Screenwriting : Screenwriting Competitions. by Andy Celis

They would be safe. The chances of anyone stealing your work is nearly zero.

If they give note (of any kind) a bonus. Otherwise they are fun. It is hard to get ahead when the only thing you have to offer is your time.

This may sound like a long shot. Find a really talented actor that has career aspirations and see what they are doing. Write them an audition piece.

Surround yourself with story people. You would surprised what opportunities you will hear about.

What do you want to get out of a competition? Why are you entering?

Does the free contest do any of those things?

What is the reputation & history of the contest?

What would make them unsafe? Why do you think that's your only option?

I'm not sure what you mean about safe. I have no income at the moment and always search for some free competitions. I found there is no such thing as free. However, I don't recommend, I enter on TSL free competition, one of the more famous, They had 13000 screenplays in the competition. To read all that they will need a lot of readers if they have 20 readers on the team each one will read 650 screenplays, so they read (or look) only the first 3 pages of your script, but if you pay an extra they will read and give you feedback. So it is clear that the ones who pay for the feedback will have a considerable advantage in the competition. Other than that you may find small competitions but those don't help your carrier much. Read a screenplay is not an easy task, so I understand why it is expensive. I think could be more contest for free or at lower prices. For me is very extensive because I'm from Brazil and most of the prices are in dollars and five times more expensive for me. One option you may have when you have a solid screenplay that you believe is to try a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money for your project.

Screenwriting contests (even the free ones) are a waste of time, in the context of progressing your career. It's been shown time and again (from a multitude of sources) that even if you won a major one (i.e Nicholls, or S32's various ones - neither free) there's virtually no chance that will parley into a career. Look at the winners (BTW, getting one script produced is NOT a career).

The way to create a screenwriting career: write and network. This is a long-term and difficult path which will challenge your passion, resolve and self-image. But that's the way it is. There are no shortcuts to a successful CAREER as a screenwriter.

If you're interested in other careers in the biz (director, DP, producer and so on), there are different paths to take. But NONE of them involve quickness or ease.

The industry rewards perseverance - it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Target fellowships. Most majors are free submissions and pay a salary. Warner Bros TV, NBC on the Verge, CBS diversity program, Universal, Disney, Imagine Impact, Sundance. WGA has a free mentorship program for military vets.

I stick to what's available on Stage 32. At least they do give you access. But like everyone else says it's about honing your craft and making yourself standout. I agree with John. One produced script is not a career meaning that you have to generate multiple quality scripts. You have to pitch too. There is some cost, so you have to be strategic so you don't waste money. Take it from a guy who wasted tons of money going the wrong route.

Martin Reese I have a lot to learn about pitching. Do you have any recommendations? Any books/videos about the subject?

Dan MaxXx That sounds wonderful but the issue there is that I did not go to college.

John Ellis That was a strong realization. How could I start working on making contacts/networking if I´m not attending a school or living in a country where filmmaking is a serious craft, for that matter?

You don’t have to attend school or live in a country where they make movies. You learn how to write screenplays and keep writing them until you are competing with the top 3 percent of the people that have half a chance of having any success. Then you send out query letters and maybe even call producers you think might be interested in your screenplay. When someone requests your screenplay keep their name in your contact list and make sure they know about your most recent screenplay. Another thing I did was attach a couple of well-known directors to some of my screenplays. The script should be well-written, or they probably won’t respond. I am sure there are other ways, but I only know what I did that seemed to work for me.

Andy Celis what Dan Guardino says about querying and a contact list is good advice. Be active here and on other social media - but remember, it's about building relationships. Start conversations with a lot of people, not just producers, but DPs, actors, other writers, everyone. You'll never know where that will lead. And don't just push your work - be interested in what those people are interested in. Again, it's about relationships.

And spend as much time improving your writing as you do networking - they go hand-in-hand.

BTW, Andy Celis there are quite a few people "in the biz" in Mexico here on S32. Do a member search with cities in Mexico as the location.

John Ellis That was incredibly helpful! Thank you!

If people steal your work, that means you're good, and you can probably just make another good thing and get paid.

Andrea there a number of good webinar's on pitching. Consider joining the Writer's Room. You get an opportunity to do practice pitches every week.

I do not enter if it's NOT free :)...made exception for Nicholl only but I guess you all would know why.

This dude won script pipeline tv competition. Talked about his path from rock bottom to maybe the beginning of a Tv career.

https://twitter.com/EstevanQuintero/status/1291116037799206913?s=20