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OpusClip: Creating Reels and YouTube Shorts from Podcasts and Long Form Video

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In researching AI tools to save time in creating reels and video shorts from our podcasts and long form video, OpusClip stands out as a time saving solution, as it gives us the ability to further edit and fine tune the reels and video shorts it produces.

I am a creative soul and storyteller through and through, so the idea of using AI to create for me holds no appeal. Why would I want AI to do for me what I love, without the uniqueness, whimsy and humanity that I bring to it. Just like with Persian rugs whose artists purposefully add in an imperfect stitch to demonstrate that they are handmade, I feel that the unique style that my dyslexic and individual mind brings to my writing is what creates the beauty and interest in my storytelling.

Exploring Ethical Ways of Using AI to Repurpose My Creative Content

Streamlining Reel Creation from Podcasts & Long Form Videos with Ai

For me, where AI is useful is in saving time and doing things I don’t enjoy, or that may create a solution to a problem for me. This is where as a media and journalism instructor, and journalist in my own right, I am exploring AI. How can I use AI to further share stories of my creation that matter and spread messages of social good further? How can I utilise AI to save me time, allowing me to focus on the creative? How can I use AI ethically? How can I utilise AI in an environmentally conscious manner?

I don’t have the answers to all of the above yet, but I am experimenting so as to begin to explore and shape my thoughts and experience around this for sharing in my courses with my students and encouraging such discussions among them. In starting on that journey, I wanted to explore if there was a way that AI could help me edit content in the form of podcasts and long form video I’d already created into video reels and YouTube Shorts. This being something I knew would be beneficial in my storytelling, but that I simply had limited time to do.

Roamancing Travel and Culture Shorts

This lead me to experiment with a number of AI tools to create video reels and YouTube shorts from our Roamancing Reads Podcast in June 2025. While I found a few tools that would cut my podcasts and longer form video into a series of video reels and YouTube shorts, many of these did not allow to further edit the video reels, leaving me unsatisfied with the outcome and not interested in publishing the resulting reels. In searching solutions for this, I found OpusClip.

As an example, here is one reel that OpusClip helped to cut together from our Roamancing Reads Podcast on Triton and Brighton, Newfoundland and Labrador.

@ericahargreave Vinegar Jam Pie! The BEST Dessert You've Never Tried from Newfoundland and Labrador! You heard me right, Vinegar Jam Pie … and it gets weirder when they began to explain how it is made with the Vinegar Jelly Plant grown in a jar in the grandmother's kitchen. Full disclosure, it was quite #scrumpdillyocious! But then that is Triton and Brighton, Newfoundland for you – deliciously unique. A #ShoutOut of thanks to @opusclip for helping me craft this mini tale from our longer #podcast on Triton and Brighton, Newfoundland. I am loving how #OpusClip finds and helps me to cut together smaller stories from a big podcast, saving me hours upon hours that I do not have, making it possible to craft #shorts in a fraction of the time. #OpusClipandGrow For more stories from #Triton and #Brighton, #Newfoundland, tune into the full Roamancing Reads podcast: https://youtu.be/LznfHOSjlkg and read on with my article in Roamancing Travel & Culture Magazine: https://roamancing.com/2024/08/triton-brighton-newfoundland/ #ExploreCanada #ExploreNL #OnlyInNewfoundland #NewfoundlandAndLabrador #TritonNL #BrightonNL #VinegarJam #VinegarJamPie #NewfoundlandFood #Foodie #FoodieTravel #createdwithopusclip ♬ original sound – 🇨🇦 Erica Hargreave 🇨🇦 – Travel & Storytelling w/ Erica

Why OpusClip for Creating Reels and YouTube Shorts from Podcasts and Long Form Video

I found the solution for creating reels and YouTube shorts from my podcasts and long form video that works for me with OpusClip.

Dropping a long form video into OpusClip.

Why Do I Like OpusClip?

  • OpusClip cuts together mini stories from our longer form video, that make sense.
  • The platform makes it easy to edit the mini stories they create from our long form video.
  • It uses AI SEO research to suggest titles for the mini stories they create.
  • Provides AI SEO research to give us an idea of which mini stories are likely to take off online, and which reels include trending topics.
  • It creates a transcript of our podcasts or long form video.
Try OpusClip for Free

OpusClip Creates Reels / Shorts from Podcasts & Long Form Video with a Click

I’ve known that I should be sharing reels / shorts as teasers to our podcasts and longer form video for a long time now, but I never seems to have enough time in my day to put aside for that. Discovering that OpusClip could create several for me at the click of a button has now made this possible.

This is how easy it is:

  • Paste your video link from a podcast or other long form video into OpusClip.
Paste your video link from a podcast or other long form video into OpusClip.
  • Review the reels / shorts that OpusClip cuts together from your content to determine which have potential.
OpusClip created reels from Roamancing Reads Alcatraz Island History Podcast

OpusClip Makes It Easy to Edit Reels / Shorts

The reason why OpusClip works for me is that they make it both possible and easy for me to edit the reels / video shorts that they create from my podcasts or other long form videos. Without the ability to make my own edits, OpusClip would be useless to me, as there will always be ways I want to fine tune my reels and shorts to make sure they reflect the stories my team and I wish to share in the manner we wish to share. This includes:

  • Editing the text transcript they display on the screen.
Editing the Transcript in OpusClip
  • Changing the highlighted colours on the on-screen transcript.
Changing the highlighted colours on the on-screen transcript in OpusClip.
  • Adding additional clips to the mini stories that OpusClip cut together, or cutting out clips.
Adding additional clips to the mini stories that OpusClip cuts together.
  • Uploading your own images and video to edit and replace the images and video in the reel / video short that OpusClip cut.
Uploading your own images and video to edit and replace the images and video in the reel / short that OpusClip cut.
  • Replacing the audio.
  • Uploading and adding background music to the reel / video short.
Music in Opus Clip
  • Add transitions to the reel / video short..
Transitions in OpusClip

AI SEO Researched Titles

While I always modify the AI SEO researched titles that OpusClip comes up with to ensure that it accurately describes the video, do not mislead, includes my desired keywords (that I’ve done my own SEO research on), I do like that OpusClip’s suggested titles are giving me ideas and encouraging me to craft my titles in new ways to draw the attention of potential viewers.

