Big Break Contest

The Contest 

Big Break is an annual, international feature and television screenwriting contest designed to launch the careers of aspiring writers. Big Break rewards screenwriters with over $80,000 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Los Angeles and A-list executive meetings. Winners and finalists alike have had their screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals.

Since its inception in 1999, Big Break has awarded screenwriters with over $390,000 in cash and prizes and invaluable industry exposure. A panel of notable industry professionals conducts the final judging.

Contest Objectives
Our objective is to discover talented screenwriters and help them find success in today’s filmmaking market.

Contest Notables
Visit our Success Stories, our 2012 Winners and Finalists, and this year's prizes!

Don't miss your big break. Enter your screenplay or teleplay today!

What our latest winners are saying:

"Winning first place in the Final Draft, Inc. Big Break Screenwriting Contest has been a fantastic experience, but equally wonderful has been all of the support that the Final Draft, Inc. team has given to each of the top-3 finalists, from meetings with agents, managers and producers, to career advice. It's nice to have someone in your corner. They really want you to succeed!"

"Becoming a winner of Big Break was a great experience where doors were opened. I was given many introductions to creative and industry professionals which enhanced my understanding of what it means to have a voice and break through as a working writer. I have also been given tremendous support for my script and received so many prizes on a daily basis, it felt like Christmas morning for a month!"

"The Final Draft, Inc. Big Break Contest was one of those experiences that I will remember as long as I write words. They flew me to Hollywood for cripes sakes! It was a snapshot of a screenwriter's dream. It gave me a view of the industry from people inside the industry. It was invaluable. Thank you, Final Draft!"

Cash Prizes

Feature Grand Prize

The Big Break grand-prize feature winner will take home $15,000 in cash plus win a trip to Los Angeles and 3-night hotel stay (unless winner resides in or around Los Angeles). The winner will also be a special guest at the unforgettable Final Draft, Inc. Annual Awards Event where the top screenwriters from film and television gather for the Screenwriters Choice Awards and the Hall of Fame. PLUS these great prizes:

• Apple iPad loaded with Final Draft Mobile software
• Breakfast with screenwriter/producer Pen Densham (Riding the Alligator, Moll Flanders, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, producer of Backdraft)
• Admission to the UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting
• Lunch with Big Break judges and other industry professionals
• Dinner with working screenwriters and producers
• 60-90 Minute Career/Meeting Prep Session from screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup
• Admission to the August 2014 Script Pipeline Secret Door Pitchfest
• Admission to any one of John Truby's Anatomy of Story Master Class in 2014
• Admission to any one of Robert McKee Story Seminar in 2014
• Final Draft, Inc. ScriptXpert™ Extended Coverage
• A Custom Query Letter with Labels to 100 producers in your genre and 100 Literary Agents, and a follow-up Email Query Blast from Smart Girls Productions to market your screenplay
• Query Letter or One-Sheet analysis and a personalized, signed copy of The Screenwriter's Bible by Dave Trottier
• Script consultation with a Script Pipeline’s Director of Development for potential industry circulation
• 1-3-5 Story Structure Made Simple screenwriting book and The Show Starter reality pitching book
• Plus genre finalist prizes

The winner will have a trailer of his or her script produced by the New York Film Academy and posted on Finaldraft.com. Winner will also receive tuition to the 4-Week Filmmaking class, a $3,150 value. (Travel and equipment fees not included. Please see important NYFA prize guidelines here.)

Television Grand Prize

The Big Break grand-prize television winner will take home $2,500 in cash plus win a trip to Los Angeles and 3-night hotel stay (unless winner resides in or around Los Angeles). The winner will also be a special guest at the unforgettable Final Draft, Inc. Annual Awards Event where the top screenwriters from film and television gather for the Screenwriters Choice Awards and the Hall of Fame. PLUS these great prizes:

• Apple iPad loaded with Final Draft Mobile software
• Breakfast with screenwriter/producer Pen Densham (Riding the Alligator, Moll Flanders, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, producer of Backdraft)
• Lunch with Big Break judges and other industry professionals
• Dinner with working screenwriters and producers
• Pilot Consultation from Jen Grisanti Consultancy including two written/verbal notes and meetings to review the notes and your log line
• One-hour career consultation with Carole Kirschner of Park on the Lot to create a step by step, personalized game plan for leveraging the contest win
• 60-90 Minute Career/Meeting Prep Session from screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup
• Admission to the August 2014 Script Pipeline Secret Door Pitchfest
• Admission to any one of Robert McKee Story Seminar in 2014
• Admission to any one of John Truby's Anatomy of Story Master Class in 2014
• Final Draft, Inc. ScriptXpert™ Extended Coverage
• A Custom Query Letter with Labels to 100 producers in your genre and 100 Literary Agents, and a follow-up Email Query Blast from Smart Girls Productions to market your screenplay
• Script consultation with a Script Pipeline’s Director of Development for potential industry circulation
• 1-3-5 Story Structure Made Simple screenwriting book and The Show Starter reality pitching book
• Plus finalist prizes

Feature Genre Awards

In order to recognize more outstanding screenplays across different genres, the Big Break Contest will now present an award to the best script in each of the following genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy/Rom-Com, Drama, Family/Animated, Period/Historical/War, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and Thriller/Horror. Each winner will be awarded:

• $1,000 cash
• Final Draft software
• Final Draft, Inc. ScriptXpert™ Basic Coverage
• A Letter Of Intent from FilmBreak to distribute the film, once completed, to the major Digital and Video-On-Demand outlets
• Three-month membership to Robert McKee's Storylogue
• Industry marketing from InkTip
• Writer brand assessment from Lee Jessup
• Truby’s Blockbuster Genres: How The Top 11 Genres Really Work Audio Course
• One-year Writers Database Membership courtesy of Script P.I.M.P.
• StoryO from Jungle Software
• Masterwriter creative writing software
• Pitch Your Screenplay Like a Pro Ebook and Video by Melody Jackson, Founder of from Smart Girls Productions
• Free Final Draft, Inc. The Insider View webinar of your choice in 2014
• Free Big Break Contest entry for 2014

Television Awards

In order to recognize more outstanding teleplays in different formats, the Big Break Contest will now present an award to the best script in the Half-Hour Spec, Half-Hour Pilot, Hour-Long Spec, and Hour-Long Pilot categories. Each winner will be awarded:

• $1,000 cash
• Final Draft software
• Final Draft, Inc. ScriptXpert™ Basic Coverage
• Pitch Consultation with Jen Grisanti Consultancy for Intensive work on your pitch
• Three-month membership to Robert McKee's Storylogue
• Industry marketing from InkTip
• Writer brand assessment from Lee Jessup
• Truby’s Blockbuster Genres: How The Top 11 Genres Really Work Audio Course
• One-year Writers Database Membership courtesy of Script P.I.M.P.
• StoryO from Jungle Software
• Masterwriter creative writing software
• Pitch Your Screenplay Like a Pro Ebook and Video by Melody Jackson, Founder of from Smart Girls Productions
• Free Final Draft, Inc. The Insider View webinar of your choice in 2014
• One-year Tier 1 subscription to Show Starter Scheduling & Budgeting Plus
• Free Big Break Contest entry for 2014

Success Stories

Since winning the 2011 Big Break, Adam Perlman and Graham Sack have signed with The Gersh Agency for film and television and are developing a film project with Global Produce. Additionally, Adam is a writer for the HBO original television series The Newsroom.

2012 Big Break first place winner Craig Houchin has just signed with agent Joel Millner of Larchmont Literary, and is working with Katonah Pictures producer Chris Salvaterra to package the film of his winning screenplay, Ludlow.

Walt Disney Pictures acquired Labryinth, a pitch by 2010 third-place Big Break winner Larry Brenner.

2010 third-place winner Larry Brenner's script Bethlehem sold to Universal — Click here to read the complete article. Big Break judge Mitch Solomon of Magnet Management has also helped Larry secure writing work for hire in both television and features.

2013 Big Break Contest Finalists Marco van Belle & Kat Wood sign with Zero Gravity Management — Click here to read the complete interview.

2009 top-20 semi-finalist Gia Milani's script All the Wrong Reasons was funded and shot in 2012. It stars Cory Monteith from Glee, Karine Vanasse from Pan Am and Kevin Zegers from TransAmerica and The Mortal Instruments. Milani directed the feature.

2011 Big Break 4th-Place Winner Signed by Silent R Management and CAA. — Click here to read the complete interview.

Rob Frisbee, 2007 Big Break winner, is now making news in the trades with his third writing assignment in the last year and a half. — Click here to read the complete article.

