The Shortie Awards Student Film & News Festival
Film Judging Rubric
Lighting
Excellent 4
Good 3
Satisfactory 2
Needs Work 1
Score
Lighting
The lighting is
appropriate to the
mood, style, and
timeframe of the story.
All subjects are
properly lit. Exposure
and/or white balance is
correctly set.
The lighting is
adequate for the
scene and some
attempt has been
made to suggest
time of day, style,
and mood of the
story.
Only natural or
regular indoor lighting
has been used in the
film. No attempt has
been made to use
lighting to enhance
the story.
There has been no
attention to adequately
lighting the film. It is
difficult to see the
characters and
understand the action.
Sound
Excellent 4
Good 3
Satisfactory 2
Needs Work 1
Score
Sound
All dialogue and
narration is clear and
ambient sound is
appropriate. Any
added sound effects
contribute to the story.
There is no
unintentional sound
(i.e. the sound of
something brushing
against the
microphone).
Most of the
dialogue and
narration is clear
and the ambient
and chosen sound
does not distract
from the story.
Some of the dialogue
and narration is
difficult to understand
and the ambient and
chosen sound is not
always appropriate to
the flow of the story.
It is difficult to hear the
dialogue and narration.
Ambient sound is
distracting. Chosen
sound is not at all
integrated into the film.
The microphone is
obvious through
movement and/or
improper levels.
Editing
Excellent 4
Good 3
Satisfactory 2
Needs Work 1
Score
Editing
Clear and specific
editing decisions have
been made to enhance
the film. All
transitions, music,
sound effects, and
voiceovers have been
added to support,
focus, and reveal more
layers of the story and
characters.
Editing decisions
have been made to
tell the story
clearly, but add
nothing past that.
Transitions move
the story along and
additional sound
supports the action
in the scenes.
There are a few
editing decisions made
for the film. Some are
inappropriate and do
not help tell the story.
Some editing
transitions (especially
digital effects) draw
attention to
themselves and are
distracting and/or
repetitive.
The editing & digital
effects are distracting
to the story and show a
lack of skill and
knowledge of the
equipment. Jump cuts
are unintentional. The
story suffers because
the shots are not
connected cohesively.
Originality
Excellent 4
Good 3
Satisfactory 2
Needs Work 1
Score
Originality
All of the elements of
the film (from story to
production techniques)
demonstrate originality.
The ideas and the
artistry presented in the
film are fresh and
interesting and keep the
audience engaged.
The ideas and/or
artistry in the film
are somewhat
interesting and
new, but may have
already been
explored
elsewhere.
The idea is derivative
and the production is
does not enhance the
story.
It is difficult to tell
what the ideas are
behind the story and
production choices.
