Lesson 001 · Car Review Competition

The Competition Blueprint

Understand exactly what you're walking into — format, scoring, timeline, and what to prepare.

The Challenge

You're entering a blind car review competition. On competition day, you'll be handed a car you've never seen before — it could be an ICE, EV, Hybrid, PHEV, or Luxury class vehicle. You'll have 6.5 hours to observe, script, and film. Editing happens overnight — submit by 9:00 AM next day. The style? Top Gear comedy meets Fitra Eri honesty.

Key insight

The 70% weight is on process (how you work), not just the final video. Judges are watching your observation method, scripting approach, and filming technique — not just the output.

Timeline

July 7 — Today

Technical Meeting. Rules, rubrics, logistics confirmed. Attend and take notes.

July 7 – Aug 1

Preparation period. Practice reviews, build templates, master filming/editing workflow.

Aug 2 — Day 1 (10:30–17:00 WIB)

Filming Day. Draw car type → Observe → Script → Film. Edit overnight, submit by 9:00 AM next day.

Aug 3 — Day 2

Scoring & Winner. Video review scored. Final assessment. Winner announced.

Scoring Breakdown

Understanding the rubric is your biggest strategic advantage. Here's what matters:

Component	Weight	What It Means
Pre-production process	70%	How you observe, how you plan, how you film. Your method matters more than the result.
Post-production result	30%	Final video quality — editing, pacing, audio, visuals.

This means you should spend more energy on a clean, systematic process than on trying to make a perfect video. Show the judges you know what you're doing.

Day 1 Flow

The 6.5-hour window breaks into phases. Here's the strategic timeline:

Phase	Time	Activity
1	10:30–11:15	Observation. Walk around the car. Note everything — design, features, quirks, target audience.
2	11:15–11:45	Script. Structure your review. Write key talking points, jokes, verdict.
3	11:45–17:00	Film. Execute your shot list. Exterior, interior, driving, personality moments.

Pro tip

The script is your safety net. A mediocre video with a great script beats a beautiful video with no structure. Spend the time here.

Five Car Types — Five Knowledge Sets

The lottery assigns your car type. Here's what to know about each:

ICEInternal Combustion Engine

Focus on: engine sound, exhaust note, gearbox feel, fuel economy
Key questions: How does the engine respond? What's the character?
Filming tip: Record the startup sound and exhaust — it's free content

EVElectric Vehicle

Focus on: acceleration feel, range, charging, regen braking, tech features
Key questions: Is the range real? How's the charging experience?
Filming tip: Show the charging port and UI — audiences love tech walkthroughs

HybridHybrid

Focus on: transition between engine and motor, fuel economy in practice, driving modes
Key questions: Can you feel the switch? Does it make sense for daily use?
Filming tip: Show the energy flow display while driving — visual proof

PHEVPlug-in Hybrid

Focus on: electric-only range, real-world fuel economy, charging necessity
Key questions: Do you actually need to plug it in? When does the engine kick in?
Filming tip: Compare EV mode vs hybrid mode — the contrast is the story

LuxuryLuxury Class

Focus on: build quality, materials, features, ride comfort, brand identity
Key questions: Does it justify the price? What's the "wow" factor?
Filming tip: Detail shots of materials — leather stitching, wood trim, ambient lighting

What Judges Actually Score

Based on the competition brief, here's what the rubric likely evaluates:

Criterion	High Score Looks Like
Observation depth	Noticed details others missed. Asked the right questions about the car.
Script structure	Clear intro, logical flow, informative middle, decisive verdict. Has personality.
Filming quality	Varied angles, good lighting, stable shots, clean audio.
Content accuracy	Facts are right. Specs are correct. No obvious mistakes.
Entertainment value	Top Gear comedy + Fitra Eri honesty. Not boring. Has a point of view.
Editing quality	Clean cuts, pacing matches energy, text/graphics where needed.
Time management	Finished on time. Didn't panic. Process was visible and organized.

Next Steps

Attend the Technical Meeting today — ask about the exact rubric and scoring criteria
Study this blueprint until the competition flow is second nature
Ask me anything: "How do I script a car review?" / "What camera angles work best?" / "How do I add comedy?"
Next lesson: The Car Review Script Template — a repeatable structure for any car type