2011 Big Break Top-40 Finalist Christopher DeBaisse scores representation — read more read less
Screenwriter Christopher DeBiasse, who penned the script We Need Some Space and placed as a top-40 finalist in the Final Draft, Inc. 2011 Big Break competition, was signed by producer and manager Jeff Belkin of Foremost Films this week. DeBaisse's script is a comedy "about a guy who -- after getting dumped by his girlfriend -- goes on a bender and ends up sleeping through an alien invasion. When he wakes up, he is so single-minded about winning his girlfriend back, that he befriends aliens to find her," says Belkin, who discovered DeBaisse through the Big Break Contest. "Christopher is a great writer. You see his talent immediately on the page. And, perhaps even more impressively, his scripts made me laugh out loud. Repeatedly. That's not easy to do and happens rarely," Belkin adds. Big Break is an important contest for Hollywood, he confirms. "For scribes of any level, contests like Big Break prove to be a vital and necessary tool for exposure." DeBaisee, a Los Angeles-based story analyst for Universal Studios, is happy to have that exposure as well as official representation.

2007 Big Break second-place winner Nick Horwood has his script produced — read more read less
In 2007, Nick Horwood placed second in the Final Draft, Inc. Big Break Contest with his medieval buddy-comedy Knight Knight. As part of the contest prize he was flown to L.A., where along with meeting Oliver Stone and several of the contests’ distinguished judges, Horwood also met previous Big Break finalist Brendan Foley. Early in 2011, Foley invited Horwood to attend a workshop for writers and producers in Denmark with him, comedy writer and actress Shelley Goldstein, producer Lars Herman, and Hollywood veteran producer Ned Dowd. Among the 28 European writers and producers was filmmaker Christina Bucher, who persuaded Horwood to let her direct Knight Knight and to co-produce the film with her. Less than two months later, shooting was completed on the low-budget medieval epic, shot entirely on location in a genuine medieval castle. Nick Horwood said, "Big Break was the first contest I entered and it’s fitting that Knight Knight is the first feature film I have seen go from script to screen … earning me a writer, producer and actor credit along the way!"

(Photo credit: Hermit Film Productions)

For more information: http://www.facebook.com/Knightknightthemovie

2010 Big Break Winner Tejal Desai gains management and an option for his script before he left L.A. — read more read less
2010 Big Break winner Tejal Desai had a manager and an option for his script Cowboys and Hindus before his three-day trip to Los Angeles was over. Big Break judge Jewerl Ross of Silent R Management immediately responded to the script and snapped up Tejal as a client shortly after they first met in person. Synthetic Pictures has also inked a deal for Tejal to write and direct his script. Tejal says: "[What] a memorable experience at Final Draft, Inc. in Los Angeles! The hotel, the meetings, the limo ride, red carpet, awards dinner, and the party, it was all amazing and truly unforgettable. What a great night!! [Big Break is] definitely one of the premier writing contests and I will recommend it to everyone I know." Mr. Ross had this to say about Tejal's screenplay Cowboys and Hindus, "This script epitomizes superior storytelling: characters whose humor and tragedy tug at the heart, and whose fears, desires and deepest emotions become your own, making it not an exercise in entertainment, but a complete validation of the power of great art. I'm excited to get to work for him." For more information about Jewerl Ross, please go visit http://www.silentrlit.com.

2010 Big Break second-place winner Mick Connolly gains a manager and an agent — read more read less
2010 Big Break second-place winner Mick Connolly of Melbourne, Australia took home honors for his clever, fast-paced heist comedy Crims. On returning home, he was contacted by Endeavor co-founder turned manager/producer David Greenblatt (the upcoming Battle Los Angeles). Connolly and his two fellow Big Break winners met and pitched to Greenblatt as part of their prize and Greenblatt loved the script. Greenblatt is now repping Connolly. Just days later, William Morris Endeavor Agent Danny Greenberg signed Connolly as well, and the team is busy introducing Crims to the industry. Connolly says: "The Big Break Contest lived up to its name for me. I secured a great manager within a week, met with executives and agents, and now have a number of producers asking to read my script. Final Draft, Inc. opens doors!"

2009 Big Break winner Wyatt Wakeman signed by Big Break judge Brian Spink of Realm Literary — read more read less
2009 Big Break winner Wyatt Wakeman was the first entrant to make the semi-finals with two different scripts. Judge Brian Spink recognized his talent quickly and signed Wyatt for representation shortly after his win with Borderland was announced. Wyatt says: "It's easy to forget that there are people out there who try and honestly support the writer, who get genuinely excited for him, and who want to see him succeed. Final Draft, Inc. has given me back my faith in the process. You know those few elusive, mythical steps that exist between being a struggling writer and having representation that believes in you, with the moxy to make things happen? Enter and win the Final Draft, Inc. Big Break Contest and those moments happen right before your eyes."

2006 Big Break winner Robert Frisbee gains management from Benderspink — read more read less
2007 Big Break winner Robert Frisbee’s Cityfall made quite an impression on industry judges as well as industry execs who wanted to meet with Rob.  Rob says, "A writer anywhere in the world can submit his or her script and know that it will be seen by people will not only read it, but who care greatly about cultivating undiscovered talent. In the weeks since winning the contest, doors are indeed opening."

Rob was snapped up by Benderspink management and several agents are interested in signing him.

2005 Big Break winner Julia Van Develder's The Escape Artist optioned by U.K. production company — read more read less
2005 Big Break winner Julia Van Develder’s The Escape Artist is in pre-production. The Escape Artist was optioned by a U.K. production company for award-winning director/writer/producer Helen Grace to direct. Julia says, "There's just no way to overstate how much easier Final Draft makes the writing process. 'Just add words' is so apt. And the contest? I call Liz Alani (the contest director) my fairy godmother. Thank you, Final Draft!"

2004 Big Break winner Ryland Grant signed by CAA — read more read less
2004 Big Break winner, Rylend Grant, quickly signed with CAA. Rylend says, "They've created quite a fan base for me. We have a lot of people, mostly directors, flirting with my winning screenplay DRIVE right now, and I'm meeting with a slew of major production companies. More than anything though, DRIVE has become a calling card. It's created other opportunities. The Big Break Contest gave me a seal of approval, a big shiny medal hanging off of that calling card and because of that I just signed a six-figure deal to write for an A-list actress and an Oscar®-winning director. I am now writing a remake of a Chabrol film called L'ENFER for Luc Besson and Penelope Cruz. I'm having the time of my life. It's hard to believe I'm getting paid to do this." We are thrilled for Rylend!

2002 Big Break winner Shawn Corridan signed by MBST Management, winning script 8 Track picked up by Fox 2000 — read more read less
2002 Big Break winner Shawn Corridan says, "Final Draft, Inc.'s software and Big Break Screenwriting Contest opened doors that countless query letters, screenwriting how-to books, and a thousand thankless hours of writing could not. As a result of using Final Draft, Inc. software and ultimately winning the contest, I was offered, literally overnight, representation by numerous agents and entertainment managers and was taking meetings with directors and TV and film producers." Shawn quickly signed with MBST Management. As seen October 2003 in The Hollywood Reporter, Fox 2000 has picked up Shawn Corridan's winning screenplay "8 Track" with directing team the Malloy brothers onboard to helm and Gil Netter to produce. The project is being envisioned as a gritty coming-of-age surf story, which draws on Corridan's life and surfing experiences. "8 Track" represents Shawn's first feature sale.

2001 Big Break Finalist Brendan Foley has first feature film produced — read more read less
Brendan Foley premiered THE RIDDLE, his produced 2001 Big Break finalist script, at the Austin Film Festival in October 2007. THE RIDDLE is a $5 million indie and was Brendan’s first feature as a director. It stars Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), Vanessa Redgrave, and Julie Cox. In September 2007 it made headlines in the trades by becoming the first film ever to premiere in conjunction with a national newspaper, The Mail on Sunday, the UK's top selling Sunday paper. The paper bought UK DVD rights and distributed 2.6 million copies, making the film one of the most-watched indie launches of all time.

