Hello everyone!
It's my first year of submitting to screenwriting competitions and I am learning a lot.
Is anybody can explain why some film festival companies are asking not to put your name or contact details on the title page? I understand about contact details, but name...
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I'm guessing it's to be completely impartial so your work stands out on its own... but I agree, it's really weird.
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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh A script reader could just go straight to the page one to read without paying much attention to the title page ...Copyright Law gives protection to creators/writers of original works for copyright to be enforced the writer of the work has to be identified.
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Hey Tatiana Tierney it's just a thing some companies do. I'm not really sure the firm reasoning for it, but my guess would be so the reader has absolutely no bias against the writer based on their name or location. Idk, I never liked having to submit to a contest without a title page because it meant I had to make a new, separate draft for it (ik very lazy lol). Feels a little outdated to do these days. For Stage 32 contests, having a title page is encouraged! We want to connect writers with opportunities and having your name and info on the title page only helps that process of making people aware of YOU.
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Pat Alexander Thank you Pat for your reply.
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It's mainly done to avoid potential or perceived bias. If your script advances, they really want to avoid any chance, as slight as it may be, that someone's work advanced because a reader or judge knew the writer. I don't think there's more to it than that.
Just be sure you read the rules carefully and follow them. Some contests may not refund the entry fees if you submit work improperly.
Good luck!
Neil Jaye Thank you Neil. I was thinking about it (bias) and tried to understand but I couldn't. I am a new writer and nobody knows me or if even some reader knows of me then that reader should recuse themselves from judging my script, but not asking to remove my name from my work.
What about workshops and other close work with editors and mentors who know you and yet have to tell you how good or not your script.
And what about films submitted to the festivals where we know many actors and some producers and screenwriters and yet these films are judged ignoring the rule on bias.
Some FF companies don't ask about it and some actually saying to keep your name on the title page, so it's not a hard and fast rule. It's just sad to see how many FF companies do that using 'bias'...
I am personally just decided not to submit my work to the companies with the rule "remove your name" as I see it is disrespectful to the writer.
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Don't look at it as disrespecting the writer. In fact, not having your name on the script puts the focus on the writer's work itself.
Screenplay competitions are very different from film festivals. Film festivals, especially the bigger ones, aren't primarily about establishing writers, producers, or actors. They are more focused on distribution deals and industry recognition. Screenwriting contests, on the other hand, are more about discovering new writers. Also, it's kind of hard not to see who's in a movie.
In short, don't get too caught up in not having your name on the title page. That’s only for the readers and judges. If your work is good and advances, everyone will know who you are. And hypothetically, if your work is awful and your reader happens to be a studio rep or with an agency, you wouldn’t want to be labeled down the road. Haha.
Let me know if you need any more tweaks!