2025/2026 “Be Reel!” Video Contest is OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!

 

🎉Win great prizes!

STREET SMARTS “BE REEL!” VIDEO CONTEST IS IN FULL SWING!

San Ramon Valley students, it’s your chance to get creative and show off your traffic safety smarts.

The Street Smarts “Be Reel!” Video Contest invites you to make a short public service announcement (PSA) that educates friends, family, and the community about staying safe on the roads.

Please read all guidelines carefully; this year’s rules and entry requirements have changed.

📅 Important Dates

  • Tuesday, January 6, 2026 – Hightail Video Entry Link Release (on this webpage)

  • Friday, February 13, 2026 by 4:00 PM – Deadline for video and document submission

Questions? Email dpita@sanramon.ca.gov or purbanus@sanramon.ca.gov

📝 How to Enter

  • Each student must sign up individually through the Pre-Entry Documents link to receive the Video Contest. Release by email will be delivered within 5 days after signing up.

  • Designate a Team Leader who will receive the Entry Form. The Team Leader is responsible for:

    • Ensuring all required paperwork is submitted

    • Coordinating with an advisor to complete and sign the Entry Form (Only one Entry Form is required per video entry.)

  • Choose a consistent video title to use on all forms and on your video submission.

  • Check your email for the Video Release and Entry Form.

  • Complete all forms online through Adobe Acrobat Sign, sent by Street Smarts Program Assistant, Patrick Urbanus. A parent signature is required on all Release Forms or the video submission will not be considered for contest.

  • Use an external (non-school) email address for all students and advisors to ensure important communications are received.

  • Upload your video ONLY through the Hightail link, which will be released on this webpage on January 6, 2026.

  • Submit your completed video entry by 4:00 PM February 13, 2026.

  • Need help? Email dpita@sanramon.ca.gov or purbanus@sanramon.ca.gov.

🏆 Prizes (Split Among Teams up to 4)

High School

🥇 $300 Amazon Gift Cards
🥈 $200 Amazon Gift Cards
🥉 $100 Amazon Gift Cards

Middle School

🥇 $300 Amazon Gift Cards
🥈 $200 Amazon Gift Cards
🥉 $100 Amazon Gift Cards

All students, parents, and school administrators are invited to attend the Street Smarts “Be Reel!” Video Contest Awards Ceremony, (TBD in March 2026) where finalists, winners, and prizes will be announced and presented by local elected officials. 

🎯 Your Challenge

Create a 75-90 second PSA bringing this year’s theme — “Safety First” — to life using creativity, storytelling, or real-life examples.

👥 Who Can Enter

  • Middle school (6–8 grade) and high school (9–12 grade) students living in, or attending school within, SRVUSD boundaries.
  • Teams of 1–4 students. (Mixed middle + high school teams judged in high school category.)

  • Anyone appearing in the video must have a Release Form.

IMPORTANT: A Release Form (sent via Adobe) will be required for all students appearing in the video, as well as all members of the production team, including those behind the camera, to ensure proper permissions for participation. A parent or guardian’s signature is also required, especially for students under 18 years of age.

🎬 Video Ideas to Use:

🚶 Trail Smart: Sharing the Path
Show how to walk, run, or bike safely on local trails. Highlight staying to the right, signaling when passing, keeping earbuds low, staying alert, and respecting all trail users.

⚡ E-Bike Etiquette 101
Demonstrate responsible electric bike riding by following traffic laws, using bike lanes, wearing a helmet, adjusting speed in crowded areas, and staying aware of pedestrians and other cyclists. Include what the appropriate class of bikes are permitted, for example – no one under 16 for Class 3 bikes, show the difference in Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes. Students must also follow all e-bike rules and regulations when riding on public streets.

🛴 Scoot Safe, Scoot Smart
Present safe electric scooter riding. Riders must be at least 15½ years old and have a driver’s permit. Highlight helmet use, riding with only one person, following traffic rules, parking responsibly, and avoiding distractions.

⛑ Helmet Check Challenge
Teach proper helmet fitting using the 2V1 Rule: helmet sits two fingers above the eyebrows, straps form a V shape under each ear, and only one finger fits between chin and strap. Helmets should sit level and be replaced after a crash or if damaged.

🛡 Safety First, Always
Combine walking, biking, and e-mobility safety tips into a short story, skit, or Public Service Announcement. Show how choices, like wearing a helmet or staying alert, can prevent accidents and keep everyone safe.

Consider focusing on safety education by highlighting the correct actions to take, rather than emphasizing what not to do! This positive approach can foster a more proactive mindset and empower individuals to make safer choices.

IMPORTANT: Use of helmets need to be properly fitted, strapped, and snapped. Videos will be deducted points if the helmet is not strapped properly. Please view a new instructional helmet fitting video: Proper Helmet Fitting Video.

