Writing Contests

Jerm · Jul 7, 2006

I was reading another thread where Razor and I think Clock said something about entering their scripts for contests which I have considered.

I have seen these contests around but I am uninformed on how they function. For example The Nicholl Fellowships has what seems to be a pretty popular contest. If a person enters their script for these types of contests are they giving up all their rights to the script? So if I win or lose I may receive whatever the prize money was but lose my script?

Thanks
Jerm

Boo_Radley · Jul 7, 2006

No. No legitimate contest will ever claim rights to your screenplay. Plain and simple. If they do, don't participate. The only thing you should have to give up for a contest is the entry fee.

Trickery abounds in plenty of contests. Just read the fine print and you should be fine.

gromhard · Jul 7, 2006

I wonder about that too. Also do I have to withdraw my script from all other considerations during judging. I don't know about screenplay contests but lit contests can take up to a year to judge. I'd hate the idea of someone showing interest in my script but I have to tell them, "Sorry it's tied up in a contest right now."

dpaterso · Jul 7, 2006

Your script remains your script. You win prizes. For some contests, prodcos agree to read the top scripts and, who knows, might want to option yours, or work with you on something else.

You've missed most of the biggies this year, tho' I think Zoetrope is still on? Check out the Contests link on www.moviebytes.com

Edit: since it's your script, it's not "tied up" in a contest, you can do what you like with it while waiting for the contest winner to be announced. But optioning or selling the script may disqualify you for winning the contest.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies.
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

Boo_Radley · Jul 7, 2006

dpaterso said:
Your script remains your script. You win prizes. For some contests, prodcos agree to read the top scripts and, who knows, might want to option yours, or work with you on something else.

You've missed most of the biggies this year, tho' I think Zoetrope is still on? Check out the Contests link on www.moviebytes.com

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies.
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

There's also the Shriekfest Film Fest Screenwriting Contest which, I believe, is still open for submissions. www.shriekfest.com

Joe Calabrese · Jul 7, 2006

Nichols isn't just a pretty popular contest, it IS the OSCARS for un-produced scripts. A Semi Finalist nod from Nichols is better than winning at some little comp. It's a huge stepping stone to be a Nichols Fellow.

As for competitions, some are good and some are worthless. Don't look so much at cash prizes, but at what they offer in return as in notoriety, press releases, getting it read by prod co's, agencies etc... When I won 3rd at Slamdance a few years back and told my friends, the first thing they asked was "How much did you win?" When I told them a figure that was way less than a million bucks, they scoffed and said "why would you enter if you don't get rich from it?" I said I went to Park City, got my award, networked with people, got a rewrite job from it and my manager too. Looks good on a resume too. It's not about the money. Its about stepping stones.

As for giving up rights, always read the fine print. Those no name comps that "automatically option" the winners are scams for the most part. They are usually put out by fledgling production companies or management firms to get free scripts (and make money too boot from the entry fees). Stay away from any competition that does this.

Jerm · Jul 7, 2006

Joe Calabrese said:
Nichols isn't just a pretty popular contest, it IS the OSCARS for un-produced scripts. A Semi Finalist nod from Nichols is better than winning at some little comp. It's a huge stepping stone to be a Nichols Fellow.

As for competitions, some are good and some are worthless. Don't look so much at cash prizes, but at what they offer in return as in notoriety, press releases, getting it read by prod co's, agencies etc... When I won 3rd at Slamdance a few years back and told my friends, the first thing they asked was "How much did you win?" When I told them a figure that was way less than a million bucks, they scoffed and said "why would you enter if you don't get rich from it?" I said I went to Park City, got my award, networked with people, got a rewrite job from it and my manager too. Looks good on a resume too. It's not about the money. Its about stepping stones.

As for giving up rights, always read the fine print. Those no name comps that "automatically option" the winners are scams for the most part. They are usually put out by fledgling production companies or management firms to get free scripts (and make money too boot from the entry fees). Stay away from any competition that does this.

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Yeah I wasn't really interested in cash prize or anything merely looking for the foot in the door. Money is always nice, but its not everything. To share my stories is my goal and have everyone smile or just to hear how cool they thought it was, that's the dream! I already have a full time job so don't worry about money.

So is there common lingo, terminology or carefully phrased words I should watch out for on these contests? You listed Automatically Option so that's apparently one I need to watch for.

yantubos · Jul 7, 2006

Boo_Radley said:
There's also the Shriekfest Film Fest Screenwriting Contest which, I believe, is still open for submissions. www.shriekfest.com

Boo, I checked shriekfest and submissions ended June 30. Looks like a good one - I'll submit for next year!

Boo_Radley · Jul 7, 2006

Whoops! My bad. I actually submitted to them last year. I didn't win, but I did get a nifty "finalist" certificate.

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