Warner Bros. Holding Interactive Video Contest to Promote Next "Harry Potter" Movie

Warner Bros. is holding an interactive video contest to promote the July 15th opening of the latest movie in the "Harry Potter" franchise, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Dubbed "The Advanced Potion-Making Experience" and featured on YouTube (youtube.com/harrypotter), the contest invites visitors to create their own potion-making videos and share them with their friends: multiple videos can be submitted by each entrant, but videos must be no longer than a minute-and-a-half, Warner Bros. says. Participants are provided with two main options: "the 3D Experience," which allows them to integrate an augmented reality element into their video, in the form of a 3D cauldron (note: according to Warner Bros, the augmented reality application is easy to use: "with a little practice and a few simple keystrokes, entrants can add just the right ingredients to brew up a perfect potion," the company says); and "the Standard Experience," which allows them to simply use their own cauldron, test tube or other piece of wizard's equipment.

The deadline for submissions is June 24th. A group of semifinalists will be announced on July 2nd, after which voting will be open to the public through July 5th. The finalists will be featured on the Harry Potter YouTube page through July 14th and the winner will be announced July 15th.