Screenwriting : Did you succeed in any screenplay competition? by Chanel Ashley

Well, I met the agent who sold my first script at the Austin Screenplay Conference, where I was because I had a top ten finishing script (different from the one she sold).

I wondered whether these conferences were a waste of time, obviously not - you also demonstrate that opportunities do emanate from competitions and that it is not critical to win first prize to gain a reward - love to hear success stories and how they came about.

There are numerous Australians on this site, are any members of the Australian Writers Guild? Did anyone submit a script in the AWG screenplay competitions? No? Surely I cannot be the only one? But then?Someone? Anyone?

nope. didn't know i could be a part of a guild until i was paid to be a writer. i am more interested in tv writing categories, which no australian contest offers.

Actually, Cherie, I'm pretty certain the guild includes tv, there wouldn't be too many members if it was only cinema, LOL - more opportunities re tv, shit, just realised, there's the Foxtel fellowship and $25K prise money - you should enter, look them up, you already have a pilot written, go for it, girl.

I seem to recall that you pay a higher fee if you're a paid writer, without a credit, I think you become an associate member - trust me, Cherie, they will take your money, LOL, but at least you can enter their competitions, this could be your big opportunity.

another reason to part with my money. I'll look into it cause i just love parting with my money, lol.

Chanel I was sure your script set in SA would be a winner. How is it coming?

I must confess, I'm not overly impressed with the AWG - they're not exactly a fountain of information and when you call their Sydney office it's almost like you woke them from their sleep - mainly joined to enter their screenplay competition, the script went nowhere, so, so much for that - but thus far, they are far less than impressive.

I won Bluecat's Joplin Award a couple of years ago. The script ended up getting into the hands of a director here in NZ as a result. We have since gone on to get a large funding grant to make a short which is currently in post. We hope to use it to attract financing for the feature film. Not really a success story yet! However, I do have a prodcuer and director attached to the feature, just no money yet. If we get some, then I guess it'll be a success story!

Great story, Guy, you have had progression - not easy having a producer and director attached - funding always seems to be the final piece of the jigsaw, the piece that always appears missing - well done, good luck, persistence.

Thanks for the positive energy. :) Good luck with it all yourself - especially that final piece!

Geof, thank you for asking - the same story as before, plenty of interest, funding difficulty - will commence fresh round of "knocking on doors" soon - running out of ideas, unless you know someone in Melbourne - still pursuing Richard Roxburgh - considering approaching Helen leaks from Duo Art and Rolf de Heer, both top people, very experienced - fingers crossed, again - when will you have something ready?

That should be Helen Leake.

You have made progress, Emily, this is excellent, keep going - aim for your first 10 pages, then the first turning point (15-25 pages) - keep moving forward, bit by bit, then one day, incredibly, it is finished, and what a wonderful feeling that is - then the revision begins, LOL, but that comes later, just keep moving forward, it's a journey and that journey will ultimately reach a destination.

I have entered into five contests and Page Awards didn't list me as a quarter finalist, oh well four more to go. LOL

I have entered a few contests and had some success. In Canada, I have had two short scripts win separate contests and they were both given live Stage Readings at the National Film Board of Canada. I have had two other short scripts win a contest in New York. They were both produced- one was produced true to the screenplay whereas the 2nd script was altered dramatically. Both of those films were presented at the Trifecta Theatre in N.Y. There are a ton of screenplay competitions around the world and they are very well marketed. I'm sure that some contests receive 1000's of entries. I try to find niche film festivals that are not necessarily listed on withoutabox and enter those feeling that I have a better chance to get noticed. Cheers!

...I entered a few contests and had some success over the last two years. I was the SA Finalist for the 2012 & 2013 Jameson First Shot Competitions. It opened doors for me. Last year I wrote a commissioned 4 part series and a 60min comedy film for TV. Screenplay competitions do open doors by getting your name out there...R.

Good one, Ross, we need to hear stories of success, regardless on which level, it is encouragement for the rest of us to continue and maintain that glimmer of hope.

Scriptapalooza is out, and so am, I - any positive stories out there? That's it for me this year, entered two competitions and I'm a lemon in both, LOL.

