The University of Western Australia in partnership with AviewTV, Cutting Edge Concerts, Open This End and the Summerland Estates announced MachinimUWA IV : Art of the Artists – a machinima competition offering a prize pool totalling L$300,000.

Submissions are open through to the 10th November, and the competition lists an impressive and distinguished list of judges:

Professor Ted Snell (RL) – Director, Cultural Precinct, The University of Western Australia

Rhett Linden (SL) – Vice President, Experience Design, Linden Labs

Jay Jay Jegathesan (RL) / Jayjay Zifanwe (SL) – Manager School of Physics/ Lead of UWA Virtual World Projects

Yesikita Coppola (SL) – Official Machinimatographer for UWA 2011

FreeWee Ling (SL) – Curator, UWA 3D Open Art Challenge

Pia Klaar (SL) – Machinimatographer and Winner of MachinimUWA III Viewer Event

LaPiscean Liberty (SL) – CEO AviewTV and UWA Virtual World Technical Media Advisor

Persia Bravin (SL) – Journalist, SL Media Producer and TV host

Mal Burns (SL), Metaverse News Aggregator and Broadcaster

Editorial Clarity (SL) – Metaverse Journalist and Senior Writer, BOSL Blog & BOSL Magazine

Rowan Derryth (SL) – Art & Design Historian; Writer for Prim Perfect Publications

Dousa Dragonash (SL) – COO Metaverse Television

Dr. Phylis Johnson (RL) – Media Professor, Southern Illinois University & author

Thirza Ember (SL) – Art Blog Writer

Phaylen Fairchild (SL) – Award Winning Writer, Director, Comedian

Flimsey Freenote – CEO of Metamix TV (Mixed Reality Television)

Cristina García-Lasuén (RL) / Aino Baar (SL) International Curator, Art Writer, Founder & Owner of Open This End group

Nazz Lane (SL) – Journalist and Author

Chestnut Rau (SL) – Journalist

Suzy Yue (SL) – Artistic Director, Running Lady Studios

The Challenge

The challenge for those participating in MACHINIMUWA IV is to, “Create a machinima that features some (or one) of the artworks submitted to the UWA 3D Open Art Challenge. You can choose to film as many (or as few) as you like, and you may submit any number of entries. There is no enforced time limit, however a recommended time limit would be between 3 – 6 minutes”. As to theme, the judges simply state, “Create something that will take our breath away”.

Completed videos can be uploaded anywhere, although the competition hints at a preference for either YouTube or Vimeo, with the link and details passed to Jayjay Zifanwe & LaPiscean Liberty prior to the closing date. Artworks appearing in the machinima should be acknowledged. Entries will be displayed on the UWA Second Life blog.

For full details on the competition, including details of the art series and location, filming the works either in situ or elsewhere, please refer to the MACHINIMUWA IV: Art of the Artists post on the UWA SL blog.

With thanks to Jayjay Zifanwe for the information & UWA for the use of the competition graphic