AI SEO Research to Suggest Popularity Potential of Reels / Video Shorts

I select which of the reels / video shorts, that OpusClip creates, I am using and when, based on what makes sense in our storytelling, but I find OpusClip’s suggestions for popularity potential of reels / shorts, based on AI SEO research to be interesting. I am not sure how accurate these suggestions are, however, as two of our best performing OpusClip created reels / shorts had lower popularity potential in OpusClip’s ranking suggestions.

AI SEO Rankings in OpusClip

OpusClip Creates Transcripts

An added bonus of importing podcasts and long form video into OpusClip is that it creates transcript of that video that you can then use to update your transcript on your podcast and long form video. Just be sure to proofread it, as with many automatic transcribers, it makes mistakes.

Downloading transcripts of long form video in OpusClip.

While OpusClip does not create a transcript of the reels / shorts it creates, you can easily create one yourself by copying and pasting the onscreen transcripts they create as a part of your reel / short video.

Copying and pasting the onscreen transcripts they create as a part of your reel and short video.

Tools That I Do Not Use at Present

At present, I am not using the following tools that OpusClip provides, as I don’t like the resulting product that they create:

  • AI Enhance
    • I find when I try applying this to the audio, it usually makes the audio worse.
  • AI Hooks
    • This feature uses AI generated voices, which always make me cringe.
  • B-Roll
    • This is autogenerated and selects images and video that makes the reel / video shorts look autogenerated, weaving in imagery that doesn’t match the rest of the video, that is often at odds with what is actually being discussed in the video, and removes the authentic feel from the video.
  • Music
    • I find the current selection does not match my storytelling, and the search isn’t bringing up options that would add anything to my reels / shorts, leaving me disappointed.

Wish List

  • The ability to trim uploaded video at the beginning of the video, as well as at the end of the video, when making edits to reels / video shorts.
  • Downloadable transcripts for OpusClip created reels / video shorts.
  • Ability to rerecord audio on reels / video shorts within OpusClip.
  • Enable addition of self-recorded hooks.
  • Expand upon the music library and improve on its searchability.

Try OpusClip For Yourself

While these are my experiences and opinions, give OpusClip a try by experimenting with their free trial.

Try OpusClip for Free

What Are Your OpusClip Highlights & Wishes?

We’d love to hear what you like about OpusClip in the comments below, and your wishes for it in the future. Also if you have tips and tricks to editing with OpusClip and getting the most out of it, don’t be shy, feel free to share those too.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This commission contributes to paying our writers for their storytelling. We only post links to things that we ourselves have tried.

Submitting to the 2024 TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards on FilmFreeway

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We are excited to launch the 2024 TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards on FilmFreeway, an awards submission platform that will help to streamline our submissions and judging.

Will Tang wins 1st place in the 2021 Nathan Fong Award

As the submission process will be new for the TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards, we have created the tutorial below to walk you through this process.

Guide to Entering the TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards on FilmFreeway

You will find the 2024 TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards on FilmFreeway at https://filmfreeway.com/TMACAwards.

TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway

In this Guide, we share instructions on:

To enter the 2024 TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards or nominate someone for an award, you will need an account on FilmFreeway. This is free. Just click ‘Sign Up’ on the Header Menu (or ‘Log In’, if you already have a FilmFreeway account).

Sign Up for the TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway

In signing up, be sure to select “I want to submit my work or get tickets to festivals.”

Select "I want to submit my work or get tickets to festivals."

Once you are signed into FilmFreeway, click on the downward arrow beside your avatar in the Header Menu and click on Account Settings.

Navigating to Account Settings on FilmFreeway

While you will not be charged anything for entering and nominating people to the TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards, if you are using FilmFreeway for any other awards, you way wish to scroll down to Currency and change your currency to Canadian dollars.

Change the Currency You Are Paying in on FilmFreeway

Next:

Before you enter an Awards Category, you need to ‘Add Your Projects’ to your FilmFreeway Portfolio. By ‘Projects’ this refers to the stories, photos or nominations you wish to submit to the 2024 TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards.

Add A Project on FilmFreeway

Before starting, you will want to visit TMAC’s Website and review the 2024 TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards to decide which categories you wish to enter.

*Please Note: if you are submitting a story or photo that you previously submitted to the TMAC National Awards, you DO NOT need to create this ‘project’ again in FilmFreeway, but instead can jump ahead to Submit Your Projects to the TMAC Awards, and submit your previously created ‘project’ to the desired awards category.

The Nathan Fong Award, which is open to all TMAC members across Canada, was created to raise awareness and highlight the many contributions Canadians of Asian descent have made to Canada. Stories submitted for this award can be inspired by anything from the best places to eat in Chinatown to historical places of interest, to modern-day attractions, culture, festivals, unusual distilleries, chef profiles and more. The stories must include both an Asian and Canadian connection.

All forms of media storytelling are welcome in this category, from the written word to podcasts, video, immersive and interactive media.