You're not a lemon, Chanel. Competitions are just about a fleeting moment of alignment between your script and a reader.

That's very kind, CJ, I'm taking it well, but as we all know, it's extremely disappointing, and we must move on.

It is incredibly disappointing for us, we are all striving so hard for some recognition, some validation, and some exposure and, when we don't get any of that, it's like our year of our life is written off. I think our frustration is really with fate and universe, we're begging for serendipity in a lottery of subjectivity.

I do contests from time to time and have made it to some form of finalist a couple of times so far. It establishes some credibility. And, the feedback (while it often stings) is usually helpful for rewrites. Any step forward is good, including contests. It seems best to not take either positive or negative contest feedback too seriously and use it to improve the story.

I have failed on 2 out of five competitions so far, three more to go and I am done also Chanel. I won't just stop there, I will try new things like pitching on Happy Writers.

You haven't failed, Lendell. You script fell into the hands of a reader, they didn't enjoy it as much as some other scripts they read, that's all there is to it.

It is important to keep trying because the more feedback you get the quicker you'll progress. I'm getting started again after a few years out of the industry and am planning to enter a few which promise to give feedback, just to sharpen up.

Or the reader saw that you were using an old version of Final Draft and decided that meant you were an amateur or he was playing Donkey Kong while "reading" your script or he partied heavily the night before and just couldn't focus on the pages in front of him or he just wasn't very bright or he was a conscientious reader, who just didn't enjoy your script as much as some others. You'll never know. So you shouldn't base your writing ability on failure to advance in contests. It's also why I don't bother to pay for anonymous feedback. What value is feedback when you can't even evaluate the source of the feedback?

Thanks for the encouragement CJ. I wonder is it because my screenplay is a Family/Christian Genre? This is why I also enter it into one Christian contest, if I don't make the list on that one, then I know I need to go back to the drawing board. A lot of Christian movies are doing good at the box office, like Noah; God Is Not Dead, Heaven is Real, and the up and coming Left Behind with Nicolas Cage which looks awesome.

It's impossible to say, Lenny, and not worth dwelling too much on.

I would suggest that if you don't advance in the Christian contest, you should not "go back to the drawing board." You may want to work on your script some more, try a different marketing approach or write a new screenplay (or all of the above), but don't assume that just because the contest is Christian themed that it doesn't suffer from the same limitations and pitfalls as other contests.

Lendell, CJ is correct, it's impossible to say, not worth the dwell - how do you know what they want exactly? - I had a script that was reviled as appalling and pornographic on Triggerstreet make the quarterfinals of Scriptapalooza, yet all subsequent scripts, which I deem superior and different subject matter, didn't rate a mention, I just throw my hands up in the air and shrug my shoulders.

"Appalling and pornographic," eh? Maybe I should try that trick to get into the quarter-finals ... ;) Every contest wants something different. And, the rewards are also different. I find it helpful to look at what feedback you get and what the winners and runners up get in a contest. Do I want that? (Forget about the money. It's not all about the money. If it is, wrong business.) If I don't want the feedback or what the winners and runners up get, I don't want that contest.

I am sure it was a good reason why I was not picked, I just have to move on.

I have had some success with script competitions and it can be very exciting. Plus doing well can give you some credibility. But, I view them as encouragement. Entering contests can be a way to gauge how you are doing. How is your writing compared to others? Feedback can be extremely helpful too. I never expect much as far as end results from a competition. As CJ said, they are a lottery of subjectivity. At the moment, I am not so inclined to enter any competition lotteries. I prefer to use my money more strategically and specifically. :)

I have my script in several ongoing competitions now, most of the decisions will be in September so I'll know more then. I did get a short feedback from Slamdance (they give feedback on all entries), which was mixed but encouraging, saying that with a rewrite it could really work. I'm cautiously optimistic now for the second round.

I've entered a lot of screenplays and only placed once. Blue Cat gave me very good feed back on both my entries, but that was it.

