Lucky dogs to star in 'dogumentary'
Does anyone in Baltimore have a dog with star quality?
Three lucky dogs will be selected to appear in a "dogumentary" to debut on Mighty Dog's website next January. The winners will also star in a 30-second film trailer that will air as a commercial during the “National Dog Show” on NBC on Thanksgiving Day.
All you have to do is capture your dog's fabulousness on video and submit it to the Mighty Dog contest. It seems kind of fun. If your dog makes it, make sure he/she gives Unleashed a shout-out in the film....
Entries must be in by June 20 at 11:59 a.m. Eastern. People can enter videos by completing the online Citizenship Application form at the Might Dog website, then submitting a video up to two minutes in length that showcases their dogs mighty behavior in one of five categories:
* Front Porch Defender -- Mighty soldier on the front line of life, these smart and fearless friends perk to attention with every new visitor, smell, or passing car, and promptly report back on the outside activity. Always on call to alert you to trouble and wondering what took you so long to get there.
* The Couch Paw-tato -- Although the untrained eye may mistake them for sluggish, these knowledgeable creatures watch with intense focus as life moves all around them. They live by a different set of rules that reward those who can spot the cat on TV first or get to the best seat in the house before their owner. These smart and spirited dogs are most comfortable overseeing house activities from atop their elevated, cushioned perch.
* The Inquisitive Headmaster -- Whether it’s for your sake or theirs, these masters of your domain have plotted the land thoroughly and are to be kept abreast of everything – EVERYTHING! What is in the sack? Why are you behind that door? Why aren’t we leaving yet? And where is the food that should’ve been served promptly at six?
* The Inventive Adventurer -- These tenacious titans WILL succeed no matter the cost. Blocked Path? Re-routed. Too High? Jumped. Just out of reach? Finagled. These puppies have a thirst for adventure and an imagination mightier than the laws of physics.
* The Wagging Walk-On Role -- Is your dog Mighty in another way? Create your own mighty role and tell and show us your dog’s Mighty behavior.
The video can't be longer than two minutes and they can't have any third-party music, logos, or branded products in them. Entrants can upload videos to the Mighty Dog Web site or mail a VHS tape or DVD to “Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie,” P.O. Box 19784, Seattle, WA 98109. No purchase is necessary to enter.
Judges will pick winners based on the following criteria: Appropriateness to the “Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie” theme (demonstrates attitudes bigger than size – maximum 35 points); Mightiness of the Moment (clear demonstration of the entry category behaviors described above) – maximum 35 points; Star Potential (engaging and entertaining) – 30 points.
Finalist videos will be posted on the Mighty Dog website on July 3. People will then be able to vote on them -- American Idol style -- to help select the three winners. Internet voting will account for 10 percent of the total score assigned to the finalist videos. Celebrity judge Maria Menounos will have the most say -- her pick counts as 90% of the final score.
The three winners get:
* A role for the winning dogs in the Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie, a short "dogumentary" film, and a one day film shoot in their home with a professional film crew.
* A role in a 30-second film trailer that will air during a commercial for the National Dog Show on NBC on Thanksgiving Day.
* A hometown film premiere party for the winning entrant, dog, and friends and family in early 2010. (Make sure you invite Unleashed!)
* A one-year supply of Mighty Dog canned dog food.
Each finalist will receive a six-month supply Purina® Mighty Dog® brand canned dog food. For the complete Official Contest Rules, please visit www.mightydog.com. No purchase necessary. Contest ends 6/20/2009.
In April, TV personality and contest judge Maria Menounos led about 250 dogs on a Might Dog march in Boston. Associated Press photo.