2001 Big Break Finalist TJ Lynch's film A Plumm Summer produced, starring Henry Winkler, William Baldwin, and Peter Scolari. — read more read less
2001 Big Break Finalist TJ Lynch recently wrapped production on his Big Break top-10 screenplay. Retitled A Plumm Summer, the film’s cast includes Henry Winkler, William Baldwin, and Peter Scolari.  TJ says, "I'm a big believer in screenwriting contests.  For the unknown writer, winning or placing in the major competitions such as Final Draft, Inc.'s Big Break Contest is the fastest way to put oneself on the map.  Perhaps even more importantly, they are an efficient and impartial gauge with which to measure one's own writing with one's peers. Placing 7th out of 2,600+ entries gave me the booster shot of confidence I needed.  Now that the script has been shot and is in the can, I'm on top of the world!"

2000 Big Break winner Ken Hastings' "Dawg" now known as Bad Boy has been produced and shot by Gold Circle Films.

Judges

The industry judges of the 2013 Big Break Contest will be announced in June. Below is a list of our 2012 judges who determined the top-three scripts and the winner of the 2012 Big Break Contest. Final Draft, Inc. thanks them for their time and passion for supporting scriptwriters.

Adam Novak - William Morris Endeavor
A graduate of USC’s Filmic Writing Program, Adam Novak played a ruthless drug dealer in the 1990 senior thesis video of Boyz N the Hood by classmate John Singleton, which prepared him for the motion picture industry.

Head of the Story Department of William Morris Endeavor for almost 20 years, —read more a champion of the written word, Novak was named by FADE IN: magazine as one of the "Top 100 People You Need to Know."

His 2008 novel, The Non-Pro, was called "one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets" by Lem Dobbs (The Limey) and "frightening and funny" by Michael Tolkin (The Player).

Novak is married to producer Lauren Mann and lives in the Hollywood Hills with their cat Samantha. —read less

Brian Spink - Realm Literary
Brian Spink is a literary manager/producer at boutique management company Realm which he founded in January 2011. Prior to that, he spent over a decade at Benderspink. He represents screenwriters and directors in film and television as well as comic book writers. Feature projects that Brian is executive producing include Abducted at Paramount, Last Voyage of The Demeter —read more at Millennium, Shadows of Paris at Telefilm, and Untitled Thriller with Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity). His clients have worked at every studio and with A-list filmmakers including Sam Raimi, Roland Emmerich, Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Ridley Scott,
Phillip Noyce, John Woo, Robert Schwentke, David Goyer, Kathleen Kennedy, Mark Gordon, Gale Anne Hurd, Chuck Roven, and Will Smith. —read less

Brooklyn Weaver - Energy Entertainment
Brooklyn Weaver owns Energy Entertainment, a literary management and production company based in Beverly Hills and is a producer on several film projects. As a literary manager, Weaver is known throughout Hollywood for having high-caliber taste in clients and projects and as a top dealmaker. As a producer, in 2012 Weaver executive produced revenge/drama Out of the Furnace —read more starring Christian Bale, directed by Oscar®-nominated Scott Cooper with Leonardo DiCaprio, Ridley Scott and Ryan Kavanaugh producing, Relativity Media financed and is distributing. Weaver is also producing action/thriller Run All Night with Roy Lee at Warner Bros., thriller/supernatural Thirteen at Universal, thriller/supernatural Pan at Relativity Media, and Black List action/thriller Blood Mountain, among several other film projects. In 2007, Weaver exec-produced The Number 23 at New Line Cinema. Prior to launching Energy in 2001, Weaver worked at the Endeavor Talent Agency (now WME Entertainment) in the feature literary department and as a production assistant to Chris Moore (Good Will Hunting). Weaver was born in Greenwich, CT and attended UCLA, majoring in English Literature. —read less

Irene Yeung - VP at Vertigo Entertainment
Irene Yeung is a VP working with Roy Lee at Vertigo Entertainment (The Grudge, The Departed, The Strangers). She graduated from USC's School of Cinema-Television and began her career as an intern at Vertigo, where she worked her way through the ranks to her current position. She was an associate producer on the Screen Gems thriller The Roommate and a co-producer on the upcoming supernatural thriller 7500 at CBS Films. Vertigo is currently in production on the WB thriller Hidden and working on an adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand and It, a remake of OldBoy, and Godzilla.

Julian Rosenberg and Jennifer Au - Literary Managers at Caliber Media
Julian was born and raised in the community of Kitsilano in Vancouver, Canada. His career began at age 18 as an actor, before segueing into producing. By age 21, —read more his films had won multiple awards and screened at dozens of festivals internationally. This early success led him to move to Los Angeles in 2005, and shortly thereafter he joined the United Talent Agency’s prestigious Agent Trainee Program. In 2008, he left the agency to become a talent manager, before joining Caliber Media where he has been a Manager since 2011. He represents an exciting list of talented writers and directors, and producers for film and television.

Jennifer is a literary manager at Caliber Media representing writers and directors for film and television, and across all genres. Prior to starting at Caliber, she spent four years at Untitled Entertainment, first as an assistant and then as a junior literary manager. Jennifer began her career working at an independent production company followed by time at a top agency. She is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. —read less

Jewerl Ross - Silent R Management
Jewerl Ross grew up in Los Angeles and left Southern California to study political philosophy at Yale. After graduating in 1997, he returned to L.A. to work in entry-level positions at ICM and Paradigm before joining APA as an agent in early 1999. Three years later, after making a name for himself selling spec scripts, Marathon Entertainment hired Ross as a manager. In January 2006, —read more Ross left to form his own company, Silent R Management.

With over 13 years in the business, Ross can boast a hot slate of writer and director clients. In 2011, Ross sold one of the biggest specs of that year: Father Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses by longtime client Matthew Aldrich. Matt Damon is attached to star and Warner Bros. purchased it in a bidding war that concluded with sale price of $500,000 against $800,000. That script was #5 on “The Black List” of the best screenplays of 2011. Matt Aldrich is currently writing Untitled Pixar Movie about Dia de los Muertos for Pixar and director Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3); this film is slated for a 2015 release. Matt Aldrich also wrote the Liam Neeson starrer Fair Trade which starts production in January for Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment. Ross represents Brad Buecker, a co-executive producer and director on both Fox’s hit series Glee and American Horror Story on FX. In film, Buecker is also set to direct Time After Time, a $35 million musical for Summit Entertainment. Other clients include comedy writer David H. Steinberg who is best known for American Pie 2, Slackers, and DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots. English thriller writers Dominic Morgan and Matthew Harvey landed director John Moore (Die Hard 5) to direct their spec The Bridge which Sierra / Affinity will finance. For more information on Ross and his company, please click here: http://www.silentrlit.com —read less

Mitch Solomon - Magnet Management
Mitch Solomon is a literary manager and producer who runs the production arm of Magnet Management. Among his clients is Larry Brenner, who was introduced to Solomon through the 2010 Final Draft, Inc. Big Break competition. Brenner subsequently sold his spec script Bethlehem to Universal with Joe Roth and Palak Patel producing and adapted Angelology on assignment at —read more Sony for producers Overbrook and director Marc Forster’s Apparatus Productions. As a producer, Magnet’s projects in development include the family film The Creepy Kid at Paramount and Montecito Pictures, thriller Hourglass at Fox alongside Davis Entertainment, and Saint Anne a one-hour at HBO to be produced with Blumhouse and eOne Entertainment. Solomon's previous jobs include being the production head of The Bubble Factory and president of the feature film division at Film Roman. Prior to joining Film Roman, Solomon was the senior vice president of production of FilmColony at Miramax. —read less

Palak Patel - Roth Films
Palak Patel runs the film division for Joe Roth's company, Roth Films. Roth Films recently produced Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burton. They also produced Knight & Day starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Patel was an Executive Producer on Snow White And The Huntsman. He is currently in post production on Oz: The Great and Powerful starring —read more James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams, directed by Sam Raimi, scheduled to be released in March 2013. He is in production on Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie for Disney scheduled to be released in March 2014. Patel oversees and supervises all film projects in development and production at Roth Films. He is in pre-production on Breacher starring Arnold Schwarznegger and Sam Worthington, directed by David Ayer which is scheduled to begin production in Atlanta.

Patel was President of Production at Paula Weinstein's Spring Creek Productions which had a first look deal with Warner Bros. Patel worked closely with Weinstein overseeing Monster-In-Law, Rumor Has It, Looney Tunes, Envy, Blood Diamond, and Recount directed by Jay Roach.

Prior to joining Spring Creek, Patel was West Coast Story Editor at Focus Features working closely with Russell Schwartz, Scott Greenstein, Donna Gigliotti, and others. While at Focus, Patel worked closely with senior executives on Traffic, Gosford Park, Nurse Betty, Deliver Us From Eva, Possession, The Kid Stays in The Picture, The Man Who Wasn't There, and assisted the acquisitions department on In The Mood For Love, Monsoon Wedding, and Wet Hot American Summer.

