillant ozzie madness!
yogibimbi
GarouDiams
Posted 11:47 PM 25/8/08
@strider_mt2k:
Vivian: "It's never going to blow up... I think I'll go play Murder in the Dark."
*loud crash*
GarouDiams
hu_hu_cool
Posted 11:44 PM 25/8/08
@Hectorvex:I dont live in the US.
hu_hu_cool
LiquidGravity
Posted 12:14 AM 26/8/08
@Hectorvex: Wow. Future comments FTW.
LiquidGravity
liquidsoapdispenser
Posted 12:51 AM 26/8/08
I've never even heard of a mini-fig, I honestly though it was something I'd eat.. But why make a mini-fig movie out of Legos?
To be honest, maybe I'm really old school, but I'm all about Lego w/o the specialized fancy pieces, give me a lego set 1966 style!
liquidsoapdispenser
Hectorvex
Posted 1:09 AM 26/8/08
@frigg: I really see Vader as more of a Never Ending Pasta bowl kind of Jedi...
Hectorvex
Human Bomb
Posted 1:08 AM 26/8/08
@Human Bomb: HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT?
Human Bomb
frigg
Posted 1:05 AM 26/8/08
@OMG! Ponies!: Someone could produce a prequel, say, the first time Darth Vader ordered penne a la arrabiata at an Olive Garden, and hired the chef on the spot to run the Death Star Café. The chef publishes "Death Star Delicious: Lord Vader's Favorite Recipes," is interviewed on Oprah, and is offered a coveted Iron Chef position on the Food Network. Although Iron Chef is one of Vader's favorite shows, the chef must decline. Vader is concerned the growing reputation for excellent food aboard the Death Star is attracting the same population of recent grads applying to Google, which has become a subsidiary of the Galactic Empire, and needs them to complete work on its much-delayed phone. As consolation, Vader gives the chef some really excellent Lego replicas of a couple planets he demolished, and a trainset.
frigg
Human Bomb
Posted 1:03 AM 26/8/08
LOL @ Protestant Reformation and Shakespeare!
Human Bomb
Hectorvex
Posted 1:03 AM 26/8/08
@liquidsoapdispenser: They are celebrating their 30th anniversary... I don't know what you were building with in 1966, but chances are it wasn't LEGO. In fact, your statement makes little sense, as a Mini-Fig is a little LEGO dude... not a Fig like the fruit or whatever food group a fig belongs to.
Hectorvex
SprinklesTDD
Posted 1:54 AM 26/8/08
So it can be longer than 20-30 seconds, right?
SprinklesTDD
nutbastard
Posted 2:14 AM 26/8/08
@Hectorvex:
you are magical on these boards, magical i tells ya!
nutbastard
KylejvT
Posted 2:57 AM 26/8/08
...you cant be serious?? Thats the Galaxy Explorer thats worse so much now?? omg... i had that, i probably still have a few bricks from that set..... bloody hell...
KylejvT
frigg
Posted 3:14 AM 26/8/08
@Hectorvex: Hey, a stormtrooper's gotta eat. Never ending pasta bowl thursdays, and all you can eat shrimp fridays on the Death Star FTW!!!
frigg
Margatron
Posted 3:10 AM 26/8/08
I now shall cry my eyes out because I have all the video equipment to make a film and not enough lego to make something good.
Margatron
mikeg916
Posted 4:10 AM 26/8/08
the galaxy explorer is the gimped version
why not the galaxy commander?!?!?!
The good kit dammit.
mikeg916
Minifig
Posted 4:03 AM 26/8/08
Are Canadians allowed to enter? I read the rules and didn't see anything about location but I know contest rules/legal can be finicky! :)
Minifig
dryk
Posted 4:31 AM 26/8/08
Now I am excited. this should be a fun little project
dryk
dryk
Posted 4:31 AM 26/8/08
Are canadians allowed to participate? Last time I entered a contest here I found out that they weren't.
dryk
whootowl
Posted 4:43 AM 26/8/08
Tools? What XP app supports transform of jpeg to "a 520-pixel-wide video in crystal-clear MPEG-4 format"?
whootowl
DystoposB
Posted 11:03 AM 26/8/08
The Koyanisqaatsi reference in Well's movie blew me away.
DystoposB
Dunechaser
Posted 1:07 PM 26/8/08
Excellent videos all. It's especially wonderful to see Brothers Brick contributor Nathan Wells featured on Gizmodo. Huzzah!
Dunechaser
ZPfan
Posted 8:31 AM 27/8/08
Mini-fig based music vids are ok, right?
ZPfan
UziEpaphus
Posted 4:10 PM 26/8/08
Awesome contest! And those "inspirational" videos are much better than 'The Secret' any day of the week! Here's the first of our "Happy Birthday Minifigure" posts: http://www.pause.com/index.php/happy-31st-er-30th-birthday-lego-mini-fig/ @mikeg916 - The Galaxy Commander was released about 4 years after the Galaxy Explorer, and isn't really considered to be part of the same series. Even though they're both "Classic Space", the original sets were blue and gray, whereas the Galaxy Commander was blue and white and had a different overall design. The Galaxy Explorer was the largest (and most bestest) of the original LEGO Space sets. @liquidsoapdispenser - Although the minifigure is 30 years old (really, 31, but I guess we're altering history books ;) LEGO itself has been around since the '50s, which is why the Town Plan set is a celebration of LEGO's 50th anniversary.
UziEpaphus