Frequently asked questions
What can I win?
Submitting your video may make you eligible to win one of the following cash prizes: one $10,000 grand prize, or one of six cash category prizes.
- The grand prize can be awarded to a school or an individual.
- Each of the three categories will have one prize awarded to a school and one prize awarded to an individual
- Three $1,000 runner-up prizes for Individual contestants; prizes awarded to the top runner-up in each of the three submission categories
- Three $1,000 runner-up prizes for School contestants; prizes awarded to the top runner-up in each of the three submission categories
- Prizes are in US Dollars or equivalent in Canadian Dollars at contest closing date
When does the contest end?
You must submit your video by 11:59:59 PM US Pacific Time on April 3, 2012 and people can view and rate videos until 11:59:59 PM US Pacific Time on April 17, 2012.
Who is eligible to enter the contest?
All residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) and the United States 13 years and older. Entrants under 18 require parental consent. Past individual prize winners are ineligible from submitting a video entry in the “What’s Your Story?” video contest. Past finalists and past school prize winners are allowed to submit video entries.
How do I enter?
To enter the contest, simply register, then submit your video.
What should my video be about?
However you want to tell your story – from a serious confessional, to an educational public service announcement to a hilarious re-enactment – your video must address one of these issues:
- Take action against bullying: How would you help a friend being bullied online?
- Keep a Good Rep Online: What’s the right way to share?
- Be Cell Smart: How can someone new to cell phones use it safely?
What should I upload?
- Accepted video formats: .3g2, .3gp, .asf, .avi, .dv, .mov, .mp4, .mpeg, .mpg, .qt, and .wmv
- Length: 30 seconds to 2 minutes
- Max Size: 100mb
What are some tips to keep in mind when creating my video?
- Don’t use copyrighted content (like someone else’s music) in your video. Make sure to use original music or stock music so your video can be unique and won’t get rejected
- Keep it short — 30 seconds to 2 minutes. When planning out your video keep in mind videos over 2 minutes will get rejected.
- Consider planning out your video with a storyboard so you have a scene plan before shooting it
- Create an engaging way to tell your story, like a confessional, an educational piece, a dramatic or funny re-enactment
How will the videos be judged?
Winning videos will be selected based on a combination of ratings and number of views, as well as scores assigned by an objective, independent panel of judges scoring on:
- Creativity: style, message delivery, execution (50%)
- Appropriateness: on topic (25%)
- Effectiveness: clarity of message, persuasiveness (25%)
Who do I contact for help?
Have a question not answered here, or a comment about the website or contest? Contact us.
Want to disconnect your Facebook account?
Your account is currently not connected to Facebook. When it is, you will have the option to disconnect from right here.
- If you change your mind, just hit the "Connect with Facebook" button and we will reconnect you
- You can continue to access the What’s Your Story site with the username and password you provided upon registration