I enter most scripts into Bluecat for feedback, which is very, very useful. Made it to half finale once

Donna and Christoph ... I vouch again for Blue Cat. The feedback is excellent, worth the price, regardless of placement. Other contests (I will not mention) portend to provide feedback but don't seem as, um, consistent, shall we say. For me, Blue Cat is the gold standard. The other gold standard for me now is Happy Writers.

I also received great feedback from Blue Cat. I used that feedback in my rewrite and placed in the quarterfinals for Page screenwriting contest. We find out on the 15th who made semifinals. Crossing my fingers!

Yup, Blue Cat.

Yeah, you have to appreciate that Bluecat's feedback means at least you know a minimum of two people read your script and they didn't just take your money and pick a winner out of a hat.

I've never entered Blue Cat, it appears I have erred and need to rectify that next year - there we go again...NEXT YEAR.

Yes go for it, gaining a simple quarter finalists place in scripapoluza and some careful networking lead to me working with a top editor on a script. Gaining a place shows you are not just a wannabe and your script could well be worth a read ahead of the other 1000 scripts they have.

Just found out my screenplay, "Home Brew" made Scriptapalooza Top 100 Semifinalist! Woo, hoo! :)

Brilliant job, Steve, you need to be congratulated, you might even win, good luck.

Thank you so much, Chanel! :)

Mine also made the semi finals in Scriptapalooza! Really stoked.

Congrats! I made semi- finals in The Page International contest. Good-luck in the next round!

No success from me this year, but that's okay. WE can work on that. ;)

Scriptapalooza and Page are very fine competitions, well done ladies, semi finals, no less.

And, just got notice that my screenplay, "Amoe: Embodiment" made it as a 2014 ScreenCraft Comedy Script Contest Quarter-Finalist! This is a good year ... :)

Yes!

Thanks, Diane! Now, I need to think up the question ... ;)

update: I did make it to the quarterfinals at Screencrafts Comedy Contest, so yes, success :)

Congratulations, Marty! :)

That is great Marty! It's so special to have work recognized. Outside of family and friends!

Amen to that, Diane! :)

I was finalist at New York Screenplay Contest last year.

Hi, Stevan! Care to elaborate? Pitching?

We enter the business end of screenplay competitions, the success stories above speak for themselves, well done to everyone - now, if someone could just win one of these competitions, how good would that, be.

Larry that is not cool and not in the spirit of this forum.

I won the Visionfest 2012, 5 x 5 Short screenplay contest. As a winning script it was produced and premiered at the Visionfest Film Festival in Tribeca. Here's the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0254UfXtpnU It was exhilarating to get the news that I won and it was terrifying to be in a packed theatre to watch your work on the big screen in front of so many people. Drinking in everyone else's reactions to your script while trying to form your own opinion is something I wish for everyone at Stage 32. It's what we live for.

Very cool, Randy! That is very encouraging and wonderful! Will take a peek at your film! :) Regarding Chanel's comment about whether one of us might actually win (and your excellent observations) ... I think that with most reputable contests, just reaching some level of recognition is a worthwhile win. From what I have read, there is not necessarily a correlation between winning big and getting produced. Some complain that they can win but never see it on the screen. (But, reading Randy's story does encourage!) The real wins, as near as I can tell, usually include getting some form of recognition, some bragging rights and some feedback. That all helps to put one on the radar screen, improve the work and open doors. The next steps include pitching and so forth. This forum is an excellent way in! Still no guarantees. But, one mentor of mine assured me that the key to success in this business is to just keep at it. I deeply appreciate what Stage 32 is and what Happy Writers are doing for us all. They open doors with and between people that are rising in this business. Invaluable.

Congratulations, Rendy! Best wishes for further work!

Amazing story Randy. Congratulations.

Steve, I completely agree "just reaching some level of recognition is a worthwhile win" - but we seem to have quite a few of those, which is excellent, it would also be interesting to have someone actually win and someone we could converse with and swap notes, like yourself, for instance, lol.

I agree too. One of the reasons I entered The Page contest, is that if you make it to the semi-finals, there is a good chance of being read by producers and managers. So for me that was the only win I was looking for. But I will keep you posted after the 15th.

Congratulations Randy ;) R.