SHORT FILM [DIVISIONS: HSD1, HSD2 & MS]

Teams will plan, record, and edit a short-form movie with a clear, compelling story that can be any genre (drama, comedy, horror, etc.) or form (documentary, live-action, animated) of filmmaking. Like feature films, short films tell closed-ended stories with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Title slate and credits are required and count toward your total run time. Max TRT: 6 Minutes | Team Size: Unlimited | Max Teams: 2 Per School

VERTICAL FILM [DIVISIONS: HS]

Vertical Film (Two Divisions, High School Only): Teams will plan, record, and edit a mobile-ready, 9:16 ratio short-form fictional movie with a clear, compelling story for vertical social media distribution that can be any genre of filmmaking and based on a given topic. Like feature films, short films tell closed-ended stories with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Title slate and credits are required and count toward your total run time. Max TRT: 6 Minutes  | Team Size: Unlimited | Max Teams: 2 Per School

MOVIE TRAILER [DIVISIONS: HSD1 & HSD2]

Teams will produce a movie trailer based on a given prompt that portrays scenes, basic plot, and mood of a fictional film in order to gain audience interest and promote the film. Max TRT: 90 Seconds  | Team Size: Unlimited | Max Teams: 2 Per School

WILD CARD FILM PRODUCTION [HS NOVICE: FIRST YEAR VIDEO STUDENTS ONLY!]

Wild Card Production (Novice Only Division): This contest will include a prompt for a specific kind of creative production, 90 seconds max, for first-year broadcast students only. Students will be expected to edit a project with a clear beginning, middle and end, but there will be a lot of room for creative touches along the way.  Max TRT: 90 Seconds | Team Size: Unlimited | Max Teams: 2 Per School

NARRATIVE PODCAST [DIVISIONS: HS]

Teams will write, record audio, and edit a narrative, non-fiction podcast story based on a prompt. The entry should include a host or hosts providing an introduction for context, and a wrap-up after the story with any extra information to tie it all up. Entries may NOT include a commercial break. Any music added must meet STN standards regarding copyrighted material.  Max TRT: 8 Minutes | Team Size: 4 per Team | Max Teams: 2 Per School

MORNING SHOW [DIVISIONS: HS & MS]

Teams will plan, record, and edit a daily-style morning show based on a given prompt, led by a team of hosts with the purpose of informing and entertaining the audience as they get ready for their day. Segments may include news headlines, human interest and lifestyle reporting, sports-related topics, national weather forecasts, and light-hearted infotainment. While it is not required, shows may include one commercial break. Max TRT: 6 Minutes | Max Team Size: Unlimited  | One Team Per School

WILD CARD BROADCAST [DIVISIONS: HS & MS]

For students who have completed their first year in a broadcast journalism or video class, the prompt will provide an overarching theme for a 2-3 minute journalistic story.  The story will require interviews, voiceovers, and strong visual sequences. NO ADDED MUSIC allowed for this contest. Max TRT: 3 minutes  | Team Size: 4 per Team  | Max Teams: 2 Per School

SCHOOL/COMMUNITY FEATURE STORY [DIVISIONS: HS & MS]

A video package, containing interviews, b-roll, natural sound, interviews, voiceovers, and optional reporter stand-ups, focused on topics or events affecting your school or community. Features should contain less of a news angle and need not be timely. The story should be an in-depth look at a particular subject, event, or location within your school or community that keeps the audience’s attention throughout, delivering a compelling narrative to create a lasting impression. Max TRT: 3 minutes  | Team Size: 4 per Team  | Max Teams: 2 Per School