DK Video Challenge

The Dash Kitten Video Challenge #DKVideo

Welcome to the inaugural Dash Kitten Video Challenge #DKVideo. [Revised 2021 and 2022]

We love making movies, we have even been finalists in the 2017 BlogPaws® NosetoNose Awards, and we believe that you can have fun and make movies too! Let’s celebrate the human-animal bond. This post consolidates the whole challenge into one post.

We present the video finalists in our pet video Dash Kitten Video Challenge. We launched on 6th September as this is anniversary of Dash’s passing and we want to celebrate with more than tears. Dash was a helper, encourager and enabler. The tradition continues…..

The #DKVideo Challenge was to encourage pet owners, and pet bloggers, to jump in and try their hand at creating video. This is one of those challenges to do by yourself, or with a friend or family member. Whether it was shooting a first time pet video, or editing a movie, and using a specific technique to capture a moment. All entries were welcome for our general and relaxed theme ‘A Pet in All Seasons‘. Each of the pet videos here marks a new experience for the maker, and this is important to remember. For some this was a big step into a new creative area which can take courage.

Pet owners are often stepping into the technological unknown. Each of our cat movies, and dog movies shows a real willingness to jump in, take a chance, and learn! Please take the time to watch all seven of our entries. You will be impressed.

You Can Make A Pet Video

The Tabbies were first off the mark with their video. It is a genuine achievement, making a video on their phone long before we hit the pet video trail.

(1) The Tabbies o’ Trout Towne

The Tabbies Mom Taken on August 16 2014

“I used the cell phone, an IPHONE 4s. The video features tuna of moon and is titled; “the most exercise he had in his life??” I have a very good friend who I “met” when we were still at the catster site who makes Calvin Collars; named for her boy Calvin, in his honor.

Proceeds from each collar sold go to Best Friends. She sent this to tuna for his gotcha day in the hopes he would wear it.Having gone nekkid his entire life; he was none to pleased to suddenly be wearing neckwear!

(2) Mary Di Tosto and Sadie from Your Designer Dog 

My video is a slow motion compilation of a game of catch with my dog, Sadie the Yorkipoo. During the Dog Days of Summer when it’s too hot to play outside, we need to make our own fun indoors where there is air conditioning.

Sadie’s favorite game to play inside is catch. She can sit on the nice, cool, leather couch and only has to jump up once in a while to snatch the ball out of the air. Then she can squeak the ball at her leisure, before rolling it off the couch so I can toss it to her again.


(3) Cathy Armato and Icy from Dogs Luv Us and We Love Them

This is my very first Edited video! I wanted to do a video for a sponsored blog post, and I needed a way to join two videos that were shot on different days. I also needed a way to transition between them and explain what happens between the two video segments.

The first segment illustrates the issue I’m trying to solve. The second segment shows the positive result, after using their product.I’m so excited that I learned how to edit out sections in the middle of a video. I have learned how to join two videos together, how to add a transition slide, and how to add a text slide.

This was a huge learning experience for me! Thank you so much for all the information in your wonderful e-book. And in your blog posts, but most of all thanks for the encouragement to push myself and tackle video editing! My video isn’t fancy, but I’m really proud of my accomplishment.

(4) Brian Frum of Brian’s Home

Here’s a peek into the not-so-secret lives of some of the 11 ferals we care for at Brian’s Home. We love them all.

(5) Chloe and Jenise of Happy Go Doodle

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t talk with my pets. Through the expression on their faces, the look in their eyes, the wag of their tails…they listen. Without saying a word, our canine companions speak volumes…and fill a place in our hearts that lasts forever. So when Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe and I played a game of fetch recently, we had our own “happy talk” together that we captured on video and then set to music.

We hope you’ll take a break with us and “catch” these feel-good messages we’d like to share. OH, and wait for it…don’t miss the silly blooper at the end. Thank you!


(6) Valentine Barbero and Mom Kelly

Our learning challenge was to create a video using the iMovie application for the first time and on a MacBook Pro. Our media included two different videos and still images taken with an iPhone and then uploaded to the program. Then we put together the final action video using the movie trailer template.It took several attempts to figure out the best clips to use from the two base videos and the order in which to use them for best effect.

It was also a challenge trying to figure out the best starting and stopping points of each action clip or how to create a continuous clip sequence.Valentine the black Persian kitty sees an opportunity. He peers in the the box of Townhouse flatbread crisps that is conveniently sitting out on the table unopened. He peers in the box to spy it’s contents. He’s thinking it’s snack time and finds a tasty treat within his reach.

The salty one is sneaky and keeps trying to slip away! Valentine is up for a challenge and it is not long before snacky cracker is taken down.

