Analysis of Previous Competition Entries

I decided to look at the other entries of the previous competition. Specifically the winning entry and the runner up entries.

This is the winning entry:
http://projects.skycreative.tv/skyartsstings/video.php?video=1

This sting features clapping hands, in a few different colours, mainly pastel. I think this is because they aren't too 'loud' and so they aren't too over bearing. The piece is actually mainly black. It starts off with one pair of hands and then zooms out to reveal more and more hands, and then gradually reveals the word 'ARTS'. It is very simple, but in my opinion, not too exciting. I don't really like it. It is however quite sophisticated, so definitely fits the target audience.


A runner up:
http://projects.skycreative.tv/skyartsstings/video.php?video=5

This sting is filmed, with quite a handmade feel. It shows detailed close ups of the arrangement, then they eventually show the word 'ARTS'. There are lights on fans, and one fan presents one letter. I think that this sting is quite effective, it is quite imaginative. I really like this one, and it suits the target audience well.


Another runner up:
http://projects.skycreative.tv/skyartsstings/video.php?video=3

This shows lots of pencil crayons, with different colours. They are constructed into a rotating ball type structure, which is shaped into each letter. This then collectively reveals the word 'ARTS'. Again this has a very hand made feel. It is similar to the one before, it has small splashes of colour, but is mostly plain. I think this has been carefully considered as to not be too much for the audience.


Another runner up:
http://projects.skycreative.tv/skyartsstings/video.php?video=6

This is a sting with handmade lighting, with certain sections of the lights flashing, and then changing into different colours, but again this is not 'too much'. I think that it has great studio lighting and shadows. Also relevant to the audience.


Runner up:
http://projects.skycreative.tv/skyartsstings/video.php?video=4

Starts off with little metallic looking bubbles of liquid. Real life, hand done. The little bubbles ripple over some sort of liquid surface, but reveals the word 'ARTS' whilst doing so. It uses dark colours. I'm not too sure how this was actually made, but it is very imaginative and works well.


Another runner up:
http://projects.skycreative.tv/skyartsstings/video.php?video=2

This must have taken a long time to construct, and many many takes to get it right. The scissors cut the balloon which sets off a chain reaction of other events, all concentrated around a ball. It then all zooms out to reveal the word 'ARTS' within the whole ensemble. A few splashes of pastel colours, I think this one appears to maybe be a little too young for the intended target audience, but that is just my opinion. And again, it is hand made.


Runner up:
http://projects.skycreative.tv/skyartsstings/video.php?video=7

This has been created totally digitally within a 3d space. The floorboards lift up, the ARTS letters start to come in and form the word, the pictures come in and the floor boards begin to settle again. It doesn't feel too genuine though in my opinion. Perhaps this is because it has been all done digitally? Perhaps it has lost it's sense of 'soul' a little?


Summary:
The fact that the winning entry and most of the runner up entries have created hand made style stings makes me lean towards this sort of direction. Are Sky trying to tell us something? Do they prefer this sort of style for their channels?
Also, as regards to colour, they were all pretty similar, using a relatively small amount of colour. So this is definitely something that I need to take note of.