Patel started out in the business as an intern/assistant on The Sixth Sense in his hometown of Philadelphia. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked as a development assistant at Paul Schiff Productions which had a producing deal with Walt Disney Co. at the time. —read less

Trevor Engelson - Underground Films
Trevor Engelson is a manager and producer at Underground, a company that manages the careers of a number of film and television writers, directors, comedians, and actors. The company’s clients include John Singleton, Jon Lajoie, Jim Field Smith, Joel David Moore, Dito Montiel and Irvine Welsh. Trevor was named in The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation 35 Under 35 for his work as a manager. —read more

On the production side, Underground works on developing film and television projects and pushing them into production. Underground produced Remember Me for Summit Entertainment, starring Robert Pattinson and Pierce Brosnan, License to Wed with Robin Williams and All About Steve with Sandra Bullock. Most recently, Underground set up Carmen Sandiego at Walden with Jennifer Lopez, Ground Control to Major Tom at Disney with Seth Gordon and Rise at Warner Bros. On the television side, Underground has set up various projects including Bad Advice From My Brother at Comedy Central and Old Friends at CBS. —read less

Judges from previous contests:

2011 Judges
2010 Judges
2009 Judges
2008 Judges
2007 Judges
2006 Judges
Previous Contest Judges

Past Winners

Winners Announced!

The winners of the 2012 Final Draft, Inc. Big Break Contest have been announced. These scripts were read and ranked by our panel of industry judges. The three finalists attended the Final Draft, Inc. Annual Award Event on February 7th, 2013 at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills where their places were announced. In addition to the red-carpet awards ceremony, they enjoyed cash prizes and meetings with industry leaders.

First Place: Ludlow (Drama) by Craig Houchin	Second Place: Life Copy (Sci-fi) by April Rouveyrol	Third Place: The Whaler's Daughter (Drama) by Matthew Snyman

To contact our winners and finalists regarding their scripts, please e-mail your request to bigbreak@finaldraft.com

Top-5 Finalists

— read more read less

• Life Copy (Sci-fi) by A Rouveyrol
• Ludlow (Drama) by Craig Houchin
• The Ultimate Almanac (Family) by David Ullendorff
• The Whaler's Daughter (Drama) by Matthew Snyman
• Time Nerds (Comedy) by Andrew McCarthy

Top-10 Finalists

— read more read less

• Danger, Inc. (Adventure) by Gary Hershberger and Mike Calvert
• Le Mécano (Drama) by Lukas Hassel
• Life Copy (Sci-fi) by A Rouveyrol
• Ludlow (Drama) by Craig Houchin
• One Night Stan (Comedy) by Tony Boland
• Run (Action) by Dennis Luu
• The Man From Longwood (Period) by Russell Thompson
• The Ultimate Almanac (Family) by David Ullendorff
• The Whaler's Daughter (Drama) by Matthew Snyman
• Time Nerds (Comedy) by Andrew McCarthy

Top-35 Finalists

— read more read less

• 1900 Rock Shock (Animated Feature) by Frederick Calvert
• Albion (Period) by Robert Blaise Hesselgren
• Danger, Inc. (Adventure) by Gary Hershberger and Mike Calvert
• Heart of a Racer (Coming of Age) by Carrie Fitch
• Lamentations (Horror) by Ben Lanoha
• Le Mécano (Drama) by Lukas Hassel
• Life Copy (Sci-fi) by A Rouveyrol
• Lost Sheep (Thriller) by Mark Dempsey
• Ludlow (Drama) by Craig Houchin
• Man With Van (Crime) by Ed Blythe and James Windeler
• Mirror-Me (Horror) by Keith Dando and Leone Annabella Betts
• My Boyfriend's the Antichrist (Romantic Comedy) by Adam Taylor
• Ole (Comedy) by Jon Price and Jerry Rapp
• One Good Day (Coming of Age) by Scott Taylor
• One Night Stan (Comedy) by Tony Boland
• Pipsqueak (Comedy) by Jay Lien
• Property of Madison (Drama) by Lisa Redlich
• Pudgeon (Animated Feature) by Joe Friend and Aaron Mahoney
• Run (Action) by Dennis Luu
• Run The Tide (Drama) by Rajiv Shah
• Senioritis (Drama) by Brian DePasquale
• Siluria (Sci-fi) by Sam Celia
• Straight Razor Jazz (Thriller) by David Scott Hay
• Street Corners (Drama) by Marie Robinson
• The Bridge (Thriller) by Teddy Adams
• The Burning Room (Horror) by Marco van Belle and Kat Wood
• The Land Of Things That Don't Exist (Comedy) by Andrew Friedhof
• The Man From Longwood (Period) by Russell Thompson
• The Sneaker Man (Drama) by Anthony Stitt
• The Theory of Almost Everything (Romantic Comedy) by Lorraine Devon Wilke
• The Ultimate Almanac (Family) by David Ullendorff
• The Whaler's Daughter (Drama) by Matthew Snyman
• Time Nerds (Comedy) by Andrew McCarthy
• Tooth Fairies (Animated Feature) by Ryan Fuller
• What Rough Beast (Western) by Kranti Pally
• Your Number's Up (Comedy) by Christopher Bacon

Semifinalists

— read more read less

• 1066 (Period) by Stephen Graham
• 1900 Rock Shock (Animated Feature) by Frederick Calvert
• According to Plan (Thriller) by Daryl Coon
• Albion (Period) by Robert Blaise Hesselgren
• Amazing Secrets (Comedy) by Michael Higgins
• Back to School Night (Action) by Johnny Silver
• Baretta Sloan (Adventure) by Rick Frey
• Beckwourth (Western) by James Watts
• Blink of an Eye (Crime) by Kal Weber
• Blood Relative (Thriller) by Corey Bodoh-Creed
• Blue (Coming of Age) by Lindsey Rosin
• Blur Together (Romantic Comedy) by Kurt Fried
• Bob (Comedy) by Bryan Lake
• Consider Icarus (Drama) by Lori Romero
• Danger, Inc. (Adventure) by Gary Hershberger and Mike Calvert
• Eye of the Storm (Adventure) by James Hereth and Rhonda Smiley
• Faust (Period) by Alexander Danelski
• Harp (Drama) by David Scott Hay and Mark Glinski
• Heart of a Racer (Coming of Age) by Carrie Fitch
• Held (War) by Suzanne Kelman, Rose Woods and Suzanne Kelman
• Hell, Incorporated (Adventure) by Chris Copeland
• How Low Has the Sun Sunk? (Drama) by Ben McCracken
• Joe Banks (Comedy) by Patty Jones
• Judgment Tree (Period) by Gary Parker
• Lamentations (Horror) by Ben Lanoha
• Le Mécano (Drama) by Lukas Hassel
• Life Copy (Sci-fi) by A Rouveyrol
• Little Bandits (Adventure) by Michael DiMartino
• Lord Marshal (Alternative) by John Crews
• Loren Sprung Off (Comedy) by Jenn Barta
• Lost Sheep (Thriller) by Mark Dempsey
• Ludlow (Drama) by Craig Houchin
• Magnus the Magnificent (Coming of Age) by Kimberly Manky
• Man With Van (Crime) by Ed Blythe and James Windeler
• Mercy Kill (Thriller) by David Birkenhead
• MiddleMan (Period) by Ioannis Kementsetsidis
• Mirror-Me (Horror) by Keith Dando and Leone Annabella Betts
• My Boyfriend's the Antichrist (Romantic Comedy) by Adam Taylor
• Ole (Comedy) by Jon Price and Jerry Rapp
• One Good Day (Coming of Age) by Scott Taylor
• One Night Stan (Comedy) by Tony Boland
• Peter the Beast (Adventure) by Michael Ouellette
• Pipsqueak (Comedy) by Jay Lien
• Powderpuff (Comedy) by Chelsea Hackett
• Property of Madison (Drama) by Lisa Redlich
• Pudgeon (Animated Feature) by Joe Friend and Aaron Mahoney
• Rennfest (Comedy) by Brett Shogren and Per Peterson
• Replay (Thriller) by Kevin McAllister
• Run (Action) by Dennis Luu
• Run The Tide (Drama) by Rajiv Shah
• Saving Lexie Lee Kennedy (Horror) by Michael Morra
• Schrodinger's Cat (Thriller) by Tommy Butler
• Sea Fever (Sci-fi) by Neasa Hardiman
• Senioritis (Drama) by Brian DePasquale
• Siluria (Sci-fi) by Sam Celia
• Skerrie (Thriller) by Rupert Such
• Sound of Impact (Horror) by Erik Ratliff
• Straight Razor Jazz (Thriller) by David Scott Hay
• Street Corners (Drama) by Marie Robinson
• Terminal Call (Thriller) by A.J. Meyers and Richard Winslow
• The 500 Year Guarantee (Comedy) by Craig Carlisle
• The Agent (Drama) by Alec McAulay
• The Amazing Eric (Comedy) by Dennis Cary
• The Bleeding Light (Crime) by Jason Haglof
• The Bridge (Thriller) by Teddy Adams
• The Burning Room (Horror) by Marco van Belle and Kat Wood
• The Butcher's Apron (Drama) by Grant Bryant
• The Land Of Things That Don't Exist (Comedy) by Andrew Friedhof
• The Last Night of Charlie (Drama) by David Seals
• The Looking Glass (Thriller) by Dennis Luu
• The Man From Longwood (Period) by Russell Thompson
• The Mockingbird's Coda (War) by Brooke Eikmeier and Eric Eikmeier
• The People V. God (Mystery) by Paul Undari
• The Plantation (Drama) by Keith Groff and Jonathan White
• The Sneaker Man (Drama) by Anthony Stitt
• The Taloquan Network (Drama) by Robert Hestand
• The Theory of Almost Everything (Romantic Comedy) by Lorraine Devon Wilke
• The Ultimate Almanac (Family) by David Ullendorff
• The Useless Puddle (Drama) by Yossy Zagha, David Desola and Jack Zagha
• The Wedding Bandit (Comedy) by Andrew McCarthy
• The Whaler's Daughter (Drama) by Matthew Snyman
• Thicker Than Water (Coming of Age) by Ted Peterson and J Stewart
• Tickets (Comedy) by Josh Miller
• Time Nerds (Comedy) by Andrew McCarthy
• Tooth Fairies (Animated Feature) by Ryan Fuller
• Trunk (Drama) by Alex Convery
• What Rough Beast (Western) by Kranti Pally
• Your Number's Up (Comedy) by Christopher Bacon