💡 Tips for Success

✨ Keep your message positive, clear, and easy to understand
🎵 Use only your own music, footage, and graphics
🔊 Ensure loud, clear audio
🎬 Vary shots and angles for interest
🎨 Make text readable on screen
🏷️Label everything correctly using the exact same video title

🙌 Have fun with different settings and scenarios, using humor and creativity to engage your audience to put Safety First!

Need inspiration for a standout entry? Check out Video Contest Top Winners to watch past finalists and top-placing videos!

🎥 Video Production Tips & Suggestions

Tips for Shooting Your Video

📏 Add Buffer Time
Build in a few extra seconds before and after each shot. This prevents abrupt cutoffs and allows smoother transitions. Longer clips can easily be trimmed during editing.

  • 🎬 Vary Your Shots
    Use a mix of camera angles to keep your video visually engaging:
      • High angles (camera looking down) and low angles (camera looking up) add drama and depth.

      • Tight shots or close-ups help convey emotion and highlight important moments.

✨ Use Special Effects & Creative Techniques Wisely
Enhance your video with creative techniques—just be sure they support your message:

      • Stop-motion animation
      • Clay animation
      • LEGO-style animation
      • Other forms of animation, such as drawn or digital
      • Simple visual effects, like transitions, overlays, or motion graphics

Special effects and animation can make your video stand out while highlighting your originality and technical skills.

🎥 Video Requirements — Entries that do not meet these guidelines may receive point deductions.

  • Length: 75-90 seconds

  • Size: Under 100 MB

  • Quality: Minimum 720p HD

  • Format: MP4 or WMV in landscape/horizontal mode versus portrait/vertical mode

  • Audio: Make sure all dialogue is clear and easy to hear. Keep the volume consistent, and don’t let background music drown out any speaking. This is especially important since the videos will be shown at school assemblies.

  • Closed Captioning: Include closed captioning to ensure accessibility and improve understanding for all viewers, including those watching in noisy environments or who may be hearing impaired.

  • Video Title: Include a creative video title do not use “Street Smarts” or the Theme Name: “SAFETY FIRST”

  • Credits: Add a “Credits” section at the end of the video listing all production team members (first names allowed) along with any additional acknowledgments.

  • List the Street Smarts Program public partners in the video credits:

City of San Ramon
Town of Danville
County of Contra Costa Districts 2 and 3
San Ramon Valley Unified School District
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
Contra Costa Transportation Authority

  • Street Smarts Logo: Display the Street Smarts logo at the start of the video and/or prominently within the content

  • Copyright-Free: Use only original or permitted music/photos

  • Content: No profanity, explicit material, blood, suggestion or representation of death, violence, or unsafe behavior

🎥 WHAT ARE THE JUDGES LOOKING FOR?

All submissions will first be reviewed by the Street Smarts Program Advisory Committee. Top qualifying videos will advance to a second round of judging by professional video producers.

Each video will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Content: Does the video follow the theme and deliver a clear, persuasive safety message?

  • Creativity: Is it engaging, original, and able to hold the viewer’s interest?

  • Video Production Quality: Is the video easy to see and hear? Is the audio clear and the footage steady and well-edited?

FAQ

📜 What does Copyright mean?

Copyright gives the creator or owner the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute their original work. It protects the expression of ideas (such as videos) but not the ideas themselves. Copyright applies to:

    • 📚 Books and articles

    • 🎥 Videos and films

    • 🎵 Music and lyrics

    • 🖼 Visual art (photographs, illustrations, paintings)

Not covered: Names, slogans, short phrases, and factual information are generally not protected by copyright, though some may be covered by trademark.

What is a Trademark?

Trademarks identify and distinguish products or services of one entity from another. Students may not use trademarked content without permission. Examples include:

    • 🏷 Brand logos (e.g., Nike, sports teams)

    • 🏢 Product names, shapes, or packaging

    • 🏪 Business signage

What types of music can I use?

✅ You may use:

    • Original music that you create

    • Generic/royalty-free music included in your editing software

    • Music you have written permission to use (preferably documented)

❌ You may not use:

    • Downloaded music from iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or other platforms

What pictures can I use?

✅ You may use:

    • Original photos you take (no copyrighted/trademarked material included)

    • Photos of people with permission

    • Stock photos from reputable free or paid sources

❌ You may not use:

    • Photos from magazines, posters, websites, or publications without permission

What is Public Domain?

Public domain works are free to use. This includes:

    • 🕰 Works whose copyright has expired

    • 🏛 Works created by the U.S. government

⚠️ Note: Just because material is online does not mean it is public domain. Most images, music, and creative content are still protected.

What is the Release Form?

The Release Form gives Street Smarts and its partners (e.g., CTV, CCTV) permission to use your video for program purposes, including compilations of winners or promotional content.

Am I giving up ownership of my video?

By signing the Release Form, you transfer copyright to Street Smarts and its partners.
You retain the right to use your video for personal, educational, portfolio, or resume purposes—but not for commercial use.

Thank you for participating and supporting San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Programs!

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