Screenwriting : Competitions? by Marc Baron

Hi Marc. I'm in a few competitions at the moment. I would look for contests that involve some feedback -- good example Blue Cat. I just received some great feedback from 2 readers who were very positive, and mentioned a few issues that (to be honest) I had worried about myself. Even though they do this in the hope you will rewrite and resubmit and pay again, the feedback seems pretty genuine to me -- and sometimes you really need some positive feedback. It's kind of like giving your script to a script consultant for a brief feedback report. You can use this feedback as testimonial as well. Also, always check out the announcement dates. Ideally when you submit you don't want to wait a year for this, and some of the competitions have a decent turn around time (three- six months from submission). Obviously earlier submission is cheaper but you wait longer. Agents have also told me the best way to get their attention and prove your ability is being placed in a competition -- just being a quarter finalist means you've got something. Hope this helps!

Thanks for the response, Ben. In our case, we're trying to finance and shoot the project. I agree about the feedback. We got some good notes from Slamdance that helped. We're thinking, should we get some awards it may help interest investors ....

Yes, it's a good way to prove quality control which is obviously important to investors.

They are good for a couple things - feedback on where the state of your writing is (as Ben mentioned), and if you place, you will get interest from industry. Quite often industry insiders (producers, producer's assistants) are part of the judging and read scripts.

I decided to invest a wee bit of money in competitions/festivals this year. I am in 11 altogether and should start hearing feedback in the next 60 days. In addition, I have my work on Inktip (as well as in their magazine) and on the Blacklist. I had two industry reviews from Blacklist which I completely agreed with. On Inktip I am aware that my script was downloaded by 20th Century Fox as well as three significant/serious producers. I consider the money an investment in my career. It's as simple as that. If no one sees my script then... well, no one sees my script. If, however, someone sees it, tells someone else who tells someone else... well, that could lead somewhere.

I forgot to mention the ones I am in: Nicholl's (of course), Page, Final Draft, Burbank International, Table Read, Script Pipeline, Slamdance, Big Star, Creative World, Zoetrope, Liverpool Liftoff (UK), and the Newport International Film Festival in Wales. After this year I will have a better idea of which ones are worthwhile and which I will avoid in the future. There were a couple of others I thought about but either missed the deadline or decided their enry fee was just too damn high.

Jacqueline Drury... As with any professional service we expect to hear SOMETHING/ANYTHING just to know our communication did not get lost. Even a short form letter helps to soothe the worried heart. Sadly, there are those out there (in every industry) who cannot be bothered with being polite.

Like everything, script competitions range from good to worthless. Generally, most fall into the worthless category. You send your money and your script – and never hear from them again. Also, consistency among readers is an issue. Recently in the same contest, one reader/judge rated my script a perfect 100 but the second rated it at 60 (that script is on the short list at one of the more prestigious competitions – go figure.) As in all things; do the research before you fork over your money & script. I don’t think that a public place, like this forum, is the right place to bad-mouth any particular contest but talk among your fellow writers.

Screenplay competitions are great! Especially if it's yours. Fees for reading and casually disposing of people's dreams and labors of love! Does it get any better if you have little or no talent? All those writers hoping for validation, for acknowledgement, and acceptance. Talk about easy pickings. And...if you should actually find something that tickles your interest long enough to forget about turning on Turner Classic movies or Sponge Bob...you give the writer a certificate of achievement, a gilt plastic trophy made in Shenzhen, and 1-2% of the money you received from all those pathetic creatures. Oh, did I mention the cool new screenwriting contest I'm hosting? Fun and prizes for all. sign up over here under the red, white, and blue 'Find out if you're gullible, only $10.00' banner. Better to cultivate relationships with other industry professionals. Brian DePalma once said, about the best way to succeed in Hollywood: "Somehow." Brooke Cre8tve1.com

Brooke... A bit harsh but not far from the mark.

With very few exceptions I'd pretty much go along with Brooke. `Those who can do. Those who can't run screen competitions.´

Austin Film Festival is a great fest for screenwriters. Anyone who advances to the second round will get feedback on their script. If you don't have thick skin, this is really the wrong business for you.

This is the truth sister :)

I used to enjoy the occasional screenwriting competition until I was privy to a few entries that made it to round two. I was shocked. Seriously shocked at what BlueCat let into a second round. The moment I saw that, I was done. If you want great feedback, find a good crit group or start one of your own. Save your coin.

I've had a good experience. Try to win the Nicholl Fellowship, Austin Film Festival, Big Break, and Scriptapolosa (no spelled right). Even placing high is a good thing.

Ian wrote... "I used to enjoy the occasional screenwriting competition until I was privy to a few entries that made it to round two. I was shocked." I am actually using my entry to gauge this very thing. I am interested to see how far my entry gets. If it wins my emotions will be mixed between "FANTASTIC" and "REALLY?"

I just received notice that I made the second round of the Big Bear Lake Film Festival screenwriting contest. They supplied the judge's score cards and comments on my first 35 pages as part of the notification. It was enlightening and encouraging. I used their comments to strengthen my screenplay. Most competitions don't do this, so I thought I'd give a shout-out to one that does more than collect a fee.

