If you would like to have some sort of screenwriting contest, post your ideas here. :)

I would most definatelty love to see you guys host a screenwriting contest. I would participate regardless of the prizes involved if indeed there are any. I think that if you had reviewers actually post reviews on the site that would also be cool.
Maybe if you were to just set up a place where screenplays can be read and commented on by other filmmakers would be cool (so long as people are serious about it). I think that you might be able to nip Triggerstreet in the bud with that one. I don't particularly like their little set up. I would like to ask one thing though, please don't completely ignore fan film screenplays. Technically they do count and they should be acknowledged.

Perhaps the first contestant,
William J Long III

I would love to be able to get in on a screenplay contest that doesn't come with the freakin' million lbs of rules that Project Greenlight or Triggerstreet come with. I'd equally love to be able to post a faeture length script to be critiqued.

Poke

If there was a contest, I personally would like it to be nothing like PGL or Trigger Street. I'd rather have it be a standard screenplay contest, judged by experienced indie filmmakers, who would give coverage of your script no matter where you finished. I hate paying good $$$ just to get a form-rejection letter in the mail... feedback and insight make rejection more palatable.

- Mike.

a contest would be grand. competition brings the best out of us. the eternal struggle for recognition and all that Hegelian stuff.

Good idea. I may possibly participate in it myself if you were to have one.


-Ed

I'd feel guilty, winning this one too. :(

I'm glad to see so many ideas since this thread was created (2003!) ;)

haha - yeah, sorry - i seem to have picked up a nasty habit of checking the archives.......better late than never....

Hehe. Ah well it still is a good idea :D

I'd enter. I'm not very good at writing screenplays. I'm too much of a perfectionist. This would help me be a little more spontaneous.

sounds good to me....i'm in :woohoo:

Writting contest, sweeeeeeeeeeet, consider me in too.

Here's a thought, maybe not a contest but more like an experiment. The winning screen play gets made into a film by as many different directors as want to try it. Just to see how different directors make films. I think that would be a riot.

Funny you should mention that, back in november a mate of mine peter did the exact same concept except on stage. It was one script, with the characters being gender inspecific and the dialogue very vague and open for interpretation. Then he cast me in 3 principal roles (i liked that part). and a bunch of other local actors. And we put the same (one act) play on 6 times in one night. With each director it became so different. It was a great idea. But i think more suited to the stage.

I think that a contest would be great... or at least a critique.
Although you must all know that by placing your scripts online, they are public.
That's one of the reasons I haven't put a script online.
I have a couple shorts I'd enter or just one, but won't be entering a feature.
BUT that's just me, I work for an IT security firm and do social engineering and that... So I see what people CAN do... Man what is meesa say'n... GO FOR IT! Scriptwriting Contest...
ITS Contest 01!!!!

it in no way should be the scripts that people are hoping to make their lives from, just little scripts maybe, ones where they have learned 'their voice' etc.
like a 4 page conversation revolving around the theme of ........whatever.
just to home our talents and improve ourselves and have a few giggles..
it only takes like, what, say 30mins to write it (at most), and whoever wins one, could pick the theme for the next, or perhaps they could even pick the opening two lines, or the situation, or the setting etc
whatever that sets up a little challenge for ourselves...

I like that..

if it's a contest then there's rules right.. there has to be a base right..

Like the film contest, this should be the same...

Character: Col Mustered
Prop: Rope
Genre: Murder Mystery :evil:

then write away.. a let's say 5 to 15 page script...

That's a cool way to go about it.. Cool Zoolio! :clap:

why thankyou, i aim to please.
is anyone else interested in doing it that way, or perhaps in doing it another way.
lets evolve this baby!!!!

I think it sounds like it would be good doing it that way. :cool:

-Ed

Why don't we wait until the ITOOFC #3 is completed...that way the staff can give it full attention.

Poke

absolutely. we are all human afterall. hopefully, if not in the midst of essay deadlines, exam timetables and telephoning relatives i will be able to join in on the action in this one.

it only takes like, what, say 30mins to write it Where did u learn to write? Man that's fast or maybe I'm just slow, jeesh somebody make a poll.