Quarter-finalists

— read more read less

• 1066 (Period) by Stephen Graham
• 1900 Rock Shock (Animated Feature) by Frederick Calvert
• 20 Minutes South (Drama) by Bisanne Masoud and Talia Gonzalez
• A Beautiful Man (Drama) by Lorri Rupard
• A Whale Out of Water (Drama) by Yael Zeevi
• Aaron and the Hat (Comedy) by Jonathan Wood
• Absolute Rubbish (Family) by Helen Roberts
• Acceleration (Crime) by Richard Lewis
• Accidental It Girl (Romantic Comedy) by Emily Morris
• According to Plan (Romantic Comedy) by Stephen Batt
• According to Plan (Thriller) by Daryl Coon
• Adam & Evangeline (Romantic Comedy) by Mike Ladue
• Adam and Eva (Drama) by Mike Ewing
• Adverse Reaction (Thriller) by Dean Alioto
• Albion (Period) by Robert Blaise Hesselgren
• All That Glitters (Period) by Gina Atwater
• All You Can Eat (Comedy) by Patrick Trillo
• Alma Mater (Comedy) by Joseph Tomassini
• Amazing Secrets (Comedy) by Michael Higgins
• Any Day Now (Drama) by Tim Sigur
• Anyone But England (Comedy) by Nicholas Boocock
• Apple Boys (Satire) by Adam Koster
• Ark (Sci-fi) by Darryl Anka
• Armadillo (Drama) by William Phipps
• Back in Black (Comedy) by Jon Stahl
• Back to School Night (Action) by Johnny Silver
• Bad Medicine (Horror) by Ben Lanoha
• Barabbas (Religious) by Hilary Mackelden
• Baretta Sloan (Adventure) by Rick Frey
• Battle of the Exes (Comedy) by Joe Russo and Chris LaMont
• Beckwourth (Western) by James Watts
• Becoming Superman (Drama) by Paul Marshall
• Benjamin (Thriller) by Michael Cassady
• Beyond Black (Drama) by Kevin Wright and Ramsin Givergis
• Big Bones (Comedy) by Soulla Tantouri Eriksen
• Black Leather Jackets (Sci-fi) by Jerry Decker
• Black Mariposa (Adventure) by James Watts
• Black Tom and the Forgotten Theater (War) by Brian Timmerman
• Bleeding Kansas (Period) by Clint McCord
• Blink of an Eye (Crime) by Kal Weber
• Blood Eternal (Sci-fi) by Jim Goodman
• Blood Lines (Drama) by Christopher Cox
• Blood Relative (Thriller) by Corey Bodoh-Creed
• Blue (Coming of Age) by Lindsey Rosin
• Blur Together (Romantic Comedy) by Kurt Fried
• Bob (Comedy) by Bryan Lake
• Bogland (Thriller) by Jamie Crichton
• Botany Brown (Crime) by Tom Shea
• Breaking Up is Hard To Do (Romantic Comedy) by Scott Ritchie
• Bringing Back Chester (Drama) by Johnathon Major
• Brotherhood of the Black Sun (Thriller) by Christopher Sharp
• Burned (Thriller) by David Junior
• Celebrity Freebies (Romantic Comedy) by Allen Palmer
• Central Park (Thriller) by James Lavino and Sam Neave
• Collapse (Thriller) by Damian O'Donnell
• Compass Murphy (Adventure) by Stephen Potts
• Confessions of a Thuggee (Mystery) by Asim Khan
• Consider Icarus (Drama) by Lori Romero
• Contrite (Comedy) by Kevin Heyer
• Cowboy Up (Romantic Comedy) by Mark E. McCann
• Crossroads (Thriller) by Dennis O'Neil
• Cumberland (Drama) by Scott Larson
• Danger, Inc. (Adventure) by Gary Hershberger and Mike Calvert
• Dark Spirit (Period) by Kevin Jones
• Day of Ragnarokk (Adventure) by Steve Thorne
• DeadSpace (Crime) by James O'Fallon
• Death Armor (War) by Jerrold Guadagni
• Devil May Care (Thriller) by Carolyn Miller
• Dime Store Saint (Adventure) by Nate Lane
• Don't Need No Badges (Satire) by Dan Stone
• Driving Home for X-Mas (Romantic Comedy) by Julianne Watling
• DUIvers (Comedy) by Nico Monetti
• Dying on Tuesday (Comedy) by Bill Keenan
• Edge of the Continent (Drama) by Mark Jacobson and Jim Vaccaro
• Eight Months (Drama) by Quincy Rose
• Emperor (Period) by David Williams and Mark Williams
• Epic (Adventure) by Zack Kaplan
• Eternal Spring Fist (Coming of Age) by Erik Bernard
• Eye of the Storm (Adventure) by James Hereth and Rhonda Smiley
• F*ckball (Comedy) by Thesy Surface
• Fakebook (Comedy) by Zeke Farrow
• Faust (Period) by Alexander Danelski
• Fight the Midwife (Romantic Comedy) by Alex Lyras
• Finding Geraldine (Romantic Comedy) by Carrie Isgett
• Fitz (Drama) by Karl R. Hearne
• Fixing Jack (Romantic Comedy) by Jennifer Ussi and Adam Couper
• For Blood or Justice (Horror) by Todd Kniss
• Fore (Animated Feature) by Tatum Schuetz
• Fury (Action) by Dane McCauley
• Future Pioneers of America (Coming of Age) by Ron Harner
• Gale (Drama) by Carolyn Briggs and Jamie Jensen
• Gameplay (Sci-fi) by Haley Isleib
• Generation F#@*D! (Comedy) by Steven Thadeus
• Giant Killer Slugs! (Comedy) by Colby Day
• Gigolos (Drama) by David (Nicholas) Hartmann
• Glass Sandwiches (Comedy) by Billy Grubbs and Adam Smith
• Good Cop (Comedy) by Joey Goebel
• Goombas (Action) by Sean Andrews
• Guardian (Crime) by Mike Scannell
• Hallow's Point (Horror) by Brian Smith
• Halloween Baby (Thriller) by Sandra Bowes
• Hammerheads (Comedy) by Laurence Newnam
• Harp (Drama) by David Scott Hay and Mark Glinski
• Heart of a Racer (Coming of Age) by Carrie Fitch
• Held (War) by Suzanne Kelman, Rose Woods and Suzanne Kelman
• Hell & High Water (Sci-fi) by Adam Sugerman
• Hell, Incorporated (Adventure) by Chris Copeland
• High Desert (Western) by Clay Steakley
• Highclimber (Western) by Rocky Hessler
• Hit Sign, Win Suit (Comedy) by Jack Zafran
• Honeyrock (Romantic Comedy) by Dale Lindemann
• Hooked (Romantic Comedy) by Troy Hampton
• Hope Fist (Adventure) by David Birkenhead
• How Low Has the Sun Sunk? (Drama) by Ben McCracken
• Human Subjects (Comedy) by Ariel Ehrlich
• I Do (Drama) by Kimberley Gillis
• I Found Myself on eBay (Comedy) by Louisa Makaron
• If the Dead Could Talk (Mystery) by Angel Campoamor
• In Extremis (Thriller) by Andrew Scott Wilkinson
• Incubator (Comedy) by Bee Williamson
• Intersection (Drama) by Jeremy Paterson
• Into the Woods (Horror) by Mariama Myers
• It's Still Me (Comedy) by Andrea Abrahams
• Jack and Annie's Co-List (Romantic Comedy) by Andrew Ferguson
• Jelani (Animated Feature) by Jacob Okot and Sam Odongo
• Jobber (Comedy) by Drew Mackintosh
• Joe Banks (Comedy) by Patty Jones
• Judgment Tree (Period) by Gary Parker
• Jump (Drama) by Alicia Walsh
• Jungle Run (Adventure) by Steven Shank
• Justice and Mercy (Alternative) by W. Wayne Arrants
• Kaine (Thriller) by Dylan Vaughn
• Kill Spree (Crime) by Kathryn Ward
• Kingdom Clash (Romantic Comedy) by Gina Atwater
• La American Femme (Romantic Comedy) by Charles Haine
• La Mujer (Thriller) by Steve Lucas
• Lamb (Coming of Age) by Yared Zeleke
• Lamentations (Horror) by Ben Lanoha
• Le Mécano (Drama) by Lukas Hassel
• Le Petomane (Comedy) by Randy Mack
• Let's Kill Peter (Comedy) by Rachel Shepherd
• Liar Loan (Drama) by Jason Reid
• Libretto (Action) by Steven Shelley
• Lie Detector (Comedy) by John Moran
• Life Copy (Sci-fi) by A Rouveyrol
• Life in a Box (Thriller) by Nick Luddington
• Little Bandits (Adventure) by Michael DiMartino
• Looking for Norma Desmond (Romantic Comedy) by Ross Schwartz
• Lord Marshal (Alternative) by John Crews
• Loren Sprung Off (Comedy) by Jenn Barta
• Lost Sheep (Thriller) by Mark Dempsey
• Love and Communication (Drama) by James Christy
• Ludlow (Drama) by Craig Houchin
• Magnus the Magnificent (Coming of Age) by Kimberly Manky
• Man With Van (Crime) by Ed Blythe and James Windeler
• Meeting Street (Drama) by Shelley Reid
• Mercy Kill (Thriller) by David Birkenhead
• Metal Hearts (Drama) by Tim Lewis
• MiddleMan (Period) by Ioannis Kementsetsidis
• Mirror-Me (Horror) by Keith Dando and Leone Annabella Betts
• Mister Jackpot (Satire) by Adam Koster
• Mobtown (Mystery) by James Gossard and Gabriel Fremuth
• Mr. Unlucky (Comedy) by Tony Nichols
• My Boyfriend's the Antichrist (Romantic Comedy) by Adam Taylor
• My Brave Face (Coming of Age) by Michael Adams
• My Turn (Drama) by David Shapiro
• Mythology (Drama) by Ross Lesko
• Night Blind (Thriller) by Robert Parks
• Nightfall (Horror) by Adam Aresty
• Nimrod Funk (Comedy) by James Gammon
• No Bed of Roses (Comedy) by Rita Sacchi
• No Bluff (Western) by J J Britt
• No Straight Thing (Comedy) by James Harberson and Frazer Rice
• Not Available in Stores (Comedy) by Matt Demblowski
• Ole (Comedy) by Jon Price and Jerry Rapp
• Ollie Of France (Comedy) by Mark Miller
• Once Bitten (Comedy) by Andrew Murphy
• One Good Day (Coming of Age) by Scott Taylor
