How to create your video

We don’t want the only thing standing between you and three months in a snow-covered paradise to be a lack of technological savvy. That’s why we’ve put together this simple guide on how to create your own 60-second video entry for Sun Peaks’ I want to be the Snow Bum competition.

1) Equipment
Cell phones, webcams and cameras can all record your video. Each may save the video in a different file format – the most common of which are .avi, .mpg, .mp4 and .mov – but video editing programs are designed to work with a wide range. The quality of video varies from device to device but remember- it’s the content that’s key.

2) Editing
There are lots of free, online video editing programs with which you can customize your video, and most provide step-by-step tutorials detailing how to use them. Each program will allow you to combine numerous video files into one; add subtitles, effects and pictures; overlay a soundtrack; and cut and merge different pieces of file. Some of our favorites editing programs are:
Jay Cut - http://jaycut.com/quickguide
Movie Masher - http://www.moviemasher.com/
Wax - http://www.debugmode.com/wax/

3) Be legal
If you plan to include any music on your video, please ensure you have permission to use each track before submitting your entry. This goes for any material that may have copyrights.

4) Timing is… everything
Remember you have 60 seconds to show us why you should be the Snow Bum. While you can cover a lot of ground in one minute when you’re on the slopes (the current world record for skiing is 251.4 km/h) you may not be able to pack as much into a video of the same length. Keep it snappy, remember your audience will be watching a lot of these videos, and focus on what makes you unique.

Finally -- remember that at the end of the day, it’s all about the person.  You don’t need James Cameron-level production values to impress us.  If all you need to convey the awesomeness that qualifies you for Snow Bum glory is a web cam in your mom’s basement and a dream -- then let ‘er rip.