This page has been created to support educators and facilitators who are using the Scenarios USA Films in a classroom or community setting or implementing the Scenarios USA "What's the Real Deal?" writing contest.

The "What's the REAL DEAL?" writing contest

The annual "What's the REAL DEAL?" contest offers youth, ages 12–22, a creative forum to explore their own identity, personal choices and possible outcomes, and weave stories from their experiences. The Contest offers educators an inter-disciplinary approach to promoting healthy behaviors, writing, creativity, critical thinking, research skills and literacy.

The winning writers are partnered with some of Hollywood's finest filmmakers to transform their stories into award-winning short films. 15 million people a year watch the Scenarios films in classrooms, community organizations, film festivals, on TV and the Internet. The films generate healthy and meaningful dialogue among youth about sexual responsibility.

The 2007 "What's the REAL DEAL about Masculinity?" deadline was November 28, 2007. Scenarios USA is currently not running a contest.

The 2007 contest topic was"What's the REAL DEAL about Masculinity?", and the contest is open to students ages 12-22 living in:

• New York City, NY
• Greater Cleveland, OH
• The Rio Grande Valley, TX

Each year our “What’s the REAL DEAL?” program poses a critical question to young people, and their educators. The focus of the question this year is masculinity. We chose this topic because it is important and relevant to teens, both male and female, as well as to their educators, parents and communities. We see many boys struggle to fulfill the perceived “male job description,” whether that involves success in athletics, in academics, in the work world, as young fathers, or in gang life. In addition, research has shown that adolescents’ attitudes about gender equality and masculinity are correlated to a wide range of adolescent health outcomes, including the risk of perpetrating violence and the risk of contracting HIV, the age of sexual debut, and condom and contraceptive use.

The Scenarios USA creative writing approach asks young people to reflect on, discuss and write about the critical question we have posed to them. In doing this, we are asking young people to take on the role of the artist in society and to wrestle with questions about what it means to live in this world. We encourage them to interact with and challenge the expectations, images and ideas that surround them personally and on a societal level. We also ask young people to write stories with characters who exhibit respect, compassion and empathy, with an understanding that we all do things in the moment to prevent a confrontation, avoid ridicule, escape heartbreak and find comfort.

Student Lesson Plans, Video Guide and Discussion Questions

Each Scenarios USA film is accompanied by a Lesson Plan or Video Guide and Discussion Questions. These materials provide educators with suggestions of how to promote meaningful dialogue with young people after watching the films.

Written by Nora Gelperin, M.Ed. Answer, Rutgers University

• *NEW* Me, Myself & I (PDF)
• *NEW* The Choices We Make (PDF)
• *NEW* Who I Am (PDF)
• *NEW* Reflections (PDF)
• Toothpaste (PDF)
• All Falls Down (PDF)

Written by Stacy Weibley, a PhD candidate in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

• Choices: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (PDF)
• Just Like You Imagined? (PDF)
• Lipstick (PDF)
• From an Objective Point of View (PDF)
• Today I Found Out (PDF)
• The Monster (PDF)
• Nightmare on AIDS Street (PDF)
• He Said, She Said (PDF)
• Don't Dance With Death (PDF)

Scenarios USA Films

Watch the Scenarios USA films from your own computer. A few of the films also include behind-the-scenes footage where you can see how the films were put together and hear from the writers, directors and actors.

Zicole Zepeda
Nightmare on AIDS Street
2000 South Texas contest winner