OTHER NETWORK TV WRITING CONTEST

[Jamielove]

Get your TV script read by the people who matter

The Other Network TV Writing Contest -- Deadline March 1, 2005

Other writing contests offer the winners software or access to low-level agents. The Other Network TV Writing Contest gives you access to the people who actually hire writers -- other writers.

Winning scripts from 2004 are currently being read by top TV showrunners including:

BOB ODENKIRK ("Mr. Show", Saturday Night Live", "The Ben Stiller Show"), ALAN ZWEIBEL ("IT's Garry Shandling's Show", "Saturday Night Live") , JAY KOGEN ("The Simpsons", "Frasier"), JENNY BICKS ("Sex and the City"), JOHN RIGGI ("Larry Sanders"), BILL OAKLEY & JOSH WEINSTEIN ("The Simpsons", "The Mullets"), CINDY CHUPACK ("Sex and the City").

The Other Network TV Comedy Writing Contest is currently accepting comedy scripts in two categories:

- ORIGINAL HALF-HOUR COMEDIES
- SPEC SCRIPTS OF EXISTING HALF-HOUR TV SHOWS

Your Script:
- Can be either an original piece of comedy writing or a spec of an existing
series
- Written in a standard TV script format (50 pages max.)
- Writing teams or groups OK
- Multiple submissions OK
- Any genre OK (sit-com, sketch, animated, single-camera, even
'un-categorizable')
- Scripts from 2004 can be re-written and re-entered

How to enter:
- Print out the entry form at uncabaret.com
- Submitted material must be post-marked no later than
March 1, 2005
- Send script(s), a check for $40 per script made out to "UN-CABARET", and a
signed copy of the entry form to:

UN-CABARET 137 N. Larchmont Blvd. #107 LA, CA 90004

--

The Other Network started (and continues) as a live series where we screen TV pilots that were produced, but never aired -- perhaps because they were too original or idiosyncratic for TV -- introduced by their writers & creators (including Judd Apatow, Conan O'Brien, Robert Smigel, Ben Stiller, Bob Odenkirk, etc.). The Other Network renewed our belief that TV comedy can be fresh, original & exciting.

Now we are looking for great comedy scripts - and the talented writers who write them. We're currently presenting a number of Round 1 winners to various networks. We can’t wait to see what else is out there.

Get your entry form online at uncabaret.com:

[CelluloidLover]

What a load of garbage. If this posting doesn't say RED FLAG ALERT, nothing does. Stay away from this one, folks.

[AaronB]

Yeah...what's with the forty bucks?

[SimonSays]

You should not be so quick to dis a contest just because it charges money.

Uncabaret is for real as is Beth Lapides.

If you write quirky or somewhat bent, the chance to get your work to Bob Odenkirk or Alan Zweibel should not necessarily be sneezed at. In fact I would think it would be something that would be coveted.

Show runners DO hire writers, and she seems to have access to some of the best.

Of course this is a contest and the odds of being one of the winners is quite small, but a chance to be read by by some of these people is a far better prize than Final Draft and a subscription to Scri(i)pt Mag.

[Ron239]

You simply cannot trust the so-called judging of scripts in ANY of these contests. Don't waste your time and money!
The people who run these contests are little more than thieves lining their pockets with your hard-earned money.
It's time these organizations were investigated for wholesale fraud.

[JustinoXV]

If you feel that you have been defrauded by the contest, complain to the United States Postal Service. Mail fraud is a federal felony.

www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/ (http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/)

If you live in Los Angeles, and you feel that you were defrauded by someone there (who is also in LA), then you can contact the Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs.

consumer-affairs.co.la.ca.us/ (http://consumer-affairs.co.la.ca.us/)

Other resources include the California Attorney General.

[AaronB]

Don't be touchy, please. It *is* quite difficult for the uninitiated (i.e. me) to tell a legitimate contest from a scam.

[SimonSays]

I agree, Aaron - it is hard to tell. And many are scams and many of those that aren't scams get you absolutely nowhere even if you win - and therefore are a waste of money.

But it is unfair to claim that contests that are legitimate are scams. It's not fair to sully the reputation of people who are trying to give writers access to producers and agents.

I don't necessarily advocate entering screenwriting competitions at all. But if a writer chooses to do so, they should stick with legitimate ones that offer something viable.

For those who want to write for tv, want to enter a contest and want a shot at getting their specs to comedy producers - this competition may be a good choice.