Anti-Bullying Storyboard Contest

WQED Film Academy and Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation are excited to announce a Bullying Prevention Storyboard Contest for students in schools across Southwestern Pennsylvania in kindergarten, first, second and third grades.

Students are encouraged to use their creativity to reinforce anti-bullying behaviors and promote kindness, while learning how to storyboard and share their vision for a Public Service Announcement (PSA). A PSA is a short video that shows and tells an important message on TV and online. Winning entries will be made into PSAs that will be shared across WQED’s platforms.

One storyboard from each grade will be chosen to be produced into a video PSA by WQED Film Academy (WFA)’s Teen Film Crew. Winning contestants will be invited to join the video-making process along with WFA students at the WQED Studio in Pittsburgh during the PSA’s creation at the end of July 2024.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Students grades K-3 are invited to submit original stories that creatively reinforce anti-bullying behaviors and promote kindness. Use these materials to prepare your storyboards. Once you have your materials, watch the videos below that illustrate how to create a story and the rules of the contest. Then get creating!

Storyboard Materials: Complete Packet

Need just one specific template?

Storyboard Template – two panel

Storyboard Template – single panel

Character Template

Setting Template

HOW TO ENTER

There are two ways to enter the contest—online or by mail.

Online

Visit our Official Contest Entry Form online and upload your submission.

OR

By Mail

Download and complete the Official Contest Entry Form and mail it along with your submission.

Be sure to download and read our Contest Official Rules & Guidelines.

Contest Official Rules and Guidelines

IMPORTANT DATES

May 13, 2024 — Contest Launch

May 13- June 30, 2024 — K-3 Students Create their Storyboards with Kindness Theme

June 30, 2024 — K-3 Students Submit 5-7 Storyboard Panels for PSA Deadline

July 9-11, 2024 — Judging by WQED, Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation and Local Filmmakers

July 12, 2024 — Winners Selected and Announced in Each Grade

July 22-25, 2024 — WFA Teen Film Crew (+ Winners!) Film the Four 30-second PSA Spots

Fall 2024 — Screening Event for Winners, Friends & Families

Fall 2024 — PSAs Showcased Across WQED Channels and Platforms

VIDEO TUTORIALS

Watch and learn more about the contest.

Contest Rules

How to Create a Story

MORE RESOURCES

Know What’s Right, Do What’s Right

The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation’s “Know What’s Right, Do What’s Right” campaign reaches young children throughout the Pittsburgh region—in preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school—with solutions that begin to prepare them to confront this troubling behavior.

Learn More

TEAMology | Simplifying and Strengthening Emotional Wellness for Children

TEAMology’s mission is to understand and improve emotional health to enhance every child’s ability to succeed in school, career, and life. This a social-emotional learning curriculum with character-driven activities and videos brought to life by Pittsburgh Puppet Works. The characters age with the students as they move through kindergarten to 5th grade.

Learn More

Kindness Campaign & Bingo

Spread kindness with WQED’s Kindness Campaign. Watch and listen to these inspiring one of a kind kindness stories. Download the Kindness Bingo cards to spread kindness in your community!

Learn More