Submission Guidelines/Criteria:

  • Submission time frame for this award welcomes works published between January 1, 2024 to the submissions deadline of April 4, 2025.
  • TMAC members may submit up to 2 entries.
  • You can use work that you have already submitted for the TMAC National Awards.

For projects that you intend to enter into the Nathan Fong Memorial Award, follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Select Film / Video or Script (for Written Projects) or Music (for Audio Projects) or Photography / Design or VR / XR / Immersive, depending on what best suits your project.
    • Project Title: The name of the story that you are submitting.
    • Brief Synopsis: Tell us the Publication Outlet and Date of Publication of your story.
    • If your project is in French, click on the “My Project also has a non-English Title and Synopsis” box, and fill in the Project Title en Francais.
    • Add a link to your story (optional).
  • Below you will see an example of the choices for Film / Video.
TMAC All Forms of Media Project Information on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Under Credits, add the names of your project’s main creatives.
All Forms of Media Credits on FilmFreeway
  • Select whichever Project Type fits under Specifications.
  • On Specifications fill in the Publication Date instead of the Completion Date.
  • You don’t need to fill in anything else on Specifications, but you can if you wish to.
All Forms of Media Specifications on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Screening / Distribution Section and click Save Project.
  • You must upload a PDF, under Files & Attachments with a description of the project, form of media, and a link to it (if it is online). This is a requirement for all Nathan Fong Memorial Award Submissions.
Add PDFs and Photos on FilmFreeway
  • Additionally, please include one of the following:
    • Under Add an Online Screener, upload a video under Upload.
    • Under Add an Online Screener, add a Link to your story. This can be a link to any form of media.
    • Under Upload Script File, upload a PDF of an article, blog post, book, or other form of media.
    • Under Upload Photographs, add any photos that you are submitting as your story.
  • If you are having trouble creating a PDF of a web based article, I shared instructions on how to do that in the TMAC Facebook Group. Not a member there, email me at [email protected] and I will send you the tips I posted to the Facebook Group.
Add Your Video or Project Link on Film Freeway

All media delegates of the 2024 TMAC Conference & Media Marketplace in St John’s, are invited to submit your stories, published on any platform / communication channel, about your experiences while in Newfoundland & Labrador.

Submission Guidelines/Criteria:

  • Submission time frame for this award welcomes works published from June 2024 to the submissions deadline of April 4, 2025.
  • TMAC members may submit unlimited entries.
  • You can use work that you have already submitted for the TMAC National Awards.

For projects that you intend to enter into the TMAC Conference Host Destination Award: Newfoundland & Labrador, follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Select Film / Video or Script (for Written Projects) or Music (for Audio Projects) or Photography / Design or VR / XR / Immersive, depending on what best suits your project.
    • Project Title: The name of the story that you are submitting.
    • Brief Synopsis: Tell us the Publication Outlet and Date of Publication of your story.
    • If your project is in French, click on the “My Project also has a non-English Title and Synopsis” box, and fill in the Project Title en Francais.
    • Add a link to your story (optional).
  • Below you will see an example of the choices for Film / Video.
TMAC All Forms of Media Project Information on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Under Credits, add the names of your project’s main creatives.
All Forms of Media Credits on FilmFreeway
  • Select whichever Project Type fits under Specifications.
  • On Specifications fill in the Publication Date instead of the Completion Date.
  • You don’t need to fill in anything else on Specifications, but you can if you wish to.
All Forms of Media Specifications on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Screening / Distribution Section and click Save Project.
  • You must upload a PDF, under Files & Attachments with a description of the project, form of media, and a link to it (if it is online). This is a requirement for all TMAC Conference Host Destination Award: Newfoundland & Labrador Awards Submissions.
Add PDFs and Photos on FilmFreeway
  • Additionally, please include one of the following:
    • Under Add an Online Screener, upload a video under Upload.
    • Under Add an Online Screener, add a Link to your story. This can be a link to any form of media.
    • Under Upload Script File, upload a PDF of an article, blog post, book, or other form of media.
    • Under Upload Photographs, add any photos that you are submitting as your story.
  • If you are having trouble creating a PDF of a web based article, I shared instructions on how to do that in the TMAC Facebook Group. Not a member there, email me at [email protected] and I will send you the tips I posted to the Facebook Group.
Add Your Video or Project Link on Film Freeway

The always popular People’s Choice Photo of the Year invites you to share your favourite photo from 2024. Your photo can be of anything you like, but the goal is to wow your colleagues and earn their votes.

Submission Guidelines/Criteria:

  • This award welcomes photos shot in 2024.
  • Only one photo per member is permitted.
  • Photos do not need to have been published.
  • All TMAC members and staff may submit a photo.
  • You can use work that you have already submitted to the TMAC National Awards.

For photographs that you intend to enter into People’s Choice Photo of the Year, follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Photography / Design
    • Project Title: The name of the photograph
    • Brief Synopsis: Where the photograph was taken and the date that you took the photo.
TMAC Photography Project Information on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Under Credits, add your name as the photographer.
Photographer Credits on FilmFreeway
  • On Specifications fill in the date the photograph was taken.
  • You don’t need to fill in anything else on Specifications, but you can if you wish to.
Photography Specifications on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Past Awards Section and click Save Project.
  • Upload Photographs. This is a requirement for all People’s Choice Photo of the Year Submissions.
Upload your Photographs on FilmFreeway

The Volunteer of the Year award is presented to an outstanding TMAC member, in good standing, who has demonstrated an instrumental role as a volunteer, including dedication, leadership and commitment to service and support of the association.

