3rd Annual TV Drama Contest

Stage 32 is proud to present the 3rd Annual TV Drama Screenwriting Contest!

You’ll meet industry professionals from companies including Script Anatomy, Waldorf Entertainment, Heroes & Villains Entertainment, Appian Way, Sugar23 and more!

Open to pilots!

This contest is accepting submissions of hour-long pilot scripts NOW through May 24th, 2023.

TV Dramas are easily the most talked about type of media right now. Streaming has made it so easy to become obsessed with shows like YOU and YELLOWSTONE. Not to say that network dramas aren't still killing it - classics like HOUSE, MD or LAW & ORDER are some of the most binged shows by those who watched them week to week and brand new fans, and current shows like GREY'S ANATOMY feel unstoppable, even after 18 seasons. Whether it's gossiping about SUCCESSION with your coworkers or live-tweeting the Cassie/Maddy showdown on EUPHORIA, we know you're talking about TV Dramas.

Last year, we set up our winner with 9 one-on-one meetings with industry pros currently working on television drama content. Our 10 finalists get amazing exposure too; last year’s finalists had their work requested by top production and management companies staffing and producing today's hottest shows!

If you have a television drama story that needs to be told, now is the time to show us what you've got, because our goal is to amplify your voice, give you the access Stage 32 is known for, and take your writing career to the next level!

STAGE 32 CONTEST WINNERS & FINALISTS NOW WORK WITH:

Our Grand Prize winner will:

• Be flown to LA for meetings (travel permitting) to meet with 7 top professionals currently working in the industry at companies like Heroes & Villains, Script Anatomy, Sugar23, Appian Way and Established Artists with credits including shows like SEVERANCE, TRANSPARENT, CHICAGO FIRE, A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, GINNY & GEORGIA, HOUSE, THE X-FILES, LUCIFER, THE HANDMAID'S TALE and more! 
• Work with Stage 32 to develop your winning script’s pitch deck for the market
• Have your professional biography sent to an exclusive roster of over 30 agents and managers who have a First Look deal with Stage 32 and are actively looking for new clients and material
• Receive a free membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room, a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!
• Free access to Stage 32’s educational webinar library, which includes over 2,000 hours of content featuring top industry professionals
• Continued support from the Stage 32 team to help move your career forward and get you in front of decision makers!

ALL 10 Finalists will:

• Have your loglines presented to over 500 industry executives including literary managers, agents and producers in a Stage 32 lookbook. Past lookbook writers have been set up on meetings with and even signed with companies like 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA, APA, Art/Work Entertainment, Zero Gravity and more!
• Get a free three month membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room, a private, virtual community of writers from around the world the meet and learn from industry professionals like Meg LeFauve (INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Aimee Riviera, VP of Motion Picture Production at Skydance Media (TOP GUN: MAVERICK), Tripper Clancy (STUBER) and managers & agents from WME, CAA, Gersh, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity & more!

Stage 32 will be a champion for your script - once you’re part of our community, we make sure you rise to the top!

Our TV Drama Screenwriting Winners See Results

Stage 32 has launched the careers of hundreds of writers over the last 11 years. Stage 32 has quickly emerged as the leading source for industry executives to uncover new talent! Is this your year to move the needle on your career?

• Want to see some of our hundreds of success stories, click here!
• Finalists had their work requested by top production and management companies staffing and producing today's hottest shows!

Don't believe us? Let 2nd Annual TV Drama Contest Winner Trish Persen tell you why you should enter!

About the Exposure For Your Script

The Grand Prize Winner Will be Flown to Los Angeles to meet with:

• Krista Sipp, Literary Manager, Heroes & Villains (Client and company credits include SEVERANCE, TRANSPARENT)
• Chris Bellant, Literary Manager, Established Artists (Client credits include YELLOWSTONE, CHICAGO FIRE)
• Sara B. Cooper, Television Writer (HOUSE, THE X-FILES)
• Anna Henry, Producer & Development Executive (Client credits include THE DEUCE, THE FLASH)
• Tawnya Bhattacharya, Executive Producer, Script Anatomy (A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, GINNY & GEORGIA)
• Megan Ott, Producer (HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, THE NEVERS)
  
• Tyler Erb, Creative Executive, Sugar23 (13 REASONS WHY, DICKINSON)
  
• Taylor DiGilio, Executive Producer, Appian Way (THE VOLCANO: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI)
• Rachel Polan, SVP Development & Production, Pacesetter Productions (DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, STATION ELEVEN)
  

Judge’s Credits and Company Credits Include:

In addition to these meetings, the winner will also receive access to Stage 32’s Educational resources, be promoted on Stage 32’s social media, and have their professional biography sent to an exclusive roster of over 30 agents and managers hand picked by Stage 32 who are actively looking for new clients and material. Stage 32 will facilitate introductory meetings to any of the representatives who respond to your material and bio. This is the type of exposure that will change your career forever!

