WGBH Lab

The Masterpiece Video Diary Open Call:
Inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank

How Does Open Call Work | Eligibility and Guidelines | Review Diary Entries
Learn more about The Diary of Anne Frank airing on PBS April 11th, 2010

Anne Frank was an amazing storyteller. Through her words, she has engaged and inspired youth to document their thoughts on self-expression, tolerance, and being. Today, The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most widely read pieces of non-fiction in the world.

The WGBH Lab has partnered up with Masterpiece and we’re inviting you, the next generation of independent media makers and storytellers ages 13 and up to create your own diary online, using video, audio or still images.

By writing in her diary, Anne Frank was empowered to express her thoughts and feelings about what was happening all around her. We're challenging you to do the same. Tell us about your life. How have you overcome being bullied or disrespected for the way you look, the way you think, or for what you believe? How did you handle it? Send us a compelling message in a 3 min. video diary entry about how you, or someone you know has made a difference.

Portions of the diaries submitted by March 8th may be selected for broadcast on Masterpiece Classic’s airing of The Diary of Anne Frank on April 11th, 2010. Be sure to tune and show your support! Official deadline is May 31st.

How Does Open Call Work?

STEP #1: PRODUCE YOUR DIARY ENTRY

You have the theme – now it’s time to create your video diary. There are many tools that you can use to create your video diary, including: your digital camera, your phone, your home video camera, or even your computer! We recommend that you use what will best express your point of view and showcase your story appropriately. We welcome graphics, animation, special effects… you name it. The key here is creativity!

STEP #2: UPLOAD YOUR DIARY ENTRY

Your video is done – now what? Time to upload it to the site. The WGBH Lab has created an easy uploading process that will take a few minutes of your time, and very little personal information.

You will need to visit The WGBH Lab, click “Submit Your Video”, fill in the required information, attach your video file (accepted file formats include: .mov, .mp4), and you’re done! Now it’s time to get people to engage…

Please note, that if you are between the ages of 13- 17, check with your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) before you send anything to us. By sending in your video, and getting your parent’s/legal guardian's permission to do so, you are telling us it's ok to post it on our website, edit it and we can use it in any way we want, anywhere, forever and ever and we don’t owe you anything for that use. You are also telling us that your entry is your original work, you own or have permission to use every person, place or thing in your video, and that The WGBH Lab's use of the video will not infringe upon or violate rights of any third party.

STEP #3: GET THE WORLD TO WATCH YOUR DIARY ENTRY

After you’ve submitted your video, it will be posted in The WGBH Lab Library, and shared with a community that will view, vote, rank, and share thoughts on your submission.

We encourage you to create videos shorts that engage other storytellers and viewers, while capturing our attention and helping us decide what’s great, through voting, rating, and commenting within the site.

Not only is this your opportunity to tell your story, The WGBH Lab is also your community, and your voice.

Here are some tips for gathering comments for your video short:

Post a link on your social networks.

Ask your friends and family to visit the site, and review.

Ask your friends and family to post a link to their social networks.

You see the pattern.

Good luck! We look forward to hearing your stories.

For additional questions, please contact The WGBH Lab at wgbhlab@wgbh.org.