Submission Guidelines/Criteria:

  • This award is open to both media and industry volunteers.
  • Any member may make a nomination.
  • Nominee should be a champion for TMAC and a positive representative of the association.
  • Nominee must have been a member of TMAC for at least 12 months.
  • Nominee should make a significant impact on the work TMAC does by taking initiative to create professional development opportunities, foster industry connections, propel TMAC to be more inclusive, open or forward-thinking or contribute to the general management of TMAC as a professional organization.
  • There should be something unique about the work the nominee does, the way they do it or their overall attitude that sets them apart from other volunteers.

Please submit your TMAC volunteer nominee’s name along with a 75 to 250-word explanation as to why you’re nominating this outstanding member.

For nominations that you intend to make to the Volunteer of the Year, follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Script
    • Project Title: Nominee’s Name
    • Brief Synopsis: Share an introductory synopsis as to why you are nominating this individual. (optional)
Adding a Nominee as a Project on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Select ‘Other’ under Project Type on Specifications.
Project Type on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Past Awards Section and click Save Project.
  • Under Upload Script File, select ‘No’ for “Does your script file include a cover page?” and then click ‘Choose File’ to upload a PDF copy of your 75 to 250-word explanation as to why you’re nominating this outstanding member. This is a requirement for all Volunteer of the Year Nominee Submissions.
Upload article on FilmFreeway

The Industry Member of the Year award is presented to a TMAC industry member who distinguishes themselves as a highly skilled and respected colleague to both industry and media members.

This award highlights the work of a member who consistently demonstrates excellence. This industry member shows a deep understanding of and appreciation for the ever-changing needs of travel media. Nominees have a track record for developing unique story opportunities, facilitating successful partnerships and collaborations, curating tailored itineraries, and connecting media with expert voices. In other words, this is the industry member EVERYONE raves about.

Submission Guidelines/Criteria:

  • Nominations are welcome from both TMAC media and industry members.
  • Multiple nomination submissions are welcome.
  • Industry may not self-nominate for this category.

Please submit your TMAC nominee’s name and position, along with a 50 to 250-word explanation as to why you’re nominating this outstanding industry member.

For nominations that you intend to make to the Industry Member of the Year Award, follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Script
    • Project Title: Nominee’s Name
    • Brief Synopsis: Share an introductory synopsis as to why you are nominating this individual. (optional)
Adding a Nominee as a Project on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Select ‘Other’ under Project Type on Specifications.
Project Type on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Past Awards Section and click Save Project.
  • Under Upload Script File, select ‘No’ for “Does your script file include a cover page?” and then click ‘Choose File’ to upload a PDF copy of your 50 to 250-word explanation as to why you are nominating this outstanding industry member. This is a requirement for all Industry Member of the Year Nominee Submissions.
Upload article on FilmFreeway

The Industry Award for Best Itinerary of the Year is a new award recognising the extreme care and effort that goes into a well-executed itinerary; one that helps TMAC media members bring partner destinations’ stories to life.

TMAC media members may nominate industry members (industry members may also self-nominate) who created a press trip itinerary in 2024 that went above and beyond. This is the itinerary that inspired multiple stories, or a trip that people will be talking about for years to come.

Please submit your TMAC nominee’s name and position, along with a 50 to 250-word explanation of how the press trip supported successful destination storytelling. Include details about the itinerary and story links if you’d like (but not necessary).

Submission Guidelines/Criteria:

  • Nominations are welcome from both TMAC media and industry members.
  • Multiple nomination submissions are welcome.
  • Nominee must be the TMAC member responsible for creating the 2024 itinerary.
  • Industry may self-nominate for this category.

For nominations that you intend to make to the Industry Member of the Year Award, follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Script
    • Project Title: Nominee’s Name
    • Brief Synopsis: Share an introductory synopsis describing the press trip. (optional)
Nominating a Press Trip on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Select ‘Other’ under Project Type on Specifications.
Project Type on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Past Awards Section and click Save Project.
  • Under Upload Script File, select ‘No’ for “Does your script file include a cover page?” and then click ‘Choose File’ to upload a PDF copy of your 50 to 250-word explanation of how the press trip supported successful destination storytelling. Include details about the itinerary and story links if you’d like (but not necessary). This is a requirement for all Industry Award for Best Itinerary of the Year Nominee Submissions.
Upload article on FilmFreeway

You are now ready to submit your projects to the TMAC Awards.

You will find the entry forms for the 2024 TMAC Membership and Chapter Awards Categories on:

TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway

Submitting will look like this:

Submitting to an Award on FilmFreeway in CAD

Should you have questions regarding submitting your entries through FilmFreeway, first review the instructions above to see if your question has already been answered. If it has not, then send an email to Christine or Erica.

Good luck in the awards!

Submitting to the 2024 TMAC National Awards on FilmFreeway

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We are excited to launch the 2024 TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway, an awards submission platform that should help to streamline our submissions and judging.

As the submission process will be new for the TMAC Awards, we have created the tutorial below to walk you through this process.

TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway

Guide to Entering the TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway

You will find the 2024 TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway at https://filmfreeway.com/TMACAwards.

In this Guide, we share instructions on:

To enter the 2024 TMAC Awards, you will need an account on FilmFreeway. This is free. Just click Sign Up on the Header Menu (or Log In, if you already have a FilmFreeway account).

Sign Up for the TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway

In signing up, be sure to select “I want to submit my work or get tickets to festivals.”

Select "I want to submit my work or get tickets to festivals."

Once you are signed into FilmFreeway, click on the downward arrow beside your avatar in the Header Menu and click on Account Settings.

Navigating to Account Settings on FilmFreeway

Scroll down to Currency and change your currency to Canadian dollars.