Thank you guys.

Dan has the right score if you want to invest a few dollars and at least get some feedback on what you have with the bigger competitions be ready for the up sell and the "it has great potential if only " But some of them have some real talent reading the screenplay and give right on information.

I 100% agree with Dan's analysis of why we write spec scripts. Spot on!

@Lyse Beck - sounds like your moving forward but my problem is "Have you sold anything" ? that is why contest and other venues are a mere investment to Gage what your trying to sell. If it is not free it has the potential to be abused.

As someone who has been through all the "steps" (I never submitted to contest unless free- now it seems there are NO Free ones) I hope to be in the position to need screenplays and offer new writers a honest opinion on their work without asking for money in return.

Some very good points there but you have to have something worth showing

Go to it also don't just submit

Since this is a good discussion, let me ask another question. Have you done readings for your scripts, and do you find them helpful in the screenplay development?

I have. A reading can shed a lot of light on problems within a script. Good actors can bring a script to life. They will also have smart input. It can be a little tough to set up, but worth it. We paid our actors in free food.

It might be good but remember a script is one piece of a great film.... eight other elements make up greatness which you can't see at a table read

@ratering - I agree it is one part but it is a very crucial one where ideas and many other points come to the surface.

Hey Marc, I've had great experiences with competitions. For an extra fee most offer some sort of coverage, or notes, which is extremely helpful and costs much much less than hiring a script consultant. Competitions also help you gauge your writing -- how you compare to others. The higher you place the more you know your writing has reached a professional level. :)

Just received notice this morning that I am a finalist in the Big Star Screenwriting Competition (Action/Adventure category). That was a pretty cool email to get! Now we shall see where that leads.

Congratulations Simon!!

Thanks Beth! I know it isn'y Nicholl's but still not complaining.

Affirmation is a wonderful thing! Revel in it! Be emboldened! Use it to keep writing!

Simon, thank you for the connection! Would love to see someone design clothes for plus size women with style and affordable.

I think they are worth it for several reasons. One is to get a professional reaction and opinion to your script. Winning can serve not only was an external validation boost to your psyche but can open doors as you can use the win as an intro to your outreach to producers. Also, as they all have deadlines, it gets you to finish a script faster than you otherwise would have done. Lastly, they're cheap in relation to the potential benefits they may provide.

Last year I entered several festivals with the same script. Overall I did nicely, landed two wins and a couple of nods as well as placing in the top 20% of Nicholl's. It did involve some expense but I am a firm believer that investing in your profession is a requirement of anyone taking ANY profession seriously. When I was in the tech world I spent a fortune sending myself and employees to conferences, etc. so how is spending money on festivals any different? Festivals/comps also play the important role of getting you work out there where it can be seen. As they say, if you don't play the lottery you will never win.

good point Simon I think too many of us forget that festivals are also a business - and expect the studios to come running to us - you can also look at it as a form of advertising - if no one knows your product is out there no one will buy it

I know its a stretch but we can also look at festivals as a learning tool - most professions have training you go to (school) or you consult with others in your profession - you learn what works or what doesn't

@Dan... there are several folks who have had major films produced and/or are making a living as a result of Nicholl's but then... that is Nicholl's!

Well Dan, now you have. I took up screenwriting a few years back and like every other wide eyed hopeful, I entered some contests… won a few. A producer in NorCal contacted me to see if I would sell my winning script. Of course there was no real money. He introduced me to others and soon I was selling scripts. That makes me a professional screenwriter – I have a little cottage industry that was all started by winning a contest.

Congratulation Doug you have one of the few success stories I have heard most contest winners sell one script and never get past that. But I agree that if you want to use that medium to get ahead - it is sort of like advertising money. An investment if you will consider it that way. The biggest caution is make sure you read the contest rules closely and if your not sure ask. Contest after all are a business and they look out more for themselves then the writer. Also make dam sure who the contest judges are, so that if you do win you have the best shot at not only selling your script but moving forward.

I think they're great. Firstly it gives you an objective review of your work, as the readers are for the most part top professionals. Secondly, it gives you a deadline and an impetus to finish your script and get it out there. Most of the competitions will review your script and provide comments either for free if you are a semi-finalist, etc, or for a small fee . And lastly, if you win or even come in as a semi, you may get discount prices to attend the festival. I had one for the best times of my life at the Austin FF this year. I got a big discount for coming in as a "second rounder" i.e. top 10% of scripts read, and made some great friends and contacts as well. It also simply gets you in the game, and who knows, who'll read your script there? And the price of these are dirt cheap for the opportunities they offer.

Snow White and the Huntsman won the Script Pipeline contest.

Mark, while that may be true, "Snow White and the Huntsman" was completely rewritten. Rehashed. Recreated by others. The original writer, Evan Daugherty, had to share screenwriting credit with two other writers. However, they gave him the story credit. So, I guess as a winner of a screenwriting contest making it big, it's still true, right? Even though he was shoved to the side -- like writers often are. It's a win win.

Stick with the big names. You can get a list online.