LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lamps Plus today announced the winner of its first national user-generated video contest, which featured the theme “Light What You Love.” The video created by California State University Long Beach film student Cathy Bui about the inspiration of family, friends and an illuminated living room was selected as the winning contest entry.
Lamps Plus launched the contest asking users to submit a video on Instagram showing their interpretation of lighting the things they love. The contest, which was promoted through social media, drew dozens of video submissions featuring subjects like children, pets, food, art and room designs.
Bui opens her one-minute video by narrating about the importance of the people in her life and their impact. A connection is made to the lighting of the room, where her memories with those people most often occur. The experience of playing a popular board game, which was part of Bui’s childhood, also connects to her theme. Appearing in the film are Bui, her parents, grandparents and friends.
“The importance of family to Lamps Plus is what drew me to enter this contest,” Bui said. “I love that this company is impactful in transforming homes of families in not only adding color to their furniture, but also to their lives. That sentiment means more than simply selling products and that was the inspiration for this video.”
“There’s a certain kind of magic in the living room when we are able to connect memories shared in this space with the lighting and furniture surrounding it,” she said. “Bringing my family and friends into this space that we’ve shared all our lives and embracing it with light felt like the right setting for my story.”
Bui wrote, directed and edited the video over two days, collaborating with Bobby Kelley, her director of photography, and using a pocket cinema 4K camera. She began the process by first developing a story adhering to the contest theme and resonating with her family as well as others. She then wrote her script and sampled music to include.
“Cathy’s video shows that she is a talented visual storyteller who created a unique personal video that should inspire others,” said Angela Hsu, Senior Vice President of Marketing and eCommerce for Lamps Plus. “Our family owned company helps families improve their homes so naturally we felt a connection with her video.”
A junior from Fountain Valley, Calif., Bui is studying film and aspires to pursue a career as a short-form director within commercials and music videos.
For winning the contest, Bui received a $3,500 shopping spree from LampsPlus.com. She said she plans to use the product credit to help furnish the homes of her parents and grandparents.
A video created by Jorge Barahona, a filmmaker and entrepreneur in El Paso, Texas, was chosen as the contest runner-up and he received a Lamps Plus shopping credit. Barahona’s video features his nephew and an actor, Ivan Orozco, painting a room and adjusting the lighting.
“The idea is that a child can inspire a unique look to your home and when starting projects, the act of creating together can lead to the home you’ve always wanted,” Barahona said.
The “Light What You Love” contest was open to all U.S. residents to submit a video via a public Instagram account while using the #MyLampsPlus hashtag. The contest ran over six weeks and ended in mid-November. A panel of Lamps Plus employees narrowed down the selections and chose the winner and runner-up.
“Our goal for the contest was to see how talented video creators from all backgrounds throughout the United States could illustrate the impact of lighting on the people, animals and things they love,” Hsu said. “We were delighted by the creativity shown in the high-quality video submissions that told unique personal stories. We consider this a successful video contest, which was our first of this kind, and we look forward to hosting more contests to see unique videos from others.”
Lamps Plus plans to launch video contests on social media during 2020 while exploring themes that connect topics to lighting and home furnishings.
About Lamps Plus
Family-owned and operated, for over 40 years Lamps Plus has been a leader in the retail lighting industry. Established in 1976 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the company is the nation's largest specialty lighting retailer, operating a thriving e-commerce business, along with three dozen stores in the western United States. Lamps Plus carries a full range of lighting and home furnishings, including exclusive patented designs and artisan-made customizable shades and lamps that offer comfort and value to help customers love their everyday spaces. To assist consumers, the company’s American Lighting Association-trained staff provides expert advice.
The Lamps Plus family of websites includes:
● Lamps Plus - The nation’s largest specialty lighting retailer
● Lamps Plus Pros - Trade pricing for designers and builders
● Lamps Plus Hospitality - Contract lighting for hotels and more
● Lamps Plus Open Box - Returned and open box product
Follow Lamps Plus on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
NOTE: For still images from the videos, access this link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1kgk5rxtiryfa4g/AACf-AfUP3BGEevlF7VDKrs5a?dl=0
Cathy Bui Video: https://youtu.be/6rKVuGW6ZM8
Jorge Barahona video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4s3_JPB1Nf/
Lamps Plus “Light What You Love” contest compilation video: https://youtu.be/3fXxSoqoX8I
