Editor’s note: Besides being Super Bowl season and Awards Season, it is also Screenwriting Contest Season. Hopeful writers, with dreams of selling their screenplays, will enter a plethora of contests at $35-$50 a pop, all hoping to get noticed in the fall. Or win. The entrance fees add up fast. That’s why we turned to former manager turned producer and co-founder of The Finish Line Script Competition, Jenny Frankfurt, to give us the inside scoop on screenplay contests.
It’s screenwriting contest season! While not everyone subscribes to this tool of breaking into the entertainment industry, it has worked for many and can truly get your name out to producers, executives, writers and filmmakers. It’s all about how you maneuver through the many options out there, choose wisely and then, just keep writing.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMPETITION
There are many different kinds of competitions available – some have well known names; some offer script development notes; others give big financial prizes and others introduce their winners to industry mentors. At the basis of all these, hopefully, is the desire to find the best script submitted and try and help the writer advance their career.
- How expensive is the screenplay competition? There are, of course, administrative fees, but unless script notes are being purchased, the basic fee for entering a competition should fall somewhere between $35-$45. There is no need for anyone to charge more unless they’re in it for themselves and not the writers.
- Are you interested in notes? If so, do your homework! Word of mouth and testimonials from past entrants (reviews also available on sites like Film Freeway) can guide you to who gives the kind of notes you might be looking for. Along these lines, competitions that only read the first 20 pages or only provide a page of generalized notes aren’t really giving you notes. Notes are a substantial process of improving your screenplay and should reflect as such. While this includes, payment for the consultant, they shouldn’t be too pricey unless the competition is out solely for themselves.
- What is the screenplay competition’s track record? On each site there should be a list of ‘success stories.’ Whether the stories reflect material that gets the writer signed with a representative or gets optioned or produced – this is a good way to see who is working for the writer and truly helping their career progress.
- What happens if you win? This is one of the more important things to determine when choosing a screenplay competition. Several well known competitions claim to introduce their winners to industry mentors, when in fact they don’t. While it’s hard to determine which of these are at fault, word of mouth and discussions within your writing community reflecting experiences with various competitions is often the best way to know who’s on the up and up. If competitions name their mentors, this is a step in the right direction as they are holding themselves accountable by advertising their involvement.
- Transparency is key. Can you reach the competition when you have a question? If they provide script notes and you need clarity on something, will they give it to you? Do they also help semi-finalists and get scripts that don’t place in the finals out to the industry?
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Once you’ve decided on your competition budget for the season, what’s your responsibility as the writer? Do your best. Read the rules for each competition, write your best script, hone your voice, and if you receive notes don’t feel upset if they’re not as complimentary as you hope.
Solid criticism and notes will explain why your script isn’t working and offer suggestions on how to fix the problems, Part of screenwriting and filmmaking is collaboration and learning to take criticism – the good and the bad.
Proofread your script. It will demonstrate your professionalism and go a long way with readers. Submit as though you’re going to win and then let it go. If you’re looking for a laurel, there are competitions that will hand them out like candy.
If you’re looking to improve your script throughout the process, you’re going to have to work for that laurel. That’s the core of being a winning writer – rewriting. Follow this regimen and you just might find yourself on the path to making your writing dreams come true.
Guest columnist Jenny Frankfurt is the co-founder of The Finish Line Script Competition, now in its 5th season. The competition focuses on offering extensive script notes in order to rewrite and resubmit your script during the competition for no extra cost. She is an ex-literary manager and independent producer.