• One Night Stan (Comedy) by Tony Boland
• One Short Jump (Sci-fi) by Mike Carroll
• One Summer at the Lake (Drama) by Maria Finitzo
• Out of the Woods (Comedy) by Jeremy Ware
• Packingtown (Mystery) by Richard Trevino
• Painting Picasso's (Drama) by Christopher Baier
• Paradox (Sci-fi) by Elana Mugdan
• Passing Light (Drama) by Kim Lee Winslow
• Patchwork (Fantasy) by Amanda Keener
• Perfect Stranger (Romantic Comedy) by Dianne Mason
• Peter the Beast (Adventure) by Michael Ouellette
• Pippa's Song (Family) by Diana Mitchell
• Pipsqueak (Comedy) by Jay Lien
• Portrait of a Reconstructed Man (Drama) by Tania Andrade
• Powderpuff (Comedy) by Chelsea Hackett
• Property of Madison (Drama) by Lisa Redlich
• Pudgeon (Animated Feature) by Joe Friend and Aaron Mahoney
• Purge (Horror) by David Christopher O'Neill
• Purse Patrol (Family) by Tommy Robinson
• Raccoon Close (Mystery) by Dan Walker
• Rear Ended (Comedy) by Steven Hood
• Reasonable Accommodation (Drama) by Trina Smolen and Sophia Milchanowski
• Red Sky in the Morning (Adventure) by Roger Anderson
• Remy (Coming of Age) by James Grayford
• Rennfest (Comedy) by Brett Shogren and Per Peterson
• Replay (Thriller) by Kevin McAllister
• Resistance is Futile (Comedy) by Jace Serrano
• Rough Ice (Action) by Jake Hansen
• Roughin' It (Comedy) by Jason Pizzarello
• Roundhouse (Thriller) by James Tate
• Roving: The Legend of Mary Reade (Adventure) by Michele Remsen
• Run (Action) by Dennis Luu
• Run The Tide (Drama) by Rajiv Shah
• Runner's Gambit (Sci-fi) by Aaron Edwards
• Saving Lexie Lee Kennedy (Horror) by Michael Morra
• Scenes from the War (Action) by Obinwa Summors
• Schrodinger's Cat (Thriller) by Tommy Butler
• Scout's Honor (Comedy) by Chris Donaldson and James Roman
• Sea Fever (Sci-fi) by Neasa Hardiman
• Second Chance (Sci-fi) by Ulvrik ÒWolfÓ Kraft and Michael Moragne
• Secret Asian Man (Action) by Mary Krell-Oishi
• Self-Defense (Comedy) by Jasmin Tekiner
• Senioritis (Drama) by Brian DePasquale
• Shadow Cell (Action) by Cody Glenn
• Shadowboxing (Drama) by Darryl Anka
• Shinola (Comedy) by Martin Garner
• Silent Lamb (Religious) by N.E. Harris
• Siluria (Sci-fi) by Sam Celia
• Skerrie (Thriller) by Rupert Such
• Snatching St. Nick (Family) by Myra R. Taylor
• Snowfall (Drama) by Kjell Kvanbeck
• Soccer Crazy (Comedy) by Mark Speed
• Soul for Sale (free shipping) (Comedy) by Julio Olivera
• Sound of Impact (Horror) by Erik Ratliff
• Squeezed (Thriller) by Andrew Moynihan
• Stalag Dixie (Thriller) by Lynn Morris
• Steen's Folly (Drama) by Jeffrey Gold
• Straight Razor Jazz (Thriller) by David Scott Hay
• Strange Kindness (Drama) by Trina Smolen and Kathy Lopez
• Street Corners (Drama) by Marie Robinson
• Subterranean (Horror) by Gary Graham
• Surf-N-Church (Comedy) by Jeff Whitfill
• Sweetwater (Drama) by Christina Hulen
• Take Back (Drama) by Idit Dvir
• Terminal Call (Action) by Richard Winslow
• Terminal Call (Thriller) by A.J. Meyers and Richard Winslow
• The 500 Year Guarantee (Comedy) by Craig Carlisle
• The Agent (Drama) by Alec McAulay
• The Alliance (Thriller) by Tracy Ryan
• The Attic (Horror) by Michael Scannell
• The Amazing Eric (Comedy) by Dennis Cary
• The Beekeeper (Drama) by Robert Hoxie
• The Blast (Drama) by Trip Payne
• The Bleeding Light (Crime) by Jason Haglof
• The Bridge (Drama) by Nick Sanzo
• The Bridge (Thriller) by Teddy Adams
• The Bubblegum Riot (Coming of Age) by Christopher Cook
• The Burning Room (Horror) by Marco van Belle and Kat Wood
• The Butcher's Apron (Drama) by Grant Bryant
• The Children of Azura (Coming of Age) by Robert Bridge
• The Cruel Kids (Coming of Age) by Rick Montano
• The Drive-In (Romantic Comedy) by Dave Wittrup
• The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Western) by Tim Bogg
• The File (Mystery) by Peter Loffredo
• The Final Fling (Thriller) by Michael Penncavage
• The Fireworks Maker (Family) by Curtis Burdick and Scott Burdick
• The Fisherman (Drama) by Theresa Tyler
• The Five Fugitives (Action) by Tim Roberts
• The Gentle Apocalypse (Drama) by Adam Cosco
• The Guys Next Door: The O'Brien Nexus (Sci-fi) by RM Busker
• The Heckler (Comedy) by Mike Hanson
• The Keeper of the Cup (Comedy) by David Turner
• The Land Of Things That Don't Exist (Comedy) by Andrew Friedhof
• The Last Family Vacation (Comedy) by Robert Hill
• The Last Night of Charlie (Drama) by David Seals
• The Last War Game (Thriller) by Keith Sloggett
• The Lion's Den (Period) by Kathryn Taylor
• The Looking Glass (Thriller) by Dennis Luu
• The Maestro (Drama) by Thomas Frattare
• The Man From Longwood (Period) by Russell Thompson
• The Mockingbird's Coda (War) by Brooke Eikmeier and Eric Eikmeier
• The Muti Killings (Crime) by Sudnahc Jackson
• The North Puddle (Animated Feature) by Bear Fonte and Don Zolidis
• The Nurse's Shrift (Drama) by Stephanie Platter
• The Only Living Man with a Hole in His Head (Drama) by Todd Pliss
• The Other Room (Crime) by Robert Shupe
• The Other Side of the Wall (Thriller) by Adam Meyer
• The P-Word (Comedy) by David Marko
• The People V. God (Mystery) by Paul Undari
• The Plantation (Drama) by Keith Groff and Jonathan White
• The Price of Admission (Drama) by Dan Leonard and Barret Helms
• The Primitive Hour (Animated Feature) by Marni Sullivan
• The Reporter (Sci-fi) by Andy Barsh
• The Retirement Plan (Comedy) by David Neiditch and Adam Barish
• The Scarlet V (Comedy) by Megan Yoon and Kat Hess
• The Secret of the Devil's Bog (Fantasy) by Luke Garza
• The Slate W/ Jim Kholer (Drama) by Ryan Covington
• The Sneaker Man (Drama) by Anthony Stitt
• The Son of Edward Teach (Adventure) by Thomas Ryan Cuming
• The Song of Samson Dale (Coming of Age) by Geoffrey Caple
• The Strange Story of Dr. James Barry (Period) by Lynn Robertson Hay
• The Taloquan Network (Drama) by Robert Hestand
• The Theory of Almost Everything (Romantic Comedy) by Lorraine Devon Wilke
• The Three-Story Cave (Adventure) by Charles Maher
• The Ultimate Almanac (Family) by David Ullendorff
• The Useless Puddle (Drama) by Yossy Zagha, David Desola and Jack Zagha
• The W.M.D. (Horror) by Patrick Barrett
• The Wedding Bandit (Comedy) by Andrew McCarthy
• The Whaler's Daughter (Drama) by Matthew Snyman
• The White Rose (War) by Michael Hekimian
• The Woods Behind Trevor Malone's House (Family) by Alex Stirling
• Thee Amazing Eric (Comedy) by Dennis Cary
• Thicker Than Water (Coming of Age) by Ted Peterson and J Stewart
• This Island Mars (Thriller) by Robert Cook
• Three Bed, One Bath (Drama) by Tanner Bean
• Through a City Darkly (Crime) by Todd Condie
• Tickets (Comedy) by Josh Miller
• Time Divorce (Romantic Comedy) by Matt Sweeney
• Time Nerds (Comedy) by Andrew McCarthy
• Tooth Fairies (Animated Feature) by Ryan Fuller
• To Hell and Back (Thriller) by Dale Taylor
• To The Manner Born (Western) by Lance Smith
• Toby (Family) by Timothy Casto
• Trunk (Drama) by Alex Convery
• Trust, Greed, Beer and Bourbon (Drama) by Scott Kawczynski
• Two-Legged Dogs (Crime) by Lincoln Stewart
• Tyro (Action) by Kurt Vanzo and Lee Brandt
• Under (Drama) by Jeannie Hart
• Underground (Thriller) by Josh Chesler and Paul Connor
• Unfinished Business (Drama) by James McCarthy
• Ursa (Sci-fi) by Andrew Manson and Matthew Manson
• Valiant City (Mystery) by Michael Horn
• Venus (Period) by Jon Smith
• Vice Versa (Sci-fi) by Kevin Barney
• Waiting for the Clash (Comedy) by Bob Hercules and Jeff Rogers
• Waitlist (Comedy) by Sheila Jenca
• Warning: Graphic Violence (Adventure) by Malibo Jackk
• Wartime Revelations (Thriller) by Carlo Bordone
• Watching Over Remie (Thriller) by Ron Kanecke
• Waylaid (Crime) by Robert Scarola
• What Rough Beast (Western) by Kranti Pally
• White Lies (Thriller) by Yehudit Mam
• Whitechapel '88 (Thriller) by James Goldin
• Wildfire (Action) by R. Wyatt Scott
• Williamsburg (Coming of Age) by Shira Kronzon
• Winning Edge (Drama) by Leigh Friestedt
• Woodlore (Thriller) by Mary Cardenas
• You Are Here (Romantic Comedy) by Jack Kennedy
• Your Number's Up (Comedy) by Christopher Bacon
• Zavier (Drama) by Dennis Coleman