Change the Currency You Are Paying in on FilmFreeway

Next:

Before you enter an Awards Category, you need to ‘Add Your Projects’ to your FilmFreeway Portfolio. By ‘Projects’ this refers to the stories you wish to submit to the 2024 TMAC Awards.

Add A Project on FilmFreeway

Before starting, you will want to visit TMAC’s Website and review the 13 National Awards Categories to decide which categories you wish to enter.

Remember you can enter:

  • a maximum of 6 of your stories published between January 1 and December 31, 2024, unless otherwise stated;
  • a maximum of 2 stories in any given category; and
  • the same story cannot be submitted more than once (even if in a different category).

Please be sure to review the full list of TMAC 2024 Awards Submissions Guidelines.

For projects that you intend to enter into one of TMAC’s Written Word Awards Categories follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Script
    • Project Title: The name of the article, blog post, or book that you are submitting.
    • If your project is in French, click on the “My Project also has a non-English Title and Synopsis” box, and fill in the Project Title en Francais.
    • Brief Synopsis: Tell us the Publication Outlet and Date of Publication of your story.
    • Add a link to your article, blog post, or book (optional).
TMAC Written Word Project Information on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.

  • Under Credits, add the names of all the writers of the article, blog post, or book.
Add your project credits on FilmFreeway - TMAC Written Word Awards
  • Select ‘Other’ under Project Type on Specifications.
Project Type on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Past Awards Section and click Save Project.
  • Under Upload Script File, select ‘No’ for “Does your script file include a cover page?” and then click ‘Choose File’ to upload a PDF copy of your article, blog post, or book. This is a requirement for all TMAC Awards Written Word Category Submissions.
  • If you are having trouble creating a PDF of a web based article, I shared instructions on how to do that in the TMAC Facebook Group. Not a member there, email me at [email protected] and I will send you the tips I posted to the Facebook Group.
Upload article on FilmFreeway

For projects that you intend to enter into one of TMAC’s Photography (aka Visual) Awards Categories follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Photography / Design
    • Project Title: The name of the photograph or the article or blog post in which the photograph was published
    • Brief Synopsis: Tell us the Publication Outlet and Date of Publication that your photos are published in.
    • Add a link to the article, blog post, or book that your article is published in (optional).
TMAC Photography Project Information on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Under Credits, add your name as the photographer.
Photographer Credits on FilmFreeway
  • On Specifications fill in the Date the Photograph(s) was Published, rather than the Date the Photograph was Taken.
  • You don’t need to fill in anything else on Specifications, but you can if you wish to.
Photography Specifications on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Past Awards Section and click Save Project.
  • Upload Photographs. This is a requirement for all TMAC Awards Photography Category Submissions.
Upload your Photographs on FilmFreeway
  • Under Files & Attachments upload a PDF copy of the article, blog post, or book that your photograph is published in. This is a requirement for all TMAC Awards Photography Category Submissions.
  • If you are having trouble creating a PDF of a web based article, I shared instructions on how to do that in the TMAC Facebook Group. Not a member there, email me at [email protected] and I will send you the tips I posted to the Facebook Group.
Add a File on FilmFreeway

For projects that you intend to enter into one of TMAC’s All Media Forms or Best Emerging & Broadcast Media Awards Categories follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Select Film / Video or Script (for Written Projects) or Music (for Audio Projects) or Photography / Design or VR / XR / Immersive, depending on what best suits your project.
    • Project Title: The name of the story that you are submitting.
    • Brief Synopsis: Tell us the Publication Outlet and Date of Publication of your story.
    • If your project is in French, click on the “My Project also has a non-English Title and Synopsis” box, and fill in the Project Title en Francais.
    • Add a link to your story (optional).
  • As you’ve already seen examples of the choices for Scripts and Photography, below you will see an example for Film / Video.
TMAC All Forms of Media Project Information on FilmFreeway
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Under Credits, add the names of your project’s main creatives.
All Forms of Media Credits on FilmFreeway
  • Select whichever Project Type fits under Specifications.
  • On Specifications fill in the Publication Date instead of the Completion Date.
  • You don’t need to fill in anything else on Specifications, but you can if you wish to.
All Forms of Media Specifications on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Screening / Distribution Section and click Save Project.
  • You must upload a PDF, under Files & Attachments with a description of the project, form of media, and a link to it (if it is online). This is a requirement for all TMAC All Media Forms or Best Emerging & Broadcast Media Awards Category Submissions.
Add PDFs and Photos on FilmFreeway
  • Additionally, please include one of the following:
    • Under Add an Online Screener, upload a video under Upload.
    • Under Add an Online Screener, add a Link to your story. This can be a link to any form of media.
    • Under Upload Script File, upload a PDF of an article, blog post, book, or other form of media.
    • Under Upload Photographs, add any photos that you are submitting as your story.
  • If you are having trouble creating a PDF of a web based article, I shared instructions on how to do that in the TMAC Facebook Group. Not a member there, email me at [email protected] and I will send you the tips I posted to the Facebook Group.
Add Your Video or Project Link on Film Freeway

For projects that you intend to enter into one of TMAC’s Self-Published Travel Website Award Category follow these steps:

