Jason Girouard, 16, has been entering video contests (many, many contests!) since December 2010. Along the way, he’s made really smart choices about the contests he enters, which explains why he’s such a prolific winner. Check out the secret to his success in this week’s interview.

OVC: Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what do you do for a living?

Jason: I’m Jason Girouard from the small town of Brimfield, Massachusetts! I don’t have my license yet so I can’t really have a job, however, I do film the neighboring town (Sturbridge) meetings every now and then.

How long have you been interested in filmmaking? When did you first start shooting your own stuff?
In 8th grade I was assigned to do a project for English class on the book Johnny Tremain. My friends Alex and Remi thought it would be fun to make a video; so we did! Using my Mom’s VHS camera we recorded a film that I now hang my head in shame while watching. When showed to our English class however, everyone loved it! We posted it on YouTube and because of the attention that that video got, Remi and I decided to continue making videos and posting them on YouTube on a channel known as SoonJG. After a year of making videos, we bought a new camera and started fresh on a channel called LastPlaceHeroes (named for my lack of success on the cross country team). Now into my Junior year in High School, Remi and I still continue to make videos on YouTube, though not as often as we’d like to.

What has been the favorite thing you have worked on so far, and why?
I downloaded a trial version of Adobe After Effects and wanted to try out a few things it could do. I discovered rotoscoping and used it to make an action-packed explosion-filled gun fight video with Remi. We jumped out of windows onto mattresses, and thoroughly had a great time filming it. It’s available to view here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96pZ7zmluA8 if you’d like to see it!

When did you start entering video contests? About how many contests have you entered so far?
I first found a video contest in which 100 Google TV’s were being given away as prizes in December of 2010 and couldn’t pass that up. Since then I’ve entered about 11 contests, came in 1st in three of them, placed in four of them, and am waiting for the announcement of three other contests.

Can you tell us a little about the contest and the entry that won it?
In case you didn’t guess, my friend Remi and I teamed up to enter the I Want My Google TV Contest. We couldn’t decide whether to do a sketch or write a song for our entry, so instead we did both! We wrote a script, wrote and recorded a song, and made fools of ourselves! A small price to pay when you’re rewarded with a 46” Sony Internet TV! This paved the way for many more contests to come! I loved getting rewarded for having fun making a video so I google searched “Online video contests” and the top result was OnlineVideoContests.com, the perfect place for me! Since then I just keep entering contests. Remi and I enter contests separately now though.

What motivates you to take part in a contest? Is it primarily that the topic interests you or that you like the prize, etc?
I first get motivated by the prize, of course! But because there are too many contests to enter than there is time to enter them, I must narrow them down to which ones I like best. I first check the eligibility of the contest. If it’s ‘All ages’ then I tend to avoid it because professional filmmakers are able to enter. If it’s ‘Under 18’ or ‘Ages 13-18’ or something along those lines then I’m more likely to enter, as my odds of winning are higher. Another major factor is the topic. Topics that promote a good cause such as promoting community service, helping to live sustainably, etc., I like and am more likely enter. Contests that are there to advertise products (such as the Google TV contest) I don’t like as much. Also contest that offer prizes for first, second, and third I am much more likely to enter than those that just offer a first place prize.

What’s the best prize you’ve ever won in a contest?
In the second contest I entered, the 2011 Get Green Video Contest, I won the Grand Prize as well as the Peoples Choice award. I won $500 in cash, a Firewire Surfboard (which I later exchanged for $300), and a Samsung Galaxy Tab. A pretty sweet deal for one day spent making a video! I’m currently in the process of working with them to promote their upcoming video contest, so keep your eye out!

Are you working on any new contest entries now? Are any of your entries up for vote or need views to win?
I almost always make my entire video for a contest in one day, which includes filming, and editing, so I’m almost never caught in the process of making an entry. I am currently waiting on the announcement of three video contests though as I said before. I try and steer away from voting contests as it always comes down to a contest of “Who has the most friends and family” and not “Whose video is the best”.

[Ed. Note - Since this interview, Jason did enter a contest with a voting element - the Joe Foss Institute 2011 Scholarship Video Contest. Go over and give him your vote now: http://contest.joefoss.com/entry/203579 until Nov 4]

If you had to offer up some advice to other people trying to get their work out there and noticed, what would it be?
Never give up! It takes a while to start getting decent at making videos, and entering videos contest. In the process you’ll figure out what to do, what not to do, and what to improve on! You can’t expect to be making great videos after just a few months of trying, I know I sure came a long way from the videos I made in 8th grade…

There you have it! Jason, thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. We always love seeing your new work (and seeing you win!).

Would you like to be featured on the blog? Drop us a line at Marissa[at]onlinevideocontests[dot]com