Film Categories
Film still from Slick Rock high school public service announcement film entitled Zach Nye the Nutrition Guy
Categories for the 2024 competition HAVE CHANGED!
Please read each scoring guide carefully as the rules and/or requirements may be different from last year's competition.

The Slick Rock Student Film Festival challenges students to meet industry standards in the technical aspects of film production. The competition is divided into two levels: middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Middle school teams may enter a high school contest, but high schools may not enter a middle school contest.

The Slick Rock Student Film Festival is a school-related contest and, as such, all videos should adhere to your school's policies, rules, and guidelines. All content should be age-appropriate for the general viewing audience. Tulare County Office of Education reserves the right to eliminate inappropriate videos from the contest at their discretion. Films depicting guns, drugs, or alcohol will not be tolerated. This includes Nerf guns, cap guns, toy guns, toy swords/knives, and any other pretend or real weapons. If you have any questionable ideas, please contact Slick Rock staff and we will be happy to discuss what is appropriate or not appropriate for this festival. As stated on individual judging forms, all submissions should impact the audience in a positive way.

The categories for the 2024 competition are:
Middle School Categories
4-Minute Blockbuster
Virtually all Hollywood blockbusters follow the same structure: character development, conflict, resolution. Students will mimic this structure by creating a 4-minute Blockbuster which includes these elements to tell an engaging story. Videos should be original with creative storylines and strive to keep the viewer engaged for the full length of the video.
(submissions must be 4 minutes or less)

Documentary
Research and produce a documentary on an issue, topic, or person of importance to your community. The documentary should strive to add value to the general discussion by bringing in new information, identifying unrecognized problems, providing or suggesting new solutions, or offering a unique perspective. If the documentary is a biography, whether your subject is living or deceased, he or she should have a strong connection to the Central Valley, and the film should utilize student interviews with the subject, his or her friends and family, or those who have expert knowledge of him or her. If the individual is deceased, photos and/or video footage of that person along with testimonials and interviews from the subject's friends and family should be the backbone of the film. This is NOT a typical class biography report translated into a film; it must emphasize topics and people of LOCAL importance.

(submissions must be 4 minutes or less)

Flavored Tobacco/Vaping Prevention Public Service Announcement
Students will create a PSA to show health concerns created by smoking and/or vaping flavored tobacco products. Research will be from provided websites and will use the following guidelines in order to be considered.
Scoring Guide for Flavored Tobacco/Vaping Prevention Public Service Announcement
(submissions must not exceed 30 seconds)

* Please note that this category is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.

General Advertisement
Create an advertisement for a local business or public service. Ads should be the product of a collaboration between the students and business owner. Ads should be sensitive to the purpose and targeted to a specific demographic. Be sure to include information as applicable to the business (i.e., location, hours, etc.) Ads should engage the viewer and promote the local business positively.
(submissions must be 30 seconds)

General Public Service Announcement
General Public Service Announcement
A public service announcement airs to benefit the general public, to improve the society we live in and frame the best hope for our lives today and our children's lives tomorrow. Produce a film drawing attention to an important LOCAL issue. The film should address the general public and clearly answer two very important questions: 1) Why should I care about this issue? and 2) What action would you have me do to support this issue?
Scoring Guide for General Public Service Announcement
(submissions must be 90 seconds or less)

Nutrition and Physical Activity Public Service Announcement
Students should create a 90-second PSA intended for web delivery, public service television spots and lectures at local, state and national events. Create a PSA addressing the importance of nutrition education, access to healthy foods/beverages and/or physical activity opportunities in your community. Ads should identify solutions for a healthy community. Films in this category should serve to education audiences about the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices.  
Scoring Guide for Nutrition and Physical Activity Public Service Announcement
 (submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)
Download the   Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency logo
 * Please note that this category is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.


Opioids, Fentanyl & Marijuana Prevention Public Service Announcement
Students should create a 90-second PSA designed to bring awareness to the harm and danger associated with drug use among youth. Videos may address one or all of the following: prescription drugs, opioid/fentanyl misuse; and/or marijuana use (including marijuana vaping).
Scoring Guide for Opioids, Fentanyl & Marijuana Prevention Public Service Announcement
 (submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)
Download the  Tulare County Prevention Coalition logo
Download the  Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency logo
 * Please note that this category is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.

