We know that there are great punk bands out there that we haven’t heard. Here’s your chance to do something about it.

Shoot video of your band performing one of your original songs—the song should be under 4 minutes. Then you have 2 minutes to tell us about how your band fits in to your local scene. Submit it to the crew at Punk’s Not Dead. This is a great opportunity for your band-- we’re not to be held responsible if you become rich and famous… (or if everyone thinks you suck).

To submit, shoot a clip of your band performing an original song. Make sure the clip is 4 minutes or less. If your song is 30 seconds long, that’s cool, but you can only submit that one song for consideration. Let’s say your song consists of 19 minute tracks of droning feedback—again, that’s fine, but you can only submit a 4 minute or less portion of that song.

You can be creative with this, but be sure to check out our Do’s and Don’ts section below for more information on the best way to shoot the performance clip.

After the song, we want to hear about your band and your scene. Record your thoughts:

(ex: Most horrific or best touring story, how you finally booked a gig, how your band retains the DIY spirit of punk, how you ended up getting signed, how
you turned down a label to do it yourself, what/who inspired you to start, what keeps you going, why is your scene so special, etc.)

Your band’s response should be less than 2 minutes in length. (No joke— We won’t even consider using answers longer than 2 minutes, so keep it brief!).

Please make a copy of your clip on one of the following formats:

• mini-DV tape
• DVD
• VHS
• CD-R with the following file types:
  Windows Media Player, QuickTime, or MPEG.
• (NTSC, PAL, SECAM are acceptable standards)
• If you can upload your clip to a website as a downloadable file, you can submit us a copy of the URL instead. See Submission Form for details.

Make sure you clearly label your tape or disc with the following:

• The name of your band (obviously)
• The title of the song performed
• The band’s phone number and email address

Remember: Keep a copy of the tape or CD you send us, because your submission will not be returned—we’re keeping it.

Read and agree to our Official Rules and Regulations (this is the legal stuff, we have to make you read it).

Download, print, and sign Submission Form and Release Form.

Be sure to fill out the forms completely, and have every member of your band sign and date both. If any members of the band are under 18, you will need their parent or guardian to sign a Release Form also, so make extra copies.

We require a $5 materials fee for each submission.

As you know, Punk’s Not Dead is a low-budget, self-financed, independent documentary. Everyone involved in this project is doing this as a labor of love. Your five bucks will go directly to cover the cost of equipment. Any money left over will be used to pay the bands to license the songs in the film. So remember– your $5 is helping keep independent music alive.

You can pay with a US money order or click on the PayPal button below to pay with a credit card. If you absolutely have no bank account or credit card, (been there), we can accept well-concealed cash, at your own risk. If you send cash, we suggest you place it inside the cover of the CD case or disc you send. We will send a receipt for cash payments by email, so don’t forget to include your email address! All payments must be in US funds.

Remember, each submission must include a signed and completed Submission Form, Release Form, and materials fee. That means that if you or your band submits multiple songs, you must include all of the above with each submission.

Click on button to make a direct, secure payment.

• All songs submitted must be original and you must own the publishing. That means you wrote it and nobody else owns it. No covers. (If you don’t know what this means, you probably own your own music).
  
• Do not send music videos. That’s not what we’re looking for. We want a straight performance of 1 song only.
  
• Do mix up the shots and angles if possible. We like close-ups, full band shots, etc.
• Don’t edit what you film. We want a raw, natural performance with a consistent sound.
  
• Don’t do weird camera stuff. No upside-down or sideways shots, no zooming in and out quickly, no effects in camera or in post. The reason for this is that we have to edit your clip into the rest of the film. Your clip has to be consistent with the overall look of the film or we can’t use it.
  
• Do keep it simple.
  
• If you have an existing performance filmed that doesn’t meet the exact guidelines above, and you don’t want to re-film yourselves, that’s okay. Submit it anyway.

• Do get personal. We want to experience your point of view, your experiences, your stories.
  
• Do be thoughtful. Like we said before, we’re looking for honest opinions and varying points of view. But here’s a tip: if all you do is talk shit about bands you don’t like, we probably won’t choose you. Why? Because it’s too obvious! Be clever. You’ve got two minutes to tell the world what you think. Don’t waste it.
  
• Do keep a copy of the tape or CD you send us, because your submission will not be returned—we’re keeping it
  
• Don’t lag! There’s a deadline for a reason, and it’s Oct. 15.

Still have questions? Read our FAQs.

Now you’re done! Mail your clearly labeled tape or disc, a completed and signed Application Form and Release Form for each member of your band, and materials fee to:

Punk’s Not Dead Productions
“We Want Your Band”
6715 Hollywood Blvd.
Suite #272
Los Angeles, CA 90028