Constitutional Crash Out!
Through our “Constitutional Crash Out!” initiative, Fringe Benefits Theatre is collaborating with youth to create, share and promote video shorts inspiring civic engagement and voting.
In conjunction with this initiative, we’re sponsoring a video-making contest and hosting video-script development workshops. Participants are invited to create short-form social media videos addressing social justice issues they care about and championing relevant social justice causes and rights guaranteed in the United States’ Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and subsequent Amendments.
Eligible videos submitted by March 15, 2027 will be considered for awards and a public screening.
CALL for VIDEOS!
Calling all college and high school artists, activists and people who want to make a difference in these challenging times!
We invite you to create short (15 second to 3 min max) video pieces in which you…
⭐ Promote a social justice cause of importance to you!
⭐ Connect your issue to a specific right guaranteed in one of the United States’ Founding Documents.
⭐ Inspire your Target Audience to support your cause and related Constitutional right by engaging in civic life and voting.
⭐Full Video-Making & Submission Details Below⭐
Contact us if you’d like to learn more about submitting a video!
SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
From June 2026 through June 2027, Fringe Benefits is offering workshops for participants interested in developing imaginative, engaging concepts and scripts for their video shorts. We’re hosting an exciting array of innovative artists who will facilitate workshops in diverse performance and writing genres from SNL-style sketches, TikTok trends and commercial parodies to Spoken Word, poetry, eulogies, prayers and songs, and from motivational speeches, dramatic monologues and performance art to standup comedy, Sketch and The Daily Show-style satirical news segments.
⭐ Workshops are offered either as two 90-minute sessions, or as a single 3-hour session.
⭐ Workshops can be facilitated online or in-person at your school or community organization’s site.
⭐ We can work with you to schedule a workshop on a weekday or weekend, morning afternoon or
evening.
Contact us if you’d like to learn more about our workshops!
Video-Making & Submission Guidelines
Here is a Link to the Video-Making & Submission Guidelines Here is a Link to the Participant Agreement Form.
⭐Please Note: You can use and/or combine any artistic genres that excite you and that you think will really engage your audience! You can, for example use: Spoken Word pieces, dramatic or comedic monologues, satire, performance art, standup comedy, poetry, eulogies, prayers, songs, trending TikToks, motivational speeches, animation, “Breaking News,” commercial parody, SNL-style sketches, and more.
⭐You are WELCOME to share what you create on your own social media (Please tag Fringe Benefits when you do!), as well as through Fringe Benefits Theatre. Our social media for this project are: @can.we.be.reel * @ct4ct_ * @creativetools4ct.
Upcoming Workshops & Other Programs
On October 3, 2026 at 1pm (Pacific), Fringe Benefits will host Heidi Schreck (writer/performer of the Pulitzer Finalist play What the Constitution Means to Me). Ms. Schreck will share strategies for creating dramatic pieces championing rights guaranteed in our Founding Documents.
For information about and invitations to join this and other Fringe Benefits workshops and programs, CONTACT US and ask to join our email list-serve!
Recent Workshops & Other Programs
On June 6, 2026, Fringe Benefits presented “Theatrical Activism & the First Amendment: Freedom of Speech & Assembly in Creative Protest” a FREE Online Master Class facilitated by L.M. Bogad & Peter Eliasberg!
For more information about this and other recent and upcoming Master Classes and programs, FOLLOW US on Instagram — @can.we.be.reel * @ct4ct_ * @creativetools4ct .
Application Deadlines & Contest Overview
A. Video submissions will be accepted through March 15, 2027.
B. Participants are encouraged to share their videos on their own social media platforms before the submission deadline. Please tag us at @can.we.be.reel and @ct4ct_ .
C. Winners will be announced by June 1, 2027.
1. First Place: $500
a. One award for videos created by 18 to 23 year-old youth
b. One award for videos created by 11 to 17 year-old youth
2. Second Place: $250
a. One award for videos created by 18 to 23 year-old youth
b. One award for videos created by 11 to 17 year-old youth
3. Third Place: $100
a. Five awards for videos created by 18 to 23 year-old youth
b. Five awards for videos created by 11 to 17 year-old youth
4. Honorable Mention: Up to 25 awards
a. One award for videos created by 18 to 23 year-old youth
b. One award for videos created by 11 to 17 year-old youth
D. Fringe Benefits will share the videos created by all awardees including Honorable Mentions on our website and social media.
E. Fringe Benefits will host a Premiere Screening of the First, Second and Third Place award-winning videos.
Here, again, is a Link to our Video-Making & Submission Guidelines.
Here, again, is a Link to our Participant Agreement Form.