I was wondering how legit these screenwriting contests actually are. Has anyone actually had any success using these platforms? Or are they just all scams there to just scam you out of your money? I feel this also applies to these constant 'pitches' at 35 dollars to pitch. Is it worth it?
Screenwriting : Contests - Legit or Scams? by Jesse Burns
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Hey, Jesse Burns. I haven't entered screenwriting contests in a long time, but I plan on entering them again. My scripts weren't ready when I used to enter contests. Lesson learned.
A lot of screenwriting contests are legit and definitely worth entering! Check out this blog (look for "This Week’s Exciting Announcements!"): www.stage32.com/blog/the-emmy-awards-and-the-rise-of-acquisitions-4227
Stage 32's Pitch Sessions helped me get better at writing pitches. The main purpose of the Pitch Sessions is to get feedback to improve your pitch, but sometimes the executives, managers, etc. will request scripts, sign writers, etc. (www.stage32.com/scriptservices/success-stories).
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I am sceptical about screenwriting contests. If the wrong persons are judges, they may select a winner who has written a script which is fun to read but hopeless to film. About a year ago I posted. I had checked a screenwriting contest which occurred about a decade ago. Then I used IMDb to find out what happened with the careers for the finalists afterwards. If my memory is correct. For one of the finalists, their career improved afterwards, but for an equal number of finalists, the result was the opposite. And for the remaining third there was no change.
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Yes sir
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It depends on the contest. Don't waste time on contests that promise a cash prize. Focus on contests that provide contacts and allow you to get in front of people in the industry.
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Seconding Nathan Smith here. Cash or a trophy doesn't do much for your career. Which is why we set up our contest winners with meetings with execs who can actually move careers forward.
So far this year, we've had two contest winners sign with managers. Travis Opgenorth winner of our New Blood contest optioned his script in a meeting we set for him and then had two managers fighting to sign him, one of whom was from a meeting we set for him. Then last week, a finalist in our Rom Com contest Henry Sawyer-Foner, signed with manager Nicholas Bogner who was one of the judges in the contest and asked to meet with Henry after reading the finalist scripts!
When it comes to contests, there's a lot of factors at play and your material has to be able to run the gauntlet of being liked/enjoyed by multiple rounds of readers. And cream always rises to the top. End of the day, with contest winners or pitches, writers have to be able to go in and deliver. No one is going to sign a writer, option a project, or continue a conversation further unless the material is there and the vibe is there. We see a lot of writers get signed and move forward with projects from pitch sessions every month.