What is My PSA Contest?
Launched in May 2007, My PSA Contest is devoted to addressing the serious and complicated issues teens face every day by utilizing the talent, creativity, and inspiration of some of the country's youngest filmmakers. My PSA Contest gives teens the opportunities to express themselves in positive manners and provide education and support to their peers through the development of original and compelling PSAs about important social issues.

Who can enter?
Only currently enrolled high school students (grades 9 to 12) who attend high school or are members of sponsoring organizations can submit entries for consideration to My PSA Contest (click here to see a list of sponsoring organizations). Participants under the age of 18 must have parental/guardian consent before submitting entries to My PSA Contest. Participants must be legal residents of the United States.

How should the PSA be submitted for entry?
PSAs must be submitted as a full-quality/full-frame (720 x 480 pixel) NTSC, recorded on DVD. Entries should be between 28 to 29 seconds in length and should include the proper registration forms, waivers, compliance statements, and releases. Also, entries must include a script. PSAs can be submitted via postal mail. Entries must be postmarked by the specified date (see rules for your local contest). Entries cannot be submitted electronically.

Participants can send entries to:
My PSA Contest
Cummins Station
Suite 500
209 Tenth Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37203

How will PSAs be judged? Who will judge?
Entries will be judged by a panel of qualified individuals, including professionals in the media and broadcast industry. Because entries will be judged on a regional basis, those on the judging panels may vary from region to region. Refer to the judging rubric for more details.

How will the winners be announced?
Winning entries will be notified by the regional sponsoring organization that coincides with the particular entry. Additionally, winning entries will be displayed on the My PSA Contest Web site.

Can participants use other people's material?
Entries must contain all original material (including music, images, etc.). No trademarked, copyrighted, or otherwise branded materials, logos, products, etc. may be used without express written permission from the owner, business, and/or organization. This can include logos on t-shirts, trademarked brands on products, etc. If entries contain copyrighted, branded, and/or trademarked materials without proper permission, those entries will be disqualified.

Can I use real-life experiences?
Yes, My PSA Contest encourages people to share their true stories. Depending on the nature of the PSA, students may be asked to submit additional waivers that give express permission to use photographs, names, and/or other pertinent material in the PSA. Completed Talent Release Forms (which can be found at myPSAcontest.com) must be turned in with entries if applicable. All participants must knowingly agree to appear in entries and must complete and sign any required Talent Release Forms.

What are the prizes?
Winning PSAs are selected on a regional basis. Winning participants will receive (see details for your local contest) prizes, the schools that winners attend will receive donations as well.* The winning PSAs will be aired on local television stations.

*In the instance where a student is home-schooled or receives his or her education from sources other than a traditional high school, a contribution will be made to a local charity, which will be chosen by the sponsoring organization.

Will entries be returned?
No. Entries become the property of My PSA Contest and the sponsoring organization(s) and may be used for future promotional materials.

Does it cost anything to enter My PSA Contest?
There is no charge for submitting an entry to My PSA Contest.

Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes. Participants may submit two entries per contest.

Can entries be disqualified?
Entries will be disqualified if they contain vulgar or inappropriate content; are not turned in with all proper paperwork; have postmarks later than the specified due date; or use copyrighted material. No trademarked, copyrighted, or otherwise branded materials, logos, products, etc. may be used without express written permission from the owner, business, and/or organization. This can include logos on t-shirts, trademarked brands on products, etc. If entries contain copyrighted, branded, and/or trademarked materials without proper permission, those entries will be disqualified. Completed Talent Release Forms (which can be found at myPSAcontest.com) must be turned in with entries if applicable. All participants must knowingly agree to appear in entries and must complete and sign any required Talent Release Forms.

Can adults assist in production?
Adults may assist with production, but they are limited to only verbal guidance. Adults are allowed to be actors, but not content contributors.

How many students can work on one PSA?
There is no limit on the number of students who can work on a PSA. The PSA must be entered under one name, and there will only be one prize awarded for the winning PSA. Participants can choose to divide the prize on their own terms if applicable.

What is the deadline?
Deadlines may vary by region. See details for your specific contest/location.

What does each entry need to include?
Entries should include the proper registration forms, waivers, compliance statements, and releases. Also, entries must include a complete script.

Can participants make Flash videos with hand-based sketches or drawings of their own?
You can use Flash, but just make sure it can play in a stand-alone format (.swf) without the use of a Web browser. Also, with Flash we recommend sending the .fla file to us so we can showcase it on the Web at its most optimum level of performance. We won’t distribute the file; it would only be for internal use.

May it be a silent movie with a background song?
Music and sounds may be used, but they can’t be copyrighted. See the Student Release and Waiver form for complete details.

For questions not answered here, contact Abbey Smith, My PSA Contest Coordinator, at abbey@mypsacontest.com.