I like that idea too Nique Zoolio, thumbs up from me on this type of contest.

I agree Poke
yea after ITOOF then let's see what happens...

Where did u learn to write? Man that's fast

if there is one aspect of life where fast is hardly ever a great tool its writing. if only i could transfer that to the bedroom.......or the garden......

I'd enter for sure. I guess the things to think about would be:

1. Judging: Peer review like Greenlight, or a select few members of indietalk who have some sort producing experience, i would guess (the latter would be dependent on the the select members being able and wanting to devote time to such a venture).

2. Any kind of script or only ones that could be produced on an "indie" budget.

3. Scripts that contestents have already written or some sort of contest that has a guideline or creative starting point that everyone has to follow. I'd be up for either. It would be easier, obviously, to enter the script i am working on now, but I think the latter could make for a more interesting contest.

Those are my thoughts.

count me in too, guys. i'm a fantastic writer and you are all in big trouble. I'm with Zoolio on this one. Let's keep it short. I dont wanna post something i worked on for months on the internet. i'm careful about where and how i discuss my projects. But yeh, i think it could be a running thing with short scripts. This sounds great!

Maybe we could even get someone semi-big-name from the industry to be on the panel? That would be really useful!

Although you must all know that by placing your scripts online, they are public. I thought anything copyrighted cancelled that out? Did I miss a law change? :(

Maybe we could even get someone semi-big-name from the industry to be on the panel? That would be really useful!

What like some european filmmakers, they've got pretty big names. :blush:

haha! Especially those northern European directors who have names composed of nothing but consonants :D

damn them. yes! lets boycott their films. HAHA! Joking, thats just evil.

I was thinking maybe later i can email around to people like john august and such and see if they'd be interested. or would we want a specifically indie screenwriter?

Who wrote "Collateral Damage"?
He can't be too busy right now....

I thought anything copyrighted cancelled that out? Did I miss a law change? :(

What I was saying is that even if it is copywritten, it doesn't mean that someone won't steal your idea. Plagerism runs rampant.
Have you EVER downloaded an MP3 of a song you DIDN'T BUY?
Ever use Software that you DIDN'T BUY?

People ignore copyrights all the time. I'm just saying that if you put it online, its' in the public eye, not that it's public domain. So if it's your prize posession, I wouldn't put it up no matter if it's copywritten, panteted, protected by shield generator. Etc...

BUT that's just me...
or is it?

Wow this thread derailed itself...

So are we thinking about a screenwriting contest, or not?

i would, in principle, like to see this happen. (politician in the making).
on the guy who wrote the Damage flick, he is too good. we need someone worse
the worse we bring in, the more impressed they are by our work, the more mooollaahhh so that we can buy ourselves happiness (or at least its occasional mother, comfort).
we need the people who wrote the Cube!
or a team of hamsters........

LOL! @ Zool

I've used software and MP3s that I downloaded, and then bought at a later point. It's a great way for someone who can barely make rent get the tools he needs before he can afford them. I use it as a "trial version", then buy it if I like it. Problem is, most people don't have that honesty.

Cube ROCKED! The retarded guy lives! HAHAHHAHAHAHHAH (am I in outer space? Or Am I Just Crazy??? AHHAHAHA) (sorry)

Let's have a short film contest akin to the "My film will beat your film" contest- with criteria, so that it won't be anyone's "precious". We need someone really smart to do the judging.
Who is smart here?

-Logan-

I was pretty impressed with Cube actually.. it was more than I thought it would be.. didn't they also do a sequel?

I've got a 'genius' level IQ.. that qualifies for being "smart" right?
:D

yeah - there have been 3 cubes, The Cube, The Cube2: Hypercube, and Cube Zero.
i have to say i loved that film - it had me in stitches all the way. how did that scary cop guy find them at the end? but i have to say it didn't give into stereotypes at all - who would have thought that the retard actually was a mathematical genius??!?!?!?!?!?
i went onto an interent forum on the film afterwards, some people had a theory that the cop fellow was the billionaire who paid for it all....i lost it, and started a web of lies about it being the retard....got them all to concede though....