Tawnya Bhattacharya (Judge) - Executive Producer, Script Anatomy

Tawnya Bhattacharya has been a professional TV & Film writer for the past 12 years and a teacher for the past 17. She launched Script Anatomy in 2011 just as her career was taking off with the objective to use her experience of breaking into the TV industry and building a career to help other writers do the same with a unique writing curriculum with trademark tools for development, writing and rewriting, which have helped hundreds of writers get a job writing for TV, find representation, or sell pilots, screenplays and novels.

Bhattacharya and her writing partner, Ali Laventhol, are currently Co-Executive Producers on Peacock’s hit show Bel Air and Netflix’s upcoming My Life With The Walter Boys. Past credits include Ginny & Georgia (Netflix), A Million Little Things (ABC), Famous in Love (Freeform) and more. They have also written TV movies, Torn From Her Arms which was nominated for 3 Imagen Awards and garnered a win for actress Judy Reyes. They also wrote The Disappearance of Cari Farver and are currently writing Girl in the Attic. The writing duo are 2023 alums of the WGA Showrunner Training Program, and 2010/11 alums of NBC Launch. Bhattacharya was also a FOX Writer’s Intensive fellow. The team is repped by UTA, Industry Entertainment and Morris Yorn.

As a guest instructor, Tawnya has brought the Script Anatomy method to the Disney | ABC Writing Program, Warner Bros. Discovery Access Programs, The WGA Foundation’s WGFestival, the Austin Film Festival, the Producer’s Guild (PGA) Power of Diversity Workshop, Carleton College, NIKE, Hugo House in Seattle, the Willamette Writers Conference, Stage 32, The International Screenwriters Association, TV Writers Fund and the CineStory TV Writers Retreat in Idyllwild.

Chris Bellant (Judge) - Literary Manager & Producer, Waldorf Entertainment

Chris Bellant is a Literary Manager and Producer who, after years of developing film, TV, theater, commercials and digital content, recently launched Waldorf Entertainment.

 

Waldorf is currently developing a limited series based on Anna Clark’s book, The Poisoned City, which chronicles the events of the Flint Water Crisis, as well as the series DARK IRISH, created by writer Erin Kathleen. The company has several features and a documentary in development, including projects created by clients.

 

Previously, Bellant worked with SXM Studios to develop branded content, and produced independent films. Previous films include LOSERVILLE, which was released in theaters by MarVista Entertainment and starred Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Matt McGorry and Darby Stanchfield, THE LOST WEEKEND with Tony-winner Reed Birney and Gracie Gillam, LIGHT with Will Pullen (winner of Best LGBTQ Film at the Venice Film Awards), and LIVING WITH THE DEAD (winner of Best Feature at the Aberdeen Film Festival).

Sara B Cooper (Judge) - Television Writer,

Sara B Cooper is an accomplished and experienced TV writer and producer with over 30 years in the industry writing for standout shows like THE X-FILES, CHICAGO HOPE, HOUSE, and HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREETS. Over her storied career, Sara has learned from and worked with TV icons like Chris Carter, David E. Kelley, Tom Fontana, David Mamet, and Eric Roth. Beginning her writing career on science fiction shows like STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, Sara has been able to pivot to other genres like police procedurals, medical dramas, and even feature films like LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER with Angelina Jolie. Sara continues to write and consult on many TV projects in both the U.S. and Canada and serves as a writing coach and mentors young writers through the WGA and WGC.

Krista Sipp (Judge) - Literary Manager, Heroes & Villains Entertainment

Krista Sipp is a literary manager at Heroes & Villains Entertainment, in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from Connecticut, Krista started her career at management company Circle of Confusion in 2008. After holding positions at studios and production companies across the industry, she launched her own management company, First Friday Entertainment in 2017, alongside her partner Devon Byers. In 2022, First Friday was acquired by Heroes & Villains, where Krista and Devon continue to represent screenwriters, directors, and IP creators across film, television, and other mediums.

Krista is focused on representing diverse clients from varying underrepresented backgrounds with fresh points of view and working to close the inclusion gap in Hollywood. Her clients include screenwriters and directors who have worked on Abbott Elementary, 4400, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and The Winchesters, as well as comic book writers and novelists who have written for publishers such as Marvel, DC, IDW, and Legendary.

