Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 20, 2017. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The competition works as follows: download the footage from the music-video shoot for “Believer” by the Imagine Dragons, edit it in Premiere Pro CC and submit it. The results will be judged by a panel of experts, and the winner can look forward to US$25,000.
While the debate over usage rights is still proceeding at full speed through all the courts with other bands, the “Imagine Dragons” are moving in the other direction – and making the unedited, professionally shot high-res material available.
Take Part?
Go to the “Make the Cut” website and register, after which you will receive access to the footage and various assets. You edit this using Premiere Pro, the way you think the video should look. You need a final version by April 8, 2017 – until then, you can upload your clip to the website as a video and Premiere Pro file and participate in the competition. Incidentally, a Premiere trial version is also available on the website.
Jury and Prizes
All works will be judged by a jury that will ultimately select the winner of the “Grand Prize” (in the amount of US$25,000). This jury includes:
- The members of Imagine Dragons
- Angus Wall, two-time Academy Award winner (e.g. Fight Club)
- Vinnie Hobbs, music-video specialist who works with Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West
- Billy Fox, who worked on “Straight Outta Compton” or “Band of Brothers,” among others
Alongside the main prize, the jury will also award the following prizes, each with US$1,000 in prize money plus Creative Cloud subscriptions:
- Fan Favorite: The most-clicked video on the Adobe Creative Cloud YouTube channel
- Most unexpected: The video that surprised everyone.
- Best Young Creator: The best video by someone under 25 (at submission)
- Best Short Form: The most impressive video between 30 and 60 seconds
- Special Bonus Prize for the most convincing edit using provided videos from Adobe Stock. Endowed with US$2,500, a one-year Creative Cloud subscription and 25 Adobe Stock credits.
Adobe is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Premiere Pro with this campaign, and with these prizes, it is certainly worth taking part, we think – so off to #MakeTheCut. Anyone who wants to learn more about the band and the shoot can look here again: “Behind The Scenes” footage & further information.