 

2011 Big Break Winners & Finalists

2010 Big Break Winners & Finalists

2009 Big Break Winners & Finalists

2008 Big Break Winners & Finalists

Big Break Winners & Finalists — Previous Years

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Riding The Alligator is the one screenwriting book for artistic writers by a real Hollywood writer that aims to get their creative passions flowing! Pen Densham, as a writer, producer and director, has headed TV series and features that have grossed in excess of a billion dollars. Self-taught, he has one primal message – write from the heart. "The movies I sold most often were the ones I created for myself." Pen’s new book approaches writing as a humanistic art, a personal journey of discovery and gives optimistic approaches for handling the business on your own terms. http://www.ridingthealligator.com/

Launched in 2000 as an industry-leading research tool for screenwriters, Script Pipeline’s Writers Database gathers the specific needs and submission guidelines for over 1,000 companies, including managers, agents, and producers looking for new material. Members receive unlimited logline and query letter reviews, free entries to Script Pipeline competitions, discounts on script coverage, and one-on-one, personalized assistance with development professionals to ensure you’re well prepared for a competitive marketplace. http://www.scriptpipeline.com/writers-database

ScriptXpert is a professional coverage service that helps you develop your script from a rough draft or outline into a polished screenplay ready to be submitted to producers, agents, and managers. Even professional screenwriters value outside opinions about their script: Does it have a strong plot? Are the characters dynamic and real-to-life? Is the story tight and marketable? Get the answers you need from a coverage service designed to help you through every step of the process. http://www.finaldraft.com/products/scriptxpert/

Designed for both beginning and established screenwriters, The Secret Door Pitchfest, presented by Script Pipeline, gathers a selected group of high-level producers, managers, agents, and key executives searching for new material and fresh voices, allowing the writer to pitch and network in a more intimate, organized, hassle-free environment. Previous attendees have included Lakeshore Entertainment, Gersh, FilmEngine, Principal Entertainment, and other top companies. http://www.secretdoorpitchfest.com/home

Smart Girls Productions celebrates 20 years in business in 2012 and offers a variety of marketing and consulting services to screenwriters, including Hard Copy Query Letter Mailings, Email Query Blasts, and Genre Labels & Listings to Producers. Through the screenplay marketing services they provide, clients of Smart Girls have gotten into nearly every agency, production company, management company, and studio in town, including Paramount Studios, HBO, Warner Bros., Disney, Oliver Stone, Twentieth Century Fox, Searchlight Films, APA, William Morris, ICM, and most others, as well as countless smaller production companies and literary agencies. http://smartg.com/

With Show Starter Scheduling & Budgeting Plus, you create your production calendar, and the software instantly crunches your numbers! What used to take days now takes only hours – and your schedule, budget and cash flow are always in sync for instant updates. This online app is easy to use, low-priced and ideal for indie filmmakers, reality productions, student films, and new media projects that don’t have the money or the study time to buy and master four different "blockbuster movie" software programs.

