Screenwriting : Screenwriting Goldmine Contest by Leona McDermott

£85 for early entry including two pages feedback? Don't think so...

I thought it was 35 pounds, are you sure? I mean, 4th and 5th place pay out 50 pounds so I think it's 35.

Hi chaps, I'm Philip Gladwin, founder of Screenwriting Goldmine, and I wanted to add a few comments. I know what you mean - entering this contest isn’t the cheapest. I understand that writers are spending a lot of money on competitions at the moment, so you need to be sure it’s worth entering - and if you're paying for a script report you need to know it will be useful. The reason the competition exists is it’s hard for new writers to get noticed in the UK. Our main driver is to find new writers, and help them get into the industry. It costs £34.99 and the notes are optional, as I understand that not everyone wants or can afford notes. If you do want a two-page screenplay report, that does cost an additional £50. Everything about this competition is about integrity. Everyone involved in the judging has years of professional experience. I personally care very much about finding new writers and getting them hired, and the track record of the contest and the comments made by past finalists reflects this. We charge £50 for our script notes because we value them. This is a chance to get notes from an experienced script editor, and getting notes is an important part of being a writer. When you get good notes and see how they apply to your script then you start tuning into the professional process, which starts making you more employable as a writer. And these are good notes. The editor we have for this year is Joe Williams, who has held development roles in a number of high-profile companies including: Channel 4 Drama, Stephen Fry's company Sprout Pictures and Ridley Scott's production arm Scott Free. He currently works as a Development Producer for Adrian Bate and Pip Broughton’s new company Vox Pictures. I've hired him a lot over the last nine months, and I know he is methodical, rigorous, and spends proper time on writing notes, and he's always thinking of how to support the writer going on to their next draft. The entry fee itself is currently £34.99 because I read each of the first four hundred entries. This isn't a quick job. Again, you are paying a fee that reflects my level of experience. I've been a screenwriter and a script editor for twenty years, and I'm currently working as Head of Development for one of the top London indies. You can find me on IMDB to see what you're getting. Because of my time in the industry you can have faith that good work is less likely to go unnoticed. The judging panel for the final round is formed of some of the most influential people for screenwriters in the UK. If they like your work they will be keen to get you working. If you haven't see them already it's worth a look: http://awards.screenwritinggoldmine.com/judges The competition has already made a meaningful difference to some of the writers who have come through to the final rounds of the competition, as many of them have had work optioned and are working in the industry. If anyone has any more questions, please write direct to me at phil@screenwritinggoldmine.com and I'll do my best to answer them. Cheers, Phil

Hi Phil. Thank you for your post. Would never have promoted this if I felt your contest had no integrity. Those that are serious about getting into the business will take the time to bother to do due diligence and make an informed decision as to whether to enter.

Thanks for posting. Looks interesting.