Screenplay competitions

[williamd]

So you have your script(s), you are contemplating your next move and decide to enter them into a screenplay competition.

For those that have, why or why not?

[Joe Calabrese]

Let's face it.
You won't get rich winning a competition and it doesn't guarantee getting an agent or a sale-- so why do it?

Several reasons...


Recognition. An Austin winner of Nichols' Finalist can open doors easier than a nobody, even if only a crack.
A pat on the back. Ego boost. That a boy (or girl) you are a screenwriter.
Feedback or at-least knowing it's a good script if it does well in several comps or bad if it never makes even the second read from every comp entered.
Something to put in your query letter other than "Hi, I'm a writer."
Building a resume of experience, awards and other things that make you look professional.
Making contacts. It's just as much who you know as much as who knows you when you call.


Now. There are hundreds of comps and I don't want to give too much away because my articles over the next few months deal with comps, but choose a comp for the right reason. If all you want is an ego boost, enter the small ones that give you a better shot at winning. If you want recognition, don't bother entering any comps other than the top 20 or those with proven success rates for their winners, finalists and placers.

Also, enter the right comps for your work. As much as I would love to win a Nichols Fellowship, I have never entered.

Why?

My scripts are not the right genre and the odds of winning or even making QF are so low, that I would rather spend that money to buy some more ink for my printer. At least I know it will be put to good use.

In the same token, don't enter a lofty character drama to Shriekfest or a a scifi action script to Austin. Look at the past winners and placers of any comp and you will see a pattern. Slamdance-- Edgy Indy, Nichols-- Drama, Smart Comedy. Disney-- Anything high concept that leans to a 12-25 age group, etc...

[zeprosnepsid]

I would also take into consideration who the jury is for the competition. If your goal is to get an agent, it's good to get it read by a jury that has agents.

The woman who wrote "Letters From Iwo Jima" sold her first script after entering it in a relatively small competition (Palm Springs or something) and one of the agents on the Jury took her on immediately. So anything's possible.

[williamd]

Joe, Zep, thanks for the feedback.....Bill

[zagoraz]

Contests are hit or miss, but they're certainly worth entering if you send the right scripts to the right ones. One of my scripts was a semi-finalist at Slamdance a couple years back and that scored me an interview for a reading internship at a management company and pretty much set the whole "moving to LA" thing in motion for me.

This year I've decided to enter a bunch of scripts in different contests, namely Austin, Slamdance, Script Pimp, Nicholls, Scriptapalooza and Bluecat. One of my Bluecat scripts won the Movie Title contest this year, so that money pretty much helped pay for close to six contest entries.

Contests are also good because they give you deadlines. If you're a procrastinator who has been meaning to finish that 3rd re-write but can't seem to find the motivation, deciding to enter it in a contest with a deadline in two months is a pretty good motivator.

The thing that's awesome about Bluecat (and I swear this isn't Gordy Hoffman talking here) is that you get free coverage with your entry. It's limited to two questions - "What did I like about the script?" and "What needs work?" They give you 700-900 words of feedback and my feedback really helped me polish a script that I turned around and entered in both Nicholl and Austin.

What I wouldn't advise is living or dying by contests, like some people tend to do. They can certainly open doors, but don't put all your eggs in one basket.

[Joe270]

The old fart rears his ugly head. When the Austin festival started, I was involved. Of course, in regular Joe fashion, I did not stick with it. Let it go. Now it's a big deal, and I'm an as*****. I'm from Austin, I was hot back then and it was all too easy. Now I'm a grunt.

Now I'm in Vegas. I wonder (sorry about the above whining digression, by the way) about the local competitions like the Nevada Screenplay Competition. Certainly developing local connections can help land interviews, agents, etc. Perhaps the competition becomes something like the Austin Festival, and you're in on the ground floor. (insert more regret diatribe here about the AFF.)

[Rainy Night]

Joe -

Have you thought of running the AW Screenwriter's Challenge again? It was a fun contest the last time around.

[BottomlessCup]

I'm entering contests to get exposure for my scripts, which, ideally, will lead to representation, which, ideally, will lead to a sale, which, ideally, will lead to production, awards, money, glory, easy sex, etc.

They're a long shot, sure, but what isn't in screenwriting?

Lorelei Armstrong has a great article on her blog about contests. (She's won a bunch of them.) I'd link it, but I'm not on my home computer and don't have the url.

[Joe Calabrese]

Joe -

Have you thought of running the AW Screenwriter's Challenge again? It was a fun contest the last time around.
Maybe because you WON? Hmmmm?

Seriously, right now I am super busy developing a graphic novel and doing a rewrite for a "wannabe-hollywood-player-who-has-promised-me-loads-of-cash-that-I-will-probably-see-very little-of-it" producer.

Maybe during the summer.

[billythrilly7th]

I think they can be a good gauge of where your writing is.

If you enter a bunch, especially ones like Fade IN competition that has a huge group of quarterfinalists and you're not even getting to that level, you probably have a lot of work to do.

But even if you don't win, if you start placing, quarters, semi-s, you can get some confidence and start trusting that screenwriting might be something you have some talent in.

[Rainy Night]

Maybe because you WON? Hmmmm?

Seriously, right now I am super busy developing a graphic novel and doing a rewrite for a "wannabe-hollywood-player-who-has-promised-me-loads-of-cash-that-I-will-probably-see-very little-of-it" producer.

Maybe during the summer.
Sounds like you got your priorities right... good luck with the projects.