StoryO™ is an exciting new tool that takes story organization to a whole new level. StoryO allows writers to enter ideas onto index cards, rearrange and attach them to multiple sequences and timelines, then develop plot points, multiple story lines and characters along the way. StoryO allows writers to outline their stories in broad strokes at first, then drill down to establish details later. http://www.junglesoftware.com/storyo/what_is_storyo.php

STORYLOGUE (www.storylogue.com) is an online writer's service Robert McKee has created for the writer's community. All content that has been added to STORYLOGUE since the inception on January of 2010 is viewable at your leisure 24/7. New content is uploaded 365 days a year:

1. Weekly Lessons: These are advanced studies that are not in the STORY Seminar or in the STORY book. All the material McKee gives here is brand new.
2. Weekly Interviews: McKee interviews notable professionals from the industry each week. Many are award-winning writers, producers, directors, comedians, etc. who discuss how they do what they do. Some notable interviews are Ed Saxon (Oscar Award-Winner of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, PHILADELPHIA), Bill Block (W, DISTRICT 9), Patrick McGrath (NY TImes reviewer, Writer of Spider, Asylum – made into film etc), Zak Penn (THE AVENGERS, THE INCREDIBLE HULK), Drew Carey (Comedian), and more.
3. Daily Q&As: Each Monday - Friday, McKee answers questions from writers all over the world.
4. Writer's networking room: Writers discuss and help each other collaborate in this room.
5. LIVE CHAT: McKee will do live chats on some Saturday mornings with the members.

Robert McKee is very pleased to sponsor 2013 Big Break Competition. Robert McKee is unique among writing mentors. No matter what your writing credentials or story medium, your next project calls for an absolute command of creative decisions. With his distinctive blend of award-winning scholarship, professional acting and directing experience, and craft knowledge across all media, Robert McKee helps writers think beyond formula and take the best story decisions of their career - be it in cinema, literature, theatre or television. Already he has helped story creators win 49 Oscars as well as 170 Emmys. Whether delivered through his books, seminars or digital platforms, McKee's trademark combination of classical learning, passion for his subject and unrelenting drive to write the truth has resulted in him becoming the story whisperer of his age - an Aristotle for today's media world.

Please visit www.McKeeStory.com to find out more.

John Truby is Hollywood’s premier screenwriting instructor and story consultant. Over the last 25 years, more than 30,000 people have attended his sold-out seminars around the world. Truby's Writers Studio is pleased to offer Truby's Blockbuster Genres: How the Top Genres Really Work audio course to the Big Break Top Ten Finalists. This all-day seminar covers the hidden elements of Action, Comedy, Crime, Detective, Fantasy, Horror, Love, Masterpiece, Myth, Science Fiction and Thriller.
http://www.truby.com/lci_genres.html

UCLA Professional Programs
Unique to UCLA, these graduate level non-degree programs are modeled after the MFA curriculum at the prestigious School of Theater, Film and Television, and are the only comparable alternative to the world-renowned UCLA MFA Screenwriting Program. Classes are offered in the evenings and are taught by industry professionals, many of whom also teach in the MFA programs.

For students who want to avail themselves of a respected UCLA film and television education, but who are not able to commit the time to a degree program, the Professional Programs are a terrific way to go. Graduates of the Professional Programs have sold material to Disney, Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount, Fox, Miramax, and many more.
http://www.filmprograms.ucla.edu/

Contest Rules and Conditions

1. The Big Break Contest only accepts online entry of feature film and television screenplays. No printed scripts will be accepted. You may enter online at www.finaldraft.com/products/big-break/bbentry-step1.php. Our easy-to-use online entry system will walk you through the process.
2. Entry fees: $40 - Early Bird Deadline April 30, 2013; $50 - Standard Deadline July 15, 2013; $65 - Extended Deadline July 31, 2013. Dates reflect deadlines for electronic submission of scripts. All entries must be electronically submitted by their respective deadlines.
3. The Big Break Contest is open to any individual who is 18 years of age or older at the date of entry and has access to the Internet. Employees, officers, directors, contractors and agents (and their immediate families and household members regardless of where they live, or members of the same households (whether related or not) of Final Draft, Inc. and its respective divisions, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents and advertising agencies (collectively, the "contest providers")), are not eligible to participate in the Contest or to win any prize. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.
4. Entrants may submit multiple entries. Each submission must include its own entry and must include a separate file and separate entry fee.
5. Entrants may submit the same entry in multiple categories. Each submission must include its own entry and must include a separate file and separate entry fee. Entries will be considered for the genre prize in each category and for the grand prize in either feature film or television.
6. All submissions should consist of full-length screenplays (approximately 80 to 120 pages) or teleplays (25 to 70 pages) in standard industry format for motion picture screenplays and teleplays, written in English. All necessary information is captured upon entry of digital submissions, and title pages are not required. Do NOT include personally identifying information (name, etc.) on any page of your script. If you are using a word processing program that automatically formats screenplays, such as Final Draft, select the Screenplay format template.
7. Adaptations are not eligible unless the source material was written by the screenwriter of the entry in question and/or the entrant owns the rights to the source material. Scripts are not eligible if the source material has been sold, produced, or is currently under option to any third party. Source material in the public domain is eligible.
8. Entry should consist of a screenplay or teleplay only. Do not include resumes, pitches, synopses, casting suggestions, letters, or other supporting documentation with your submission. Judges will not receive these materials.
9. In order to run a fair contest for all entrants, revisions or missing pages will not be accepted under any circumstances once an entry has been received.
10. Spec scripts for any currently airing network or cable program as well as original pilot scripts are accepted for the TV categories. Spec scripts must be for television programs currently on the air at the time of the contest entry. Spec scripts for shows cancelled prior to receipt of the entry will be disqualified.
11. Screenplays written by up to four people may be entered in the contest. Only one entry fee is required for such entries. All writers' names should be listed on the online entry. List the writer who will be the primary contact first, and include the address, telephone, and email for that person only. All writers must authorize submission of the entry. By clicking Submit, all writers authorize the submission. If a screenplay written by multiple writers is one of either of the grand-prize winners, Final Draft, Inc. will pay airfare and hotel for up to two writers, and two writers will have the option to attend meetings with studio executives and agents. All cash awards will be split equally between all writers. If a screenplay written by multiple writers is any of the genre or TV format finalists, prizes will be divided at writers' discretion.
12. To enter your script electronically, you must submit your screenplay in Final Draft (FDX, FDR or FDS) or PDF format. You are not required to use Final Draft in order to enter the Contest.
13. Screenplays under option at time of submission are not eligible.
14. Big Break Contest entrants retain all rights to their screenplays.
15. All submitted entries will not be returned. Be sure to retain a copy of all material submitted.
16. Once an entry has been submitted and payment has been processed no refunds will be issued.
17. By entering the Big Break Contest, you acknowledge and agree that contest Judges receive numerous submissions of ideas, stories and scripts, and that your entry, and the ideas and stories embodied in it, may be similar or identical to other material received and/or developed by one or more of the Judges. You also agree that you are not entitled to any compensation or credit for use by contest Judges of any such other material.
18. By entering the Big Break Contest, you represent and affirm that your entry is an original creative work, and does not infringe misappropriate or violate the copyright, trademark or other intellectual rights of any third party.

The Big Break entry system has been streamlined for your convenience, by popular demand. In the spirit of modern technology and saving the planet's resources, please note that the Final Draft, Inc. Big Break Screenplay Contest no longer accepts paper screenplay submissions or mailed-in check/money order payments.

By agreeing to these Rules and Conditions you agree that you have read the General Rules of the contest and that you have the authorization to submit this screenplay to the Big Break Contest. You further agree that your screenplay is owned by you (and co-author if there is one).

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Final Draft, Inc, its employees, contractors, agents and Big Break Judges from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, and/or publicity to the Screenplay entered.

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