High School Categories
4-Minute Blockbuster
Virtually all Hollywood blockbusters follow the same structure: character development, conflict, resolution. Students will mimic this structure by creating a 4-minute Blockbuster which includes these elements to tell an engaging story. Videos should be original with creative storylines and strive to keep the viewer engaged for the full length of the video.
Scoring Guide for 4-Minute Blockbuster
(submissions must be 4 minutes or less)

Animation 2D or 3D
This category seeks to promote the technical field of 2D or 3D animation programs and honor our students' climb up the steep learning curve of such programs. Films in this category must use animation software such as Flash or Toon Boom for 2D animation, and Maya, 3D Studio Max or Blender for 3D animation. Animation generators such as GoAnimate cannot be used. Though technical prowess holds scoring merit, judging weight will side with the story as well. Cool effects will not overshadow a good story.
Scoring Guide for Animation 2D or 3D
(submissions must be 5 minutes or less)

Documentary
Research and produce a documentary on an issue, topic, or person of importance to your community. The documentary should strive to add value to the general discussion by bringing in new information, identifying unrecognized problems, providing or suggesting new solutions, or offering a unique perspective. If the documentary is a biography, whether your subject is living or deceased, he or she should have a strong connection to the Central Valley, and the film should utilize student interviews with the subject, his or her friends and family, or those who have expert knowledge of him or her. If the individual is deceased, photos and/or video footage of that person along with testimonials and interviews from the subject's friends and family should be the backbone of the film. This is NOT a typical class biography report translated into a film; it must emphasize topics and people of LOCAL importance.

Scoring Guide for Documentary
(submissions must be 4 minutes or less)

Flavored Tobacco/Vaping Prevention Public Service Announcement
Students will create a PSA to show health concerns created by smoking and/or vaping flavored tobacco products. Research will be from provided websites and will use the following guidelines in order to be considered.
Scoring Guide for Flavored Tobacco/Vaping Prevention Public Service Announcement
(submissions must not exceed 30 seconds)

* Please note that this category is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.

General Advertisement
Create an advertisement for a local business or public service. Ads should be the product of a collaboration between the students and business owner. Ads should be sensitive to the purpose and targeted to a specific demographic. Be sure to include information as applicable to the business (i.e., location, hours, etc.) Ads should engage the viewer and promote the local business positively.
Scoring Guide for General Advertisement
(submissions must be 30 seconds)

General Public Service Announcement
A public service announcement airs to benefit the general public, to improve the society we live in and frame the best hope for our lives today and our children's lives tomorrow. Produce a film drawing attention to an important LOCAL issue. The film should address the general public and clearly answer two very important questions: 1) Why should I care about this issue? and 2) What action would you have me do to support this issue?
Scoring Guide for General Public Service Announcement
(submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)

Music Video - Cover
In this category, entrants will create a music video for an existing song. Any song used for this category must have non-offensive lyrics and an appropriate message for youth. The video will reflect the song's sensory, emotional and cognitive meaning. If the song selected is longer than 3 minutes, it must be cut to fit the time limit. Songs entered in this category will not be broadcast or shown beyond the film festival due to copyright restrictions.
(submissions must be 3 minutes or less)

Music Video - Original
In this category, entrants will submit a music video based upon an original, student-created song. The video will reflect the song's sensory, emotional, and cognitive meaning. If the video inserts copyrighted images or copyrighted footage, be mindful of and obey copyright laws by obtaining written permission. Any unauthorized use of music or images will disqualify the film.
Scoring Guide for Music Video - Original
(submissions must be 3 minutes or less)
News Broadcast
Produce a news segment that brings attention to important information in your community. The segment should emulate one that would be seen on a televised news program. Submissions may cover information on an important local, national, or international issue. Videos should include interviews on both sides of the issue (if applicable), as well as background video footage. School-wide news broadcasts are acceptable for this category.

Scoring Guide for News Broadcast
(submissions must be 3 minutes or less)

Nutrition and Physical Activity Public Service Announcement
Students should create a 90-second PSA intended for web delivery, public service television spots and lectures at local, state and national events. Create a PSA addressing the importance of nutrition education, access to healthy foods/beverages and/or physical activity opportunities in your community. Ads should identify solutions for a healthy community. Films in this category should serve to education audiences about the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices.  

Scoring Guide for Nutrition and Physical Activity Public Service Announcement
(submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)
Download the   Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency logo
* Please note that this category is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.

Opioids, Fentanyl & Marijuana Prevention Public Service Announcement
Students should create a 90-second PSA designed to bring awareness to the harm and danger associated with drug use among youth. Videos may address one or all of the following: prescription drugs, opioid/fentanyl misuse; and/or marijuana use (including marijuana vaping).
(submissions must not exceed 90 seconds)
* Please note that this competition is open to both middle school and high school students. All students will participate in one competition, regardless of age.
Sports Highlights
In this category, entrants will submit a video highlighting one or multiple athletic teams from their school or community. This video may include footage of practices, games or tournaments. If relatable, the film may be designed as a television news highlight, including a student anchor. No professional news anchor may stand in for this video. Submissions must portray the featured athletes, teams and schools in a positive manner. Be mindful and obey all copyright rules if video incorporates music selections.
(submissions must be 3 minutes or less)
Suicide Prevention Public Service Announcement
This category is different than normal PSAs, requiring a heightened level of sensitivity and handling. There is specific content that must be avoided for the safety and respect of the audience (see the scoring guide for details). PSAs should communicate a hopeful message about suicide prevention that is focused on what the viewer can do to prevent suicide.

Suicide Prevention Task Force logos: Download Here