Scarleteen’s Project For Awesome Video Guidelines

2 min read • first published • updated

Update: Deadline for Submissions is December 23rd 2024!

These guidelines help ensure that Scarleteen’s Project For Awesome submission video looks great, that everyone’s video is consistent, and that you look good, too!

Start with just being yourself! It’s you we want to hear from. Tell us the story of your Scarleteen experience or you can use the prompts to guide you.

Keep your answers/stories as short as possible. Think in sound bites. We want to include as many of you as possible.

Most of all, don’t worry if you screw up or say something that’s not correct. We’ll edit around the clunky parts to make you look like the awesome person you are.

Food for thought

If you need help getting going, here’s some food for thought:

  • What do you think makes Scarleteen so fricken awesome?
  • Are there specific things that Scarleteen has helped you with? Did you use our direct services (that’s our message boards, live chat, SMS service, advice columns or in-person outreach) seeking help and support around a specific issue? Were there some gaps in your knowledge that Scarleteen helped to fill with our static content, direct services, or both?
  • How did you feel when you found us? Were you relieved to know something like us existed? Excited to find a resource that spoke to your needs? Did you feel safe, heard and respected?
  • How has Scarleteen impacted you and your life? Are there any major things in your life that you have drawn from Scarleteen to navigate? Are you a better, more informed educator, parent, friend, sex ed provider?
  • Why is Scarleteen important to you?

Technical stuff

Here’s how to video yourself for awesomeness.

Start with the framing 

It’s best to hold your phone horizontally (the long way) and not vertically (the up and down way).

This 🡇 Not this 🡇

A horizontal image is suitable for this type of video
✅

A vertical framing isn't suitable.
❌

Keep your background simple

This 🡇 Not this 🡇

Subject is in center of frame, and the room behind them is visible but uncluttered, this feels relaxed
✅

This time the room behind the subject is cluttered with kitchen utensils and food packaging, this feels busy and a little overwhelming
❌

Try to avoid a blank wall like this: 

The subject here has their back against a blank wall, which feels a little clinical

Keep your camera at eye level and look at the camera!

This 🡇 Not this 🡇 And not this 🡇

Shooting at eye-level is needed because feels like you're in the room with the person
✅

Shooting from below is unsuitable, because the subject has to look down and their face is distorted by the lense
❌

Shooting from above is unsuitable because the subject has to crane their neck and looks uncomfortable
❌

Make sure the light is coming from the front or the side

This 🡇 or this 🡇 Not this 🡇

When the subject is lit from the front, their face is easy to see and the feeling is neutral
✅

When the subject is lit from the side, their face is clear to see and the feeling is natural
✅

When the subject is lit from behind their face becomes difficult to see and the feeling is disorienting
❌

Help us out by including your name in the filename and the video

So, for example, you could start your video with “Hello, my name is Archibald McFlair the third” (if that even is your real name!) and save the file as “VIDEO2456-Archibald-McFlair-III.mp4”.

Above all, please don’t fret because you cannot do it wrong!

Through the magic of editing, we’ll make sure everyone, including Scarleteen, is completely Awesome!

Parent piece
Scarleteen’s Project For Awesome 2025 submission!