I liked the first one, but the sequels all suck royally.
IQ doesn't determine how smart you are- that's foolish "scientist" magic.
The only key determining factor to determine "smartness" is a spelling bee.
Perhaps we should have a spelling bee before we have a screenwriting contest.

So would the moderators also judge the scriptwriting contest too?

I like the idea of doing it like the Film Contest.

you could be given:
Genre
Line
Prop

and then you have a little bit to write a script... I think this could go faster than an ITOOFC since we're not filming editing and scoring... 2 weeks from start to finish? 30 days?
How many pages? 5 to 15?

What you all think?

Nique: I think he was supposed to be autistic.. You know like Ray from Rainman, in which case, it makes perfect sense that he's a math genius.

Hmmm.. I dunno, personally I think I'd rather let people come up with whatever they want for a screenwriting contest. It would be more interesting to read in that case, otherwise you'd end up reading the same line over and over, and hearing about the same prop being used in weird ways and whatnot.. Maybe that's just me.

I want to enter the Indiefest Chicago. My script isn't lookng as attractive as I thought. Should I just get it done and ship it before May? This is what usually happens when I write a script. I get bored of it and burn it; then I stop writing for two to three years. I've been writing short stories since ten, reading Syd Fields books since high school. I'm 38 now. In my mind there is a vast flood of stories screaming to be made into movies. Help me brothers or sisters. Help me not to give up the battle. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

JBR :(

I'm the same exact way. What I do is stop writing for a week. Get out, go for a run, don't even think about the screenplay. Then come back, reread everything you have written and see what things strike you most. You may be surprised. As I writer I get frustrated when everything doesn't work out well. The secret is to take as much time writing as you need to. Set goals of course! But don't plan on shooting on a certain month when the script isn't complete for example.

Syd talks about what to do when you get stuck and whatever in a few of his books as I recall...

There's always the "Screenwriters Problem Solver" of his, which might help too. Patience and Persistence, the two strongest tools at your disposal.. well next to writing skill and a good story. ;)

What I was saying is that even if it is copywritten, it doesn't mean that someone won't steal your idea. and Wow this thread derailed itself... Actually, I was asking a sincere question. If the laws had changed (and Clinton did a lot with Intellectual copyrights and the Internet) then I figured you guys would know. Didn't mean to steal a thread but I do post creative works on another board and if the laws had changed I'd really like to know it. So just take your grumpy pants off, it's spring in the midwest, go out and for God's sake enjoy your day.

Nique: I think he was supposed to be autistic......

aaaahhhhhh, then he clearly was the evil genius behind it all!
sorry, now i'm the one derailing this baby

If someone stealing ideas is a concern, perhaps there could be a private forum that requires registration to read for scripts and comments to be posted in? Not much of a deterant, I admit, but it might prevent lurkers from seeing it and just taking it.

*shrug*

Or we can just find the yellow bastards that do, and make them walk the plank! HAR!

(I'm sorry)

Hi Everyone:

Okay! Lets have a Screenwriting Contest. Here are some typical Contest ideas.

1. Must be protected, by either WGA, Copyrite, or some of the newer protection methods.

2. Submit first 10 pages only without name attached. So copies made for judges without name.

3. Submit name, address etc., on separate cover page.

4. No charge to enter contest = no financial reward for winning. It is for the honor of the experience.

6 Seven to 9 Judges appointed by Inditalk. Each Judge has a copy of first ten pages of each Script.

7. Submit screenplays by July1, 2005.

8 Quaterfinalists anounced by July 15

10. Semifinalists by July 20.

11. Winner of Indietalk Screenplay Contest by July 24.


The above 11 items are subject to change by Indietalk. The first 10 pages concept also helps protect the story as no one has access to the complete 120 pages, and typically if a Hollywood reader is not interested in the first 10 pages, the screenplay is chucked.

I hope this helps get the IndieTalk Screenplay started.

Satire.

hello there Mr Satire. i have not had a chance to say ahoy to you so far on IT, so here I go:
AHOY THERE!!
on the contest i think it should be newly writen work, not stuff that we have produced in the past - to force us to evolve and not live off our past glories etc.
it need not even be a full screenplay - could just be some Alan Beckett style monologue.could work like the official IT film comp - with a set line to have in the script to set everyone off.
what do you think?
i hope we do manage to get one started. even if it means some elaborate form of double cuppies.