  • Fill in the Project Information with:
    • Project Type: Script
    • Project Title: The name of the website that you are submitting.
    • If your project is in French, click on the “My Project also has a non-English Title and Synopsis” box, and fill in the Project Title en Francais.
    • Add a link to your website.
  • There is nothing you need to do with the Submitter’s Information, aside from making sure that it includes the same email as your login for TMAC’s website.
  • Under Credits, add your name as the website creator.
Add your project credits on FilmFreeway - TMAC Written Word Awards
  • Select ‘Other’ under Project Type on Specifications.
Project Type on FilmFreeway
  • Ignore the Past Awards Section and click Save Project.
  • Under Upload Script File, select ‘No’ for “Does your script file include a cover page?” and then click ‘Choose File’ to upload a PDF with the name of your website, a link to your website’s homepage, and a link to three articles that you personally wrote in 2024. With each article, please also share the date of publication. This is a mandatory requirement for all TMAC Awards Self-Published Travel Website Category Submissions.
Upload article on FilmFreeway
  • Optional: Under Files & Attachments upload a PDF copy of each of the three articles or blog posts that you have written in 2024, that you wish judged as a part of this award.
  • If you are having trouble creating a PDF of a web based article, I shared instructions on how to do that in the TMAC Facebook Group. Not a member there, email me at [email protected] and I will send you the tips I posted to the Facebook Group.
Add PDFs and Photos on FilmFreeway

You are now ready to submit your projects to the TMAC Awards.

As a reminder you can enter:

  • a maximum of 6 of your stories published between January 1 and December 31, 2024, unless otherwise stated;
  • a maximum of 2 stories in any given category; and
  • the same story cannot be submitted more than once (even if in a different category).

Please be sure to review the full list of TMAC 2024 Awards Submissions Guideline.

You will find the entry forms for the 13 TMAC National Awards Categories on:

TMAC Awards on FilmFreeway

Provide you use the following three waiver codes, your first three entries will be free:

  • TMAC2024Submission1
  • TMAC2024Submission2
  • TMAC2024Submission3

You can use each waiver code only once. Your 4th – 6th entries will cost $25 CA each + a service fee of $1.79 CA / entry.

Submitting will look like this:

Submitting to an Award on FilmFreeway in CAD

In order to use your waiver codes, submit your projects at the Checkout, one at a time, on your first three entries. This is what the Checkout will look like:

Adding Waiver Code at Checkout on FilmFreeway

…. and once your Waiver Code is applied ….

Successfully Added Waiver Code at Checkout on FilmFreeway

Should you have questions regarding submitting your entries through FilmFreeway, first review the instructions above to see if your question has already been answered. If it has not, then send an email to Christine or Erica.

Good luck in the awards!

2024 Soft Launch of the New Interledger Web Monetization Browser Extension, Relaunching the Web Monetization Standard Ecosystem

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Want to earn from your digital assets? Not a fan of ads, affiliate marketing, and data mining, or want to ad an additional way of earning from the digital media that you create? Then try experimenting with the Web Monetization Standard, which is relaunching its ecosystem with the Interledger Web Monetization Browser Extension.

What is the Web Monetization Standard?

Simply put, Web Monetization is a way that digital content creators can earn from streaming micropayments based on the amount of time that visitors spend on their digital content.

Interledger Web Monetization Extension
Image care of Coil

In technical terms, the Web Monetization Standard is a JavaScript browser API that allows for the creation of a payment stream from a website visitor to a website.

How Does Web Monetization Work?

By placing an Interledger enabled payment pointer for a digital wallet on the backend of a digital asset, anyone visiting that asset with the Interledger Web Monetization Browser installed and an active sum of money (‘grant’) to send, will send a flow of micropayments from their wallet to your payment pointer for the time spent on your digital asset.

Image care of the Artist Rescue Trust

Additionally, they can decide to support your further with a one time payment.

Try Web Monetization Out With Play Money

  • Sign up for a Play Money Wallet at https://wallet.interledger-test.dev
    • As a part of this, the sandbox has you fill in a KYC, as you would with any digital wallet. Be forewarned, it is annoying, as this is a pretend wallet though, you can put in pretend information. The only things that have to be real for it to work are your email, phone number and face scan.

*If you don’t wish to go through the KYC as it is frustrating and can be intimidating, send me an email at erica[at]storytogo.ca and I will set up a play money test wallet for you, so that you can get to the experimenting with none of the frustration.

  • Create a Payment Pointer
    • Once you’ve created your account, click on the existing EUR wallet or set up a new wallet in a currency of your choosing.
    • Inside the wallet of your choosing, click on ‘Deposit’. (as this is a play money account, add as much money as you’d like.)
    • Still inside the wallet of your choosing, click on ‘Add Payment Pointer’ and create a payment pointer.
Create a Payment Pointer in the Interledger Play Money Test Wallet

Send Money with the Interledger Web Monetization Extension

  • Download the Interledger Web Monetization Extension. As these are in soft Beta, we are tracking who has access and is experimenting with, so please ask if you would like access.
  • Add your Payment Pointer to the Interledger Web Monetization Extension and set the ‘budget’ amount you wish to spend for the month.
  • When prompted, click ‘Agree’ and ‘Accept’ to give the required permissions between the Interledger Web Monetization Extension and your Play Money Test Wallet.
  • Click back on the Interledger Web Monetization Extension and click on the gear icon in the top corner.
  • Here you will find options in the Interledger Web Monetization Extension to change your monthly budget and the rate at which you wish the micropayments to stream between your extension payment point and the payment pointers of the digital assets you are spending time on. This rate can be changed at any time, or paused, if on a site you do not wish to send funds to. The budget can be changed month or made reoccurring.
  • Visit a Web Monetized Website.
    • Find a list of Web Monetized Websites here. (Stay tuned – updating shortly.)
  • Look at your Interledger Web Monetization Browser Extension. It should show a green dot if the site is Web Monetized or a red dot if it is not. If you see a green dot, try sending a one time payment.