(7) The Chirpy Cats

As usual, Sly Pie, the youngest of the Chirpy Cats crew, is up for a game of patty cake but Mr. Jack just wants to sleep. Mr. Jack suggests to him to go somewhere else to find amusement. Sly Pie does just that and goes off to create his own joy!

This is the first episode in our new segment called Caturday Voodles, created in iMovie and includes voice over with subtitles. We hope you enjoy it!

Now you have seen our fantastic pet video entries

We know that you will be inspired to make your own videos. We have plenty of tips and tricks in our blog posts and want you to go and grab your smartphone, or DLSP camera to make movies with.Check out these posts:

  1. Tips and tricks for the absolute beginner movie maker.
  2. Five great smartphone movie editing apps

Remember, slow and steady is the best tip for any movie making novice.Now, what are you going to make as your first amazing movie?


The Original Video Challenge Post

This is a review of the launch of the challenge and its aims. It is helpful if you want to try and explore your won vide even if you are not used to making videos or joining in challenges like this one.

The #DKVideo Challenge aims to encourage everyone who blogs, or who loves social media, to try making a video. You have a whole month for the challenge.

Whether it’s for yourself and your family, for posting on Twitter and Facebook, or for a sponsored post on a blog. Take those first steps, make a few mistakes, have a lot of fun and enter the challenge to build your skills and confidence.

If you think you can’t make a movie that gets attention, think again. Take a look at our duckling video, it was a BlogPaws® 2017 Nose to Nose Finalist.

It’s not perfect, but it captures a really special moment and it was made on the move, with an iPhone. The welfare of the duckling, and getting it to the rescue, was the first priority. The video was a bonus that was turned into a blog post that became part learning experience, and part ‘feel good’ rescue.

Our 2017 Nose to Nose Finalist Movie The Dash Kitten Movie Crew  

I Don’t Have a Video Camera for the Challenge…

Most of you will have something to make a video with. For the DK Video Challenge you just need a basic smartphone, a portable movie camera or a DSLR taht shoots video. The DSLR would need a tripod and be much heavier though. Try an Android/iPhone/Windows ‘phone, or an iPad, or a GoPro.

Then you can either download your video and edit it on a computer, or edit video ‘in the camera’. This isn’t Hollywood, the challenge is about getting out there, having fun and learning something new while making a movie.

  • My ‘Make Your Pet an Internet Movie Star‘ is curretly being revised and will be available soon.
  • Check our popular ‘Quick Tips for Video Success’ post.
  • We also have some smartphone editing app suggestions here.
  • The entry form for the challenge is here (no longer active Jan. 2018)

Cat posing in front of a smartphone

The Rules of the DK Video Challenge Easy as 1, 2, 3…..

The challenge is open to pet bloggers, and pet owners who are active on social media. We do not know how many will participate but our initial cap will be around 30 entries. This will allow us to post the videos in sets of five on the blog as they come in. [If we get more, we will be delighted, and reconsider how many we need to post at a time!]

  1. 100 WORDS to introduce your finished video. Your aim, or the skill you want to improve. No apologies for lack of perceived skills are permitted! This is a friendly challenge.
  2. TWO MINUTES maximum length on the theme PET(s) FOR ALL SEASON(s) i.e. Your pet wherever you are in the world – summer or winter, inside or out.
  3. THREE: Fill in the entry form [The entry form goes up tomorrow] and submit your finished video. Submission deadline is 31st August 2017.

You Can Focus on Learning

The aim is to encourage the less confident to try video, and others to improve a skill. Your video should be about your own pets, or a rescue cat, dog or other pet.  If you are confident making a video tell us how things went wrong, or how you put something right! Here’s some tips:

  • Use your video challenge to show you are learning a new skill like editing,
  • if you are are learning to add transitions.
  • maybe it’s your first try at storytelling
  • or recording a trip, or a hike to a fun place
  • recording a fun memory like your cat’s adventures in a tree!

Here’s some useful tips to keep you on track:

  1. We are here if you have any questions or issues – never be afraid to ask. We are on TwitterFacebookInstagram and via the comments here.
  2. You have almost a whole month to complete your video!
  3. You do not need to make it 2 minutes long. If you can crush us with a 25 second epic Go for It!
  4. You can use any device you have, and your video does not have to be recent footage.
  • We have added a fun FREE storyboard printable at the bottom of the post!

When your video is finished, upload it YouTube or Vimeo and fill in the simple entry form for your entry.