Hi Nique Zoolio:

Your ideas are sound. So we should probably add a # 12.

12. Screenplays entered shall be in recognized screenplay format and shall have not been previously awarded a Contest Award in another Screenplay Contest.

Sail Ho!

Satire.

how about doing it so that what you produce is completely new, to the writer and (hopefully) the reader. that way we are not risking anything our future may depend on, and we are evolving as writers...

I like the 10 page idea and the rest. I'm not sure about requiring that it's new material. Unless there's some sort of guidelines to the story, it's impossible to tell whethers its new or not. Unless that's the case, I think it should be up to the writer what her or she wants to submit.

NYCmidnight has a fun screenwriting comp that uses vague guidelines. The stories that come out of it are wildly different from each other, even though they all started with the same criteria.

I'd have a crack at that, for sure.

I think a criteria like an opening line or opening location would be fun.

Poke

Hi Poke:

Good idea! Why not add these two catagories for awards?

Best Opening Line.

Best Location Description.

Satire

Hi T-Shipley:

I agree with you in that the screenplay does not have to be new material. It can be an old script that you dusted off because no one ever wanted it. Enter it! You never know, it would be an honor to have IndieTalk Judges cite it as a quaterfinalist.

However, a Screenplay that was sold or that already won a contest should not be eligible in order to keep the contest at the amateur level.

Satire

Hi Zensteve:

If the script for "Of Consequence" were entered into an IndieTalk Screenwriting contest it would set the stage for for the level of competition that is on this site. After all competing with the likes of Mefistofele and Faust is stiff competition. Ha!

Certainly send the script to NYCMidnight as well. It's a great script.

Satire

Hi Poke:

Good idea! Why not add these two catagories for awards?

Best Opening Line.

Best Location Description.

Satire

That's not what I meant. I meant let's do this similar to the ITOOFC where the Judges set forth criteria. Like say we give the opening scene as a playground and the opening line: "Sometimes I like him, sometimes I don't." Then every entrant takes those two aspects and expounds upon them.

One entrant might end up with a drama, while another pulls an actioner out of that.

I have nothing against having a contest with previously existing scripts, I just think approaching it like MYCMidnight would be a lot more interesting for both contestants and everyone else.

Poke

sounds good guys! :cool:

That's not what I meant. I meant let's do this similar to the ITOOFC where the Judges set forth criteria. Like say we give the opening scene as a playground and the opening line: "Sometimes I like him, sometimes I don't." Then every entrant takes those two aspects and expounds upon them.

One entrant might end up with a drama, while another pulls an actioner out of that.

I have nothing against having a contest with previously existing scripts, I just think approaching it like MYCMidnight would be a lot more interesting for both contestants and everyone else.

Poke

I love this idea- and ITOOFC is almost over... I think it's almost time for another contest!
Let's do it!
Who wants to run the thing?

Hi Poke.

Why would one type of contest need to replace the other? This thread is pretty old and nothing has been started.

What I propose is a legitimate Screenwriting Contest which would be recognized by the entire industry. A Contest that IndiTalk could be proud to sponsor if they so choose.

What you are suggesting is more real time fun and games. I see no need for one to replace the other, both can co-exist.

When do you think we can get each of these contests started? If never, I can live with that, the whole idea of my post is to get something started.

Satire

I like the idea of a screenplay contest... Lots of great education could come from it. If this was somehow going to be a legit contest recognized by the entire industry, I would think some pretty decent prizes and some kind of industry connections would have to be part of the prize... At least for the winner. This could be difficult. I was thinking that "maybe" the overall winner could be treated to an InkTip.com upload that normally costs $40 but short scripts are free to upload anyway... So would this be for short scripts, features, or both. If both, they would have to be judged differently.

If it is going to be a short script challenge, then I like the idea that was implemented in the film contest i.e., a certain prop and/or line of dialogue...

Could be cool... I'm willing to help out in any way I can...

