Screenwriting Competitions

B

Bluemoon70

Member
Hello all,

Second post on my first day,

A quick couple of questions, as I have stated on my introduction that I entered the BSSC, last year and this year, I often trawl the internet to guage my level by finding out if these competitions are worth it so;

Are screenwriting competitions worth it?

Which are the best ones if they are?

How much stock do other writers, producers, agents etc put into them.

Cheers

Gaz
 
The Chesterfield and Nicholl and the Sundance Institute and the Heart of Now are all extremely high profile competitions.

With that said, any contest will get you noticed if you win. Most any contest worth its salt will have a relationship with producers and agents who have agreed to review the winners/finalists.
 
Nicholls, Disney, Sundance, Austin...

Chesterfield is RIP no, Barry?

I would say that only a few are worth entering. Only a few can really make an impact on your career and change your life (other than just money).

www.donedealpro.com and click on forums and search those boards. This topic is been asked many, many times.

EJ
 
Oh and I also want to add that seeing as there are a glut of contests, only a few are really looked at seriously by industry execs. If you're looking at a contest for more than just money, like representation or being read by a list of prodco execs, then obviously do your homework.

www.moviebytes.com is probably a great site for contests alone (listing them and ranking them).

No doubt tho the number 1 contest is the Nicholls.

EJ
 
Thanks all,

As for the record, I really only consider entering comps for the exposure, if there is a money prize so be it, but getting produced and or picking up an agent is the key I think, that is to start, after that a 2 million deal would do.
 
Yeah I'm extremely interested in competitions though ironically this would not be for want of exposure. At the moment I truely need the money, so the cash prize would be what I would want.

Maybe later on winning a competition like the Nicholls - or even ranking - would be what I need when I'm further along.

Ammar
 
I think screenwriting competitions are kind of worthless unless a) you win Nicholls (which is like, impossible) or b) you're so far away from Hollywood that it's the only way for you to get any exposure.

You have an infinitely better chance of selling your scripts by networking with as many industry people as possible.
 
IMO, you have a better chance of selling a script if you have an agent or manager or both, and you can get either or both just by placing quarter finalist in Nicholls.

EJ
 
Placing in a known contest is something that you can put on a query letter.

Entering a contest to "win money" doesn't seem like the best strategy in the world. It's original though.
 
Even a low-level competition can be worth it if you win or place high. Then in your query letter, you can reference that this particular script won the "Lubbock Texas Script Competition". Sure, there may have only been 3 competitors but the agent or director may not know that. I've known a lot of writers that got some exposure this way.
 
Thanks for all the info people, I have re-entered the British Short Screenplay Competition again this year, as I said I finished as a finalist last year and won a copy of Movie Magic, which by the way I love using, I write so much faster now, I will keep you all posted how it goes, by the way the winner is produced, which is all I want.

Gaz
 
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