Earn Money with the Interledger Web Monetization Extension

  • Place an Interledger enabled payment pointer to your digital wallet in your website’s header or footer with this code:
<html>
  <head>
    <title>StoryToGo</title>
    <link rel="monetization" href="$ilp.interledger-test.dev/thankssantosh">
  </head>
</html>

OR

  • Add Coil’s Web Monetization Plugin (yes, the plugin still works, and I’ve been promised it will be further updated) to your WordPress site and add Interledger enabled payment pointer to your site via the plugin.
  • Add your Website to this editable Google document of Web Monetized Websites. (Stay tuned – updating shortly.)

Earn or Send Read Money with the Interledger Web Monetization Extension

  • Repeat the above steps with an Interledger enabled wallet. Current Interledger enabled wallets include:

*This section will be updated this week with links to instructions for each of these real money wallets above.

Web Monetization is in Soft Beta

With the relaunch of the Web Monetization Ecosystem with the Interledger Web Monetization Extension, Web Monetization is currently in soft beta. This means that there are limitations at present.

Usage Limitations

While the Web Monetization ecosystem is built back up, this presently means earning from Web Monetization currently only works on websites.

Stay tuned for the ability to earn in the future from:

  • video
  • podcasts
  • music
  • social media platforms
  • and more

… as the Web Monetization ecosystem grows.

Wallet Limitations

The wallets are also in soft beta with Web Monetization, which means at present:

  • you cannot send between different wallet types (ie. Fynbos US wallets can only send to Fynbos US wallets. A Fynbos US wallet cannot currently send to a GateHub US wallet.)
  • you cannot send between currencies (ie. Fynbos Canadian wallets can only send to Fynbos Canadian wallets. A Fynbos Canadian wallet cannot currently send to a Fynbos US wallet.)

These will change, but for now, so as not to lose out on earnings, add all your payment pointer to your website header or footer, like this:

<html>
  <head>
    <title>Naturally Ours</title>
    <link rel="monetization" href="https://fynbos.me/lori"> <link rel="monetization" href="https://fynbos.me/erica"> <link rel="monetization" href="https://ilp.gatehub.net/276288680/USD"> <link rel="monetization" href="https://ilp.gatehub.net/276288680/EUR"> <link rel="monetization" href="https://ilp.chimoney.com/90711674_1724964400719"> <link rel="monetization" href="https://ilp.rafiki.money/wm-receiving">
  </head>
</html>

Stay Tuned to StoryToGo.ca/web-monetization-standard/

Stay Tuned to StoryToGo.ca/web-monetization-standard/ for updates in the Web Monetization Ecosystem, including resources and examples of how Web Monetization is being applied to build sustainability.

Toolbelt Theory for Learning and Accessibility

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A trap that so many of us have a tendency to fall into is to try and help others by pushing our ideals and what works for us onto them. This can be particularly true in how we approach children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those who are sick or injured; perceiving them as more vulnerable and in need of our help in making decisions for them. We forget that we are all individuals and that what works for us, may not work for them. Ultimately the only expert in what works for them is them (not you or whatever degrees and credentials you might have).

To listen to this article, click the red play arrow on the SoundCloud recording below:

Toolbelt Theory

Take for example, 3 carpentry students that are given a toolbelt. They might all start with the same toolbelt, but as they learn, experiment, and discover what works for them, it is not going to be long before each of those toolbelts are unique to each individual carpenter. This is the premise behind Ira David Socal’s Toolbelt Theory. While tools might be useful to us in performing certain tasks, how we utilise those tools and which are useful to us in the environments in which we work is very individual. Ultimately, in order to discover which tools will be useful to any one person, that person needs to know what is available to them and to have the opportunity to test the tools out in their environment, so that they can build a toolbelt that is useful to them.

Chico's well stocked tool belt from Chris Monroe's book Monkey with a Tool Belt
Chico certainly has a tool belt unique to him. Read on in Chris Monroe’s book Monkey with a Tool Belt.

Toolbelt Theory is based around the idea that as humans we are tool users, and that we choose tools most effectively when that choice begins with the Task at hand, and then considers the Environment in which that task must be performed, the Skill set of the individual (the tool chooser), and the Tools which are available. (Thus the acronym TEST).

~ Ira David Socal

Exploring Toolbelt Theory From the Perspective of Pain Management

As someone who has spent the last 9-years learning to manage pain and 5-years learning to manage post concussion syndrome, this makes a tremendous amount of sense to me. Key to what I have learned from the medical specialists, group pain management classes, and from my fellow patients is that what works for one person in their pain management, does not necessarily work for all. In teaching pain management to patients, medical specialists are essentially presenting patients with a number of tools (although in this case, we are not necessarily discussing physical tools) for managing their pain and asking the patient to experiment with the different pain management tools to figure out which methods of pain management work for them. In essence, each of us patients are creating a pain management toolbelt.

Avoiding the Pitfall of the Misguided Notion that the Educator Knows Best

The key here is allowing the individual to figure this out for themselves, which for whatever reason can be a hard for some educators to understand, perhaps due to the misguided notion that by limiting options, we are keeping things simpler for the student or saving the student time. I just need to look to my Masters to see examples of this. In asking the Accessibility Centre for help in finding ways of managing the online course readings without aggravating my concussion symptoms, I was presented with one solution – Read and Write Gold. Only after that did not work for me, was I presented with a second option on having real voice audio recordings made of my course readings. The latter helped but only with the course readings, for everything else I was left proceeding with extreme caution, walking a fine line with each course in not aggravating my symptoms too badly from all the online reading. And this leaves me with no solution for consuming online readings and research after I’m done my Masters. Fortunately in taking GDSE 584 on Universal Design for Learning and Inclusive Design and exploring the UDL Resource site, I am discovering a number of tools to navigate screen based devices to learn, research, consume content, and create content in a way that will minimise the aggravation of my concussion symptoms. Basically, instead of being given one bandaid of the brand and shape that someone else thought would work for me, I am being welcomed into a whole holistic clinic in which I am being introduced to the tools that are available, shown how to use them, and being left to experiment with them, in order for me to find which tools work best for me and in what way. Discovering these tools and recognising the possibilities that they hold has left me with such a feeling of relieve that I’ve actually cried.