EDIT: Another thing... If it is a short script contest, maybe the winner could get his short script produced by someone... Just a thought. I know that would have to be worked out but it sounds interesting...

filmy

Hi FilmJumper:

Good ideas! maybe it is time we turn all these ideas over to IndieTalk who started this thread in 2003 and have him select 7 or more judges that will not be contestants to start the contest. Your ideas and Poke's ideas could all be combined with the ideas of others to come up with a variable tiered contest.

For example:

Best Screenplay Short.

Best Screenplay Full length

Best NYCmidnight type contest where someone dictates the opening lines, etc.

It is pretty difficult to deal with formal prizes if there are no entrance fees, so while we are learning on this first pass, why not waive prizes and fees? Maybe a small prize like shooting one scene from the winning scripts could be handled if we could find a way to pay for it. The contest gets complicated when money is needed.

It was nice of you to volunteer to help IndieTalk.

Satire

I think tho start with we are gonna need to go with more of an ITOOFC approach to it rather than accept feature length scripts or the first ten pages of a feature. Finding 7 or more judges to read a bunch of feature length scripts and critique them in a short amount of time is a large task considering I only got three other judges (beside myself) for the ITOOFC. And submitting only ten pages isn't the true measure of a script.

I will get this ball rolling immediately after the ITOOFC is over. The mods will talk it out and discuss the guidlines and the prizes in more depth.

Poke

Poke:

Doesn't look too promising! Check out: http://www.scsfe.com/events/competition.aspx

Satire

Send me $35 and I'll read your first 10 pages, for sure! http://www.stevenrichards.com/images/smiley_pac.gif

Poke:

Doesn't look too promising! Check out: http://www.scsfe.com/events/competition.aspx

Satire

I'm sorry, but the first ten pages of a script are not a true measure of a script. A ton of people can write a great set up. Keeping the greatness level up during the entire 110 pages is what makes a great script.

There are more than a few script comps that judge on the first act or first ten pages, but I don't think we should go that route. But of course, this thread is for discussion, so if other members feel we should judge on the first ten pages let us know.

And like Zen pointed out, that comp you linked to requires a fee. I'd like to keep away from that for the time being.

I was thinking earlier, another option for us is to have a deadline, let those judges pick the finalists, and let the members choose the winner. If this were the case, we'd have maybe a three week period where the judges picked the final five or ten, then a two week voting period for the members to read and vote for the finalists.

I'm personally quite happy with a short script competition. We don't need anything fancy for rewards etc. Just the critique itself would be well worth the time.

I'm personally quite happy with a short script competition. We don't need anything fancy for rewards etc. Just the critique itself would be well worth the time.

I'd have to agree on a short script competition... A feature script i.e., 96 to 120 pages would simply take too long for the average person to write unless you give them a minimum of 3 months... Even then, we're talking first draft here...

The only problem with a short script competition is in how you judge them... Obviously, they can't be judged in the same way a feature script is judged... At least that's my opinion... There are similarities but short scripts almost have to be better than feature scripts (again, my opinion) because of their short duration... They really need to get a point across quickly, command some type of theme, have a punchline, etc... Quite different from your average feature length script...

I would think that some kind of actual judging guideline should be drawn up... Specifically, for short script judging. That would make judging go quickly... I have some guidelines used for feature scripts and some for short scripts (for competition judging) however, I don't actually agree with either... A blend of the two would be better (based on what I have of course).

A short script competition makes more sense because I think entrants would actually have a shot at completing them on time...

My two cents... LOL.

filmy

Hi Zensteve:

Ha! We all would be willing to read 10 pages for $35.00, especially if is double spaced and in screenplay format.

I have often wondered in these major contests where 1000 or more screenplays are entered for a fee sometimes as high as $50.00 to $75.00, do they they make a judgement to continue to read after the first 10 pages or not?

I have no doubt they read the entire screenplay on the winners, because the judges reputations are at stake.

Satire

I'm personally quite happy with a short script competition. We don't need anything fancy for rewards etc. Just the critique itself would be well worth the time.


Hi Shaw:

I agree, the critique itself would be well worth the time.

Satire

Hi Poