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Discover tips and tricks for winning screenwriting contests
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Why should you enter a screenwriting contest?
Getting your screenplay noticed by Hollywood can sometimes feel like an impossible task. Many agents and managers do not accept unsolicited queries. If you don’t live in Los Angeles it’s hard to meet people who can get your scripts in the hands of decision makers. Screenwriting contests give up-and-coming screenwriters the chance to have their work evaluated by industry professionals who know what types of scripts the entertainment industry is looking for. Winning a contest or even just placing in one can open multiple doors, and even kick start a Hollywood career. Many professionals screenwriters first came to the attention of Hollywood through winning screenwriting contests. If it wasn’t for their contest wins, many professional screenwriters working today may have had their talent go unnoticed by the industry.
About Final Draft’s Big Break Contest
If you’ve already written your first screenplay you are probably very familiar with Final Draft, the number-one selling screenwriting software on the planet. Used by both aspiring writers and professionals alike, Final Draft formats your screenplay to entertainment industry standards so you can focus on what you do best - writing. The Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest is one of the most respected in the business, with past winners going on to be repped by big agencies and managers and see their scripts optioned and sold.
What happens to my screenplay after I enter a screenwriting contest?
Once you have entered a screenwriting contest, your screenplay will first land in the hands of a contest reader. A contest reader is the first line of defense against a screenplay that doesn’t make the grade. Contest readers come from different parts of the industry. They can be professional screenwriters who have had their screenplays produced, or professional readers who have read screenplays for studios, production companies, agents and managers. They will read all the screenplays submitted to a screenwriting contest and decide which ones are the best and should proceed into the final judging round.
Here are some tips from an anonymous Final Draft Big Break contest reader:
Once you have entered a screenwriting contest, your screenplay will first land in the hands of a contest reader. A contest reader is the first line of defense against a screenplay that doesn’t make the grade. Contest readers come from different parts of the industry. They can be professional screenwriters who have had their screenplays produced, or professional readers who have read screenplays for studios, production companies, agents and managers. They will read all the screenplays submitted to a screenwriting contest and decide which ones are the best and should proceed into the final judging round.
What happens after my script makes it past the contest reader?
If you are fortunate enough to make it through the readers, your script will then go on to the judges. Final Draft’s Big Break Contest is judged by industry professionals who can recognize what makes a good screenplay, and help get your screenwriting career to the next level. These professionals could include agents, managers, producers and other successful screenwriters. Most screenwriting contests will feature details about who their judges are on their website, and will list the various clients and projects these professionals are associated with. The more high profile and recognizable professionals and talent associated with a screenwriting contest, the more that contest will be worthy of spending your hard-earned entry-fee. Though judges may have differing personal tastes about the types of screenplays that appeal to them, there are some common elements they will all be looking for. They want to find a screenplay that is professionally written and has a chance to succeed in a crowded marketplace. They will also be looking for writers with a strong voice that shows potential for long-term development.
The Final Draft Big Break Contest is judged by a selection of high profile agents, producers and managers from such companies as Bellevue Productions, Good Fear Entertainment, Netflix, Paramount, Skydance Media, Heroes & Villains Entertainment, Anonymous Content, Zero Gravity, REALM and more
Here is some advice on contests from literary manager and Big Break judge Jeff Portnoy of Bellevue Productions:
“The first way we find clients is scouting for and signing clients coming out of all of the screenwriting fellowships and competitions. We’re always looking at those winners and the scripts that win and place in those competitions. Sometimes we’ll actually serve as judges and we’ll get an early look at the scripts. Sometimes we’ll just read scripts that win first place after the competition. That’s a primary way we find new clients.”
How can I make my script stand out from the crowd?
Some new screenwriters think that to make their screenplay stand out they need to ‘think outside the box.’ This might mean making your script look as ‘flashy’ as possible by inserting lots of pictures, using different fonts and generally discarding all the ‘rules’ that screenwriters should adhere to when formatting their screenplay. Most contest readers are immune to this sort of blatant attention grabbing, and may assume that you are playing with the formatting because your story doesn’t have the strength to stand on its own. The key to having your screenplay stand apart from the pack is to have a UNIQUE VOICE. The difference between you and every other screenwriter out there is that no one has had your experiences or sees the world exactly as you do. Hollywood is excited by new voices who give them something they haven’t seen before. The average executive reads hundreds, sometimes thousands of screenplays a year, and they’re all looking for the next ‘big thing’ that excites them. This doesn’t mean you need to completely reinvent the wheel. By applying your unique perspective to a well-trodden genre, such as a sci fi, comedy or film noir, you show not only that you have a strong, distinctive voice, but that you also know the rules of what makes a story work.
What should I do before I hit the ‘submit’ button?
Almost every screenwriting contest has a set of rules that must be adhered to, otherwise you risk having your script disqualified. These rules may cover such areas as:
Title page information
Most screenwriting contests will ask you to limit the information on your title page to the title of your screenplay only. This is so all screenplays are read fairly and honestly by the contest judges, regardless of who has written them. Some contests like Final Draft’s Big Break ask you to remove the cover page entirely.
Eligibility
Do you already have an agent or a manager? Have you sold a screenplay in the past? If so then it’s possible some screenplay contests may not consider you eligible to enter. These contests are geared towards finding new, unrepresented voices, and your previous success with screenwriting may disqualify you from entering.
Page count
It is expected that your screenplay will adhere to industry standards regarding page count. The majority of screenplays are 80-120 pages long. Many contests will not accept material that they consider either too long or too short by commercial Hollywood standards.
Region
Some contests are only open to certain countries or regions. For example, the BBC Writersroom program is only open to residents of the UK and Republic of Ireland. Check that your residency meets the eligibility criteria.
It’s important to remember that every screenwriting contest will have its own unique set of rules. It is dangerous to assume that all contests will ask the same of their contestants. Always check that your screenplay fulfills the contest guidelines before hitting that ‘send’ button.
