ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

I think some of the comments above actually miss the point. For my money, a screenwriting competition is not about getting a film made, it's about aiding writers develop their craft and get work. If you're successful in a competition, then you can possibly get optioned, get paid writing assignments, get a manager or even an agent, that in turn, gets you more writing work.

If you want production prizes, then maybe a scriptwriting competition aimed at writers is not the best avenue for you.

Prizes should ideally be offering the chance for the writer to get his work in front of a producer as a 'solicited script', so that it actually gets read and considered. If the producer likes it, he/she does one of two things: 1) options it or 2) offers the writer work on another project. Well, maybe there's a third thing they could do 3) pass on this occasion despite liking your work but then become part of your network that you nurture over time and hopefully work with in the future.

If you look at their webpage, you'll see that they have a clue at the top of their home page what they do - Shore Scripts: Discovering New Talent.

As a writer, I don't want to know what happens after my script is optioned or sold. I just want it optioned or sold. Build my network of producers I want to work with in the future so that I can write for them. And write.

Nuff said...

Wozy

10 years ago - Shore Scripts

Good feedback. I agree, getting scripts to relevant Production Companies is one of the best things to offer and a one to one sounds even better, where a personal relationship can hopefully be built instead of just another script to read.

Not all of the companies we submit to are in London Vasco, and some are literary agents too, in the hope that a winner can find representation, not just a company that's interested in the script. The full list we have can be found on our site here - http://www.shorescripts.com/production-companies/ and a full list of the working professionals in the industry that will also be judging the script can be found here - http://www.shorescripts.com/shore-scripts-judges/

10 years ago - Shore Scripts

Also want to add that everyone we have on those lists have agreed to read any of the scripts that get sent through to them. They want to find good material, and we'd like to believe the competition helps them to do that.

10 years ago - Claudette FLINT

I didn't see a free year at Shooting People as a reward!! The best reward is sending the script to production companies but Vasco is right, would they bother to read it!
As a prize I suggest to arrange an appointment with 2 or 3 directors of your choice. I have a script suitable for Clint Eastwood for example. I sent it to James Coburn who agreed to read it but he died two days before he read it...

10 years ago - Alève Mine

How about gear, location rent, licences and insurance to shoot the film, as a prize?

10 years ago - Shore Scripts

Not ever screenwriter is also a director. Would those prizes be of any use to someone who was only interested in writing?

10 years ago - afia nkrumah

It seems to me that some 'script competitions' exist to raise money for the people running the competition and the prizes for such competitions are like 'rewards' from bad crowd funding campaigns. Any serious script competition would offer prizes that include the real prospect of production.

This includes: 1. Funding available to make the film or at least enough money for the writer to take 6 months to a year off work and concentrate on developing the project with a matched producer with a track record.

2. The head of development or producer of the companies you send the script to, should guarantee to read the winning script(s) and meet the writer(s). As others have mentioned, writers can send their scripts to 100 companies, without paying someone else to do it via a competition.

3. 1 year development programme with a company like Binger labs or the Bureau which are designed for writers to form a team with directors/producers with the sole purpose of getting the project ready for funding.

4. Any agents involved should guarantee to represent the winner(s).

5. As Aleve suggested the equipment to make the movie. Anything less than the above list is not really worth the competition fee in my opinion, because scripts are meant to be made not passed from pillar to post.

10 years ago - Shore Scripts

Brilliant responses with some very valid opinions out there. Love the idea of organizing a development program and also (personally) agree with Wozy's statements too. Looks like writer/directors are looking for different things than screenwriters and some people want more involvement in the filmmaking process than others. Some great food for thought. Thanks guys.

10 years ago - Vasco de Sousa

Are there even 100 production companies in London that buy scripts? The only ones I do don't want any mickey-mouse contest fifth-placers spammed to them.

Here's a prize I'd like: a bit of honesty.

Oh, and please don't include my company in the list of script recipients.