32 thoughts on “The Dash Kitten Video Challenge #DKVideo”

  1. I just entered my video in the contest! This was a fun challenge, Miss Marjorie & Dash Kitten! It will be exciting to view the winning entry. Purrs! Mew Mew!

    Reply
  2. This sounds like a really great challenge! We have vowed to start doing more videos – and we finally have all the right things to do it. We will keep an eye on the challenge and watch to learn – we need some tips and tricks and so it’s always helpful to watch others – specially doing sweet cat videos!

    Reply
  3. Sounds like a fun challenge. We love doing video but just don’t do enough of it and would love to take it a little further. Don’t have a camera but iphone to the rescue! Will definitely be joining in and look forward to seeing some cat videos from all of you!

    Reply
  4. Video is one of the areas we need to work on. We’re going to encourage (very strongly) Mom Paula to sign us up for this. We’ve subscribed to the newsletter, so can’t wait to learn new video stuff.

    Reply
  5. Oooh! This is so fun! I’ve got to get my camera out and give it a try. Manna and Dexter would be great movie stars! Now I’ve just got to get my booty in gear and make it happen. 🙂

    Reply
  6. I do not have a smart phone, and all I have are some old videos of the three of *them* is separate clips. No clue as to how to edit them, nor do I have time to learn that skill…besides they were done with a camera I no longer use…but I might try and post one or more of them…so that peeps can see my furs in the ‘living’! Even of Angel Minko…those are precious to me now…

    Reply
  7. I love video! Your video challenge is such a cool and great idea! Good luck to all – how fun! Can’t wait to see the videos!

    Reply
  8. What a great idea for a challenge! We’re a little shy about video at my house. I always feel like there’s some kind of embarrassing background noises. But if I edit the video to music, I won’t have to worry about someone’s TV or background conversations. Hmmm….. I’ve just gotten an idea. ….Off to start my video!

    Reply
  9. What fun! Unfortunately, our video skills are in the toilet. Our point and shoot takes videos but our video editor won’t let us add much text or do any fancy stuff. If you’ve seen the stuff on our YouTube channel, that’s about as good as it gets. Best of luck to everybuddy.

    Reply
  10. This sounds like so much fun! What a great idea too! We’ve been trying to do more and more video, especially since getting a GoPro this spring. We will certainly join in, and we look forward to seeing everyone’s entries! Thanks for hosting this!

    Reply
  11. I haven’t ever tried my hand at video, so I’ve signed up for your e-book. I am looking forward to seeing all the videos!

    Reply
  12. Nice challenge. I’ll have to sign up for those extra tips! This has me thinking I really need to try more video in my blogs.

    Reply
  13. silver….iz it oh kay ta sendz an old moovee…reezon we ask iz coz de fone iz R onlee videe oh source and itz a 4; we can no longer send mooveez out once we haz made em…we can make em, but thatz az far az they get; stuck in de fone til we hit dee leet

    ??insert heartz

    Reply
  14. This is an interesting idea and actually I just signed up for a ‘making a video 101’ workshop happening in a few weeks. We’ll see how I do in the workshop before I attempt a contest. What I’m really interested in is editing software and how it works.

    Reply
    • You need to check our editing software review mentioned in the post Sherri, or join the Mailing List for our comprehensive starter eBook on making movies!

      Reply
  15. This is great, I’m so excited! I just subscribed and want to join the challenge. Thanks so much for doing this!
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

    Reply
  16. Such a fun idea! I always WANT to do more videos of my cats, but never seem to make the time! That needs to change for sure!!!

    Reply
  17. What a great idea! All the lead up had me really intrigued. Perhaps I can get some video of the horses while my kids are at camp!

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  18. This is such an awesome way to encourage people to embrace video. I stink at videos and just honestly have no patience for them. This month is busy for me, but maybe I can find some time to try to make one and enter anyway. Hmm..

    Reply
  19. This was an excellent post. Mom only has ever shot a few videos worth sharing. She uses her iPhone. She has one that she’d like to try to edit and will hope to enter. Thanks for challenge. She needs it. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy

    Reply
  20. Wow, this is quite a competition, and a lovely prize too! Now I wonder what I can record that won’t get the peep into trouble???
    Joking aside this is a fab way for folks to get out there and have some fun and learn a new skill. Your Duck video got you to BlogPaws final so who knows where this may lead some aspiring video virgin?
    Purrrs
    ERin

    Reply
  21. MeOW Dat sounds very innerestin’. Not sure ifin we’ll be able to enter, but we’ll see. Good luck to all. Big hugs

    Luv ya’

    Dezi and Raena

    Reply
  22. This should be so much fun and we can’t wait to see th entries. We will put or thinking caps on and try to get one rady!

    Reply

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