“In time of COVID-19” Video Essay Contest 2020
Light the candle in the darkness
— Stories about generosity, heroism, kindness, and outstanding services
In 2020, the coronavirus is highly contagious and extremely virulent. To combat this virus, practically all Americans have been ordered to shelter-in-place and all economic activities have been halted for weeks. As of the end of April 2020, over one million Americans have been infected with no light at the end of the tunnel. Ding Ding TV had to shut down our video studio.
At that moment, we believe every calamity carries its own humanistic stories. We believe that the current pandemic has generated a treasure trove of interesting stories, valuable and relevant contents about humanity in all its spectrums. Stories about greed, selfishness, scapegoating on the one side, but also stories about generosity, heroism, kindness, and outstanding services to fellow human beings on the other.
There is a saying in Chinese “It’s Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”. Together with 16 partners, Ding Ding TV started “In time of COVID-19 Video Essay Contest” from the end of April 2020 to bring positive stories to our community. In one month “In time of COVID-19” Video Essay Contest received 46 video stories from the independent journalists, ethnic media, event organizers, and civic organization contestants. They told the Humanistic Stories of the Pandemic and we brought those stories to our community and simultaneously acknowledge and honor their creators. We light the candle in the darkness, even though the light is small at the beginning, but together we can brighten the sky.
————————— Ding Ding TV (Silicon Valley Innovation Channel)
DingDing TV (Silicon Valley Innovation Channel and Voice of Asian Americans) and CLUSA, together with 16 of our partners, launched a Video Essay Contest on May 11, 2020. The theme of the contest was for the participants to tell the most compelling “Humanistic Stories of the Current Pandemic” through the submission of a one-minute video and an accompanied 500-words essay. Thirty-five (35) quality entries were received by DingDing TV when the contest closed officially on May 30, 2020. Through audience participation, our viewers have chosen twenty (20) semi-finalists by the deadline of Sunday, June 21, 2020 mid-night. Please watch all the videos here.
We are happy and honored to announce that the Viewer’s Choice winner, “Kindness is Contagious by Shawna Wu” which received the highest (3050) number of votes.
A Live Judging Event was broadcasted on Sunday, June 28, 2020, @ 4:00 – 6:00 pm PST with a live audience and in the presence of all the contestants, judges, and media partners. The Judges interacted and praised the very high quality of all the videos. After some serious deliberations, they have chosen the following winners:
First Prize ($ 3,000) – Smile and Say Hello by King Yaw Soon
Second Prize ($ 1,500) – COVID 19 Challenge by Gilroy Downtown Business Association
Second Prize ($ 1,500) – Friendships without Borders by Christine Von Raesfeld
Third Prize ($ 1,000) – Sparky the Mask Ambassador by Keyi (Thea) Chang–
Third Prize ($ 1,000) – Greater than a Pandemic- Hope, Compassion & Community by EM Collective
Third Prize ($ 1,000) – Catching Love from Abey Lin & Sabrina Lin
Viewer’s Choice winner ($ 1,000) – Kindness is Contagious by Shawna Wu
Every calamity carries its own humanistic stories. We believe that the current pandemic has generated a treasure trove of interesting stories about humanity in all its spectrums. Stories about greed, selfishness, and scapegoating on the one side, but also stories about generosity, heroism, kindness, and outstanding services to fellow human beings on the other.
Congratulations to the winners, Thanks to all the contestants and judges. Thanks to our sponsor and partners.
Organizer
Partner