Film Competition
Frequently Asked Questions

Students are tasked with:

1. Choosing a topic to make their PSA about.

2. Researching that topic.

3. Making their PSA on that topic.

A student can compete either as an individual or in a student team on this PSA.

The only way a student or student team can submit more than this one PSA, is by entering for either one or both of the Special Awards Categories:

1. Pedestrian Safety Special Award

2. Street Racing Kills Special Award.

So, in this way, a student or student team, can submit up to 3 PSAs.

A school can form as many student teams as they would like and thus submit as many PSAs as they would like.

But again, a student or student team is only able to compete on up to three PSA submissions as outlined above.

One registration form is submitted per entry.

The registration form is designed to have one PSA entry as well as optional entries for each of the Special Awards Categories.

This is because the form includes the first step of the competition which is submitting the PSA’s treatment, defined as:

*A treatment is a simple written description of a proposed project that details what the viewer would see or hear in a given work. In the film industry, treatments are used to describe projects to potential collaborators or producers. A successful treatment will share all key elements of the project including the story and/or goals, the style or feel, and the central characters if any. For short projects, the treatment need not be extensive (a paragraph will do) but it should be clear, compelling, and persuasive in telling how and why the project should be made as planned.

No. Competition emails are sent to the coordinating teacher from the school for relay to the applicable student team.

If the student submits their email as part of registration, then this email will be copied on relevant emails sent to the teacher.

The short answer is yes, however an adult from your school must be involved.

If your school does not have a dedicated film or arts teacher, but has a film club, you can register in coordination with the school's club advisor (sometimes called a club sponsor) who is staff of the school.

Email communications relating to your submission, Mentoring, Educational Opportunities, and events will be directed to the Club Advisor, with a copy to the student if their email is provided at registration.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring is optional help from TV and film professionals to the students so they can get some personal direction on their scripts and storyboards and, at the later stage, for their PSA rough edits.

Where is it done?

It is not done in person but via the Streets, Art, SAFE Program Manager over email.

The Program Manager is the relay between the Judges/Mentors and the educator.

Individual Judges/Mentors may be available to answer questions you or the students might have via video chat or phone, but this is not guaranteed.

How do I sign up for Mentoring?

A registration form for Mentoring gets sent out to all participating schools when it is open for the competition season.

Or you can submit for Mentoring here.

How long does it take to get Mentoring?

Please allow 5-10 working days to receive a critique from a Mentor.

Will I be disqualified if I don’t enter for Mentoring?

No, definitely not - this does not affect the final submission and judging qualification.

What are Student Opportunities?

These are optional education opportunities for students to learn different aspects of filmmaking.

This has included an excursion to a professional make-up studio with lessons on special effects make-up applications or a visit to a sound production studio in past years.

It currently does include LAPD Support in producing a student’s PSA if the student team would like this.

What is the Student Opportunity with the LAPD?

Thanks to a partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department, a student team can request LAPD support as part of their PSA - police officer in the PSA, LAPD car/motorcycle in the shot, LAPD support to temporarily block off a street for filming, etc.

This can only be done within the limits of the City of LA.

There is a sign-up form for this, which will be provided to the teachers of competing schools. This form will need to be submitted no less than two weeks before the date needed.

Will I be disqualified if I do not take part in Student Opportunities?

No, definitely not - this does not affect the final submission and judging qualification.

Submissions can be made one of two ways when the competition opens for Final Submissions:

1. A Final Submission Form link will be sent to the teachers of competing schools.

2. Submit via the “Street Safety PSA Final Submission” section of this website which will be active when the competition is open for Final Submissions.

Please email your request for the photos to: S_A_S@StreetsAreForEveryone.org.

On a Saturday morning in February 2013, Damian Kevitt went out on a routine bicycle ride. A driver struck him and never stopped -- dragging him nearly a quarter mile under the car from the streets onto and down the 5 Freeway. Fortunately (and almost unbelievably), he survived. In the process, he lost his right leg and gained a new mission: to use what had happened to him to do good for others and his beloved city of Los Angeles.

After four months in the hospital and countless intensive physical therapy sessions, Damian decided to finish the ride he started that Saturday morning. With friends, family, strangers, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC), and local government officials, Damian kicked off the first Finish The Ride event in April 2014. The media covered this ride, spreading the message of traffic safety and the dire need to handle hit and run crimes. In that year, the hit and run crime rate dropped a staggering 16 percent, in no small part due to Finish The Ride.

Inspired by this success, Damian endeavored to do even more to prevent future traumatic traffic collisions through education and outreach. He founded Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE), a non-profit organization created to raise awareness about traffic safety and assist victims of traumatic traffic collisions.

Looking for ways to expand education on traffic safety, the Streets, Art, SAFE Film Competition was formed: a program to help high school students expand their knowledge of traffic safety while gaining valuable experience in the arts by creating Public Service Announcements (PSAs).