In the grand scheme of things, it's a small achievement. My pilot script, Outsider, achieved a semi-finals placement in the 25th Annual Fade In Awards | Sci-Fi Category. It didn't win one of the prizes, it's not going to garner any industry attention... but I'm still pretty chuffed with myself right now.
I started screenwriting a decade ago and was building up some steam with some contest placements, making some connections, and a short-film script being picked up. Then life forced me to stop. I had to re-focus and re-prioritise.
Outsider is the first script I wrote since I started again, and though I still feel incredibly rusty, this tiny slither of recognition means a lot to me. It's the boost I needed, that little reminder that it's worth trying to follow my dreams no matter what crap life throws at me.
So yeah, pretty happy right now. Time to work on the next script!
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A bit of motivation can go a long way. Keep going!
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Keep on keeping on! I've learned the surest way to get a script to keep moving up the contest ladder is to have it critiqued by the contest . Just make sure you get critiques only from the most prestigious contests. The BEST contest for this purpose are the ones that allow you to keep sending in a rewrite after the first critique. (Read the small print) Spending that extra $60 - in steps - saves you years in rewrites. In other words, you send in the script - read the critique , rewrite, wait for the next level critique, rewrite. Then send it off to a totally different contest and see where you land. By doing this, I have a script that has gone from quarter finalist, to semi finalist to finalist to actually winning. Only took three years...
PS We all know some critiques are not very good at all or one critique can say just the opposite of what another on states.
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Semi-finals is still a great accomplishment! Congratulations :)
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Thank you, all.
Congrats on your accomplishments, Kathaleen. I have a slightly different approach to gaining feedback. I like to get around 2 to 4 separate pieces of feedback on the same draft of the script, because I'm looking for common criticisms, and trying to eliminate criticisms related to subjective preference. With Outsider, I had three rounds of feedback on it, all of which made a similar comment, so I rewrote accordingly.
I've since had two more pieces of feedback on these revisions, both of which were much more positive, including a Recommend from one place and a high-level Consider from another (not that I put too much stock in the P/C/R system from coverage services).
It's in a handful of contests now, so I'm leaving it be. Once all its placements (or lack of!) have been decided, I'll probably seek some more feedback on it to identify any areas it still needs improving. I also just think some distance from the script helps. It's easier to spot the problems with fresh eyes, than when you're a bit too wedded to something.
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OMG Barry John Terblanche! You've just made my day, my month, and my year in one go! I can't thank you enough for that!
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Congrats, John.
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Thanks Maurice!
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You're welcome.
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Wow, John. You can't beat that!! Big congrats! PS I also have gotten several critiques from different resources for one script. Feels better when they all agree or disagree on points.
Thank you Kathaleen! I'm absolutely beaming! And yes, I'm always happy with critiques when they highlight the same areas positively or negatively. It's really helpful to know what's working, and even more helpful when there is consensus on the bits that aren't.
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John, way to go! Great job with "Outsider," and all the VERY BEST to you from a fellow second-time screenwriter!
Thanks, Jim! Here's hoping the second time is the charm for both of us!
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Congrats brother. Keep on pushing.
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John. Congrats!.