YOUR YOUTUBE FILMMAKING CRASH COURSE!!!

The tools

Do you have a mobile phone camera, a webcam or handheld digital camera? Do you have access to a computer with an Internet connection? You probably have the tools for making an online video already, even if you don't have a fancy camcorder.

Going digital

If you have a digital camcorder, a mobile phone camera, or a handheld digital camera that can capture video, then you're pretty much all set. Simply shoot your video then transfer the file to your computer using the relevant connection (USB, FireWire, data cable, Bluetooth, DVD, CD, etc.). If you have an analog camcorder that uses tape to capture video, it's a simple process to convert your masterpiece to a digital YouTube-friendly format. You will need a converter box to convert your video to digital though.

Jazzing it up

You don't need to know how to edit video to win big in the Crazy for Crocs online video challenge. All you need is a great personality and a bit of a daring side! But if you do choose to spice up your entry a bit, it's easy to add video effects, subtitles, or sound with the built-in video-editing software in many Apple and Windows computers. Simply copy the video file into your computer, open it in your chosen editing program, and add all the extra stuff you want.

Upload, upload!

YouTube works well with most video formats. Even video taken with your camera phone should do fine! The easiest way to get your video onto YouTube though is to save it in any of the following formats: QuickTime .MOV, Windows .AVI, or .MPG. The MPEG4 format at a resolution of 640x480 with MP3 audio is recommended! You should be able to get the correct settings using your video editing software. After you've done this, simply log on to YouTube and click on the appropriate buttons!

A star is born!

Once your video is on YouTube, simply submit your contest application together with a link to the uploaded YouTube clip. We will go over the entry and if all's good with the contest rules, we'll post it on the site as an official entry! Don't forget to get your friends to vote for your video!