Crafting My Toolbelt for Digital Learning and Creating

As I begin to create my own toolbelt for digital learning and creating, I’ve been reflected on who I am, how I learn, what my challenges are, what my strengths are, and where my passions and interests lie.

Personal Reflections on my Inclusive Design Action Plan Brainstorming Mind Map

To give you, dear reader, a bit of an overview of me as a learner, I am dyslexic, and manage chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and post concussion syndrome. I am also highly inquisitive, creative, a problem solver and an experimenter. I love storytelling, am discovering a new passion for audio storytelling, and am a biologist and educator by training. My main love in science is steeped in nature. Time in nature and with my cat are the two greatest calming influences in my life.

My current needs include:

  • mind mapping to organise my thoughts
  • tactile ways of thinking and organising
  • calming visuals that aren’t too loud
  • calming audio
  • natural voice readings
  • reminders to limit work and screen time
  • regular offline / calming breaks
  • healthy relationships
  • dimmed lighting
  • an environment in which I can control my work position, lighting and sound
  • audio recordings for remembering details from interviews
  • time in nature
  • cat snuggles

I am still fully immersed in TESTing (Task – Environment – Skills – Tools) tools with different tasks, but thus far, these are some of the tools that I am finding to be useful for me for my toolbelt for digital learning and creating:

Next up on my TESTing schedule for my toolbelt for digital learning and creating are:

In highlighting the individual nature of one’s toolbelt even when you have individuals with the same challenges, a colleague in my Masters also has post concussion syndrome and in asking him how he manages the online readings, he uses text to speech readers, which typically for me aggravate my symptoms. In addition, he also follows strict meditation practices, which is something that I find does help me.

Aiding Students in Building their Toolbelt for Learning

If toolbelts for learning are so individualistic, how do we as educators or parents help our students to build their toolbelts for learning, without falling into the trap of simply providing them with what we think they need?

What's in your toolbelt? What will help you reach your goals?
Image created with the aid of Vector Portal.

In contemplating this, this again has me reflecting back on my experiences with learning to manage my chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and post concussion syndrome in which the ChangePain Clinic, Complex Chronic Diseases Program, and Brain Injury Society of Toronto offered me different classes in learning to manage my conditions. While the classes introduced me to the tools and how they could be used, the homework in between the classes gave me the opportunity to test out tools in my own environment to see which worked for me and in what way. This is essentially what the TEST is in Toolbelt Theory.

To aid your students in creating their Toolbelts for Learning, teach them to TEST. Based on the Task they need to do, in the Environment that they need to do that task, with the Skills they have, have them try out the Tools that are available, so that they can determine which tools are the best fit for them and in which way.

Resources for Creating Toolbelts for Digital Learning and Creating

For many educators part of the challenge in aiding students in creating their toolbelt for learning, rather than simply telling students what tools / solutions they should be using, is taking the time to find what is available for their students to meet their various needs. Fortunately, Dr. Paul Hamilton has created the UDL Resource site to help with that.

A toolbelt full of digital tools for learning, creating, and exploring.
A Digital Toolbelt of Gwyneth Jones, the Daring Librarian.

One of our goals over the next few months with our StoryToGo Community Resources is to build a Library of Accessibility Resources and an open, self paced course in the StoryToGo Classroom on Building Your Digital Accessibility Toolbelt. In addition to this, we aim to create a video and blog series on StoryToGo giving people an overview of different accessibility tools and how to use them.

If you have resource suggestions for the series, library, and / or course, we’d love to hear about them in the comments. We’d also love any advice you might have on helping students to develop their toolbelt for learning.

Thanks so much!

~ Erica

Beware of KYC Verification Phishing Scam Impersonating MetaMask

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Beware of a KYC Verification Phishing Scam impersonating MetaMask!

The Scam Email in question, impersonating MetaMask.

Yesterday I received an email from what appeared to be MetaMask support claiming that I needed KYC Verification or my MetaMask wallet would be suspended. I wasn’t sure what exactly KYC was , but am use to digital wallets needing more details from time to time to full fill regulatory requirements, so I am afraid to say that I clicked on the ‘Start KYC verification’ button. I email did after all appear as though it had come from MetaMask. I was then met with the most intense security warning page from Google, which stopped me in my tracks and got me searching ‘KYC Verification Phishing Scam’. And yes, as it turns out, this was a scam, confirmed by the real individuals at MetaMask Support when I further reached out to them.

Note that MetaMask Accounts are not associated with email addresses, so MetaMask will NEVER email you.

Advice from the real MetaMask Support.

If you too receive such an email impersonating MetaMask to access your details, here is what the real MetaMask Support asks you:

  • DO NOT OPEN THE LINK;
  • DO NOT CONFIRM ANYTHING FROM THAT EMAIL;
  • Report the email as spam / a phishing attempt;
  • Forward the email to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at [email protected] or if you got a phishing text message, forward it to SPAM (7726);
  • Report the phishing attack to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov;
  • Reach out to MetaMask Support to inform them if you receiving suspicious emails or texts claiming to be them; and
  • Delete the email.

Be sure to let your friends know too, so no one falls prey to this scam. My huge thanks to Google for the extreme red warnings before I proceeded further with that phishing link.