Megan Ott (Judge) - Producer

Megan Ott is an Independent Producer. She started her career working in-house for the Toronto International Film Festival and then at  Paramount Pictures working in Development in the Features Department. She moved on to get more active on-set work as a Production Manager at Blast Films which led to her larger producing roles, and she is now currently a producer on HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (HBO). She's also worked with Legendary Pictures, ITV Studios and Mammoth Screen/Amazon.

 

Rachel Polan (Judge) - SVP, Development & Production, Pacesetter Productions

Rachel Polan is currently the SVP at Pacesetter Productions, which is behind the Emmy-nominated HBO Max limited series “Station Eleven” starring Mackenzie Davis, as well as the upcoming Starz show “The Venery of Samantha Bird”.

Prior to joining Pacesetter, Polan served as Vice President of scripted development for Chelsea Handler Productions. Before that, she was an executive at Lionsgate, where she was creatively involved in some of the Television Group’s biggest accomplishments, including securing “Nashville” a fifth season at CMT; shepherding the first season of “Casual;” selling Epix one of its first scripted shows, “Graves;” and developing “Dear White People” for Netflix.

Polan’s other credits include “Nurse Jackie,” “Weeds,” “Manhattan,” and “The Royals.”

Tyler Erb (Judge) - Creative Executive, TV, Sugar23

Tyler Erb is the Creative Executive, Television at Sugar23 (13 REASONS WHY, MANIAC, THE OA, DICKINSON), where she sources, develops, and produces new series via the company’s overall deal with Netflix. She most recently worked in Scripted Television at MGM, supporting series including THE HANDMAID’S TALE, FARGO, VIKINGS: VALHALLA, and WEDNESDAY.

Taylor DiGilio (Judge) - Executive Producer, Appian Way

Taylor DiGilio graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Film & Television before moving to Los Angeles. He started his career working under the President of Jerry Bruckheimer Television on projects such as P-TOWN, LUCIFER, and AMERICA GIGOLO, before taking an executive role at Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way. He was most recently a Co-EP on the Netflix documentary THE VOLCANO: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI and has sold projects to Sony, Apple, and CNN Films, among others.

Anna Henry (Judge) - Producer & Development Executive,

Anna Henry began her 20-year career as a development executive at Nickelodeon, working on the development and production of animated television series, pilots and features, including the cult hit “Invader Zim.” She crossed over to prime-time television working at CBS and ABC in drama development and programming, then freelanced as a creative consultant for a number of production companies.

Anna was most recently Director of Development at a boutique literary management and production company representing writers and directors, and is currently a script consultant and screenwriting instructor. Her clients have worked on shows at virtually every broadcast, cable and streaming television network, and have set up projects at Amazon, Starz, HBO, Sony, Fox, EOne, ITV America, OddLot Entertainment, Corus, and others. Anna is also an independent producer through her company, Idle Hour Entertainment. She set up a historical fiction series as a German-Canadian co-production, and is currently in development on several other projects. focusing largely on international and diversity (women, POC, LGBTQ+) writers and stories. She enjoys having a close collaboration with writers in refining scripts, expanding their range of material, and finding the best home for each project. Anna is a graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Void where prohibited by law.

This Stage 32 Contest is an international contest. Must be 18 years or older to submit.

Entrant agrees to Stage32.com terms and conditions.

This Stage 32 Contest is not a game of chance. All material is read and reviewed by industry professionals.

All quarterfinalists, semi-finalists, finalists and winners are subjectively determined by our judges.

There is no limit to the number of screenplays an Entrant can enter. The same screenplay cannot be submitted multiple times under different names. If so, you will be disqualified.

Entrant must not be an immediate family member or friend of any of the judges or their respective companies.

Entrant acknowledges that because of the judges' and mentors' position in the entertainment industry they receive numerous submissions of ideas, formats, stories, suggestions and the like and that many such submissions heretofore or hereafter received by them are similar to or identical to those developed by them or their employees or, if an agent, are otherwise available to them.

Entrant acknowledges that they will not be entitled to any compensation because of the use by judges or mentors of any such similar material.

Entrant acknowledges that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between Entrant and judges or mentors, and Entrant further acknowledges that no such relationships are established between Entrant and judges or mentors by reason of this contest entry.

Entrants must submit screenplays and payment online.

Entrants must upload their submission within 72 hours of entry purchase.

Entry fees will not be returned or adjusted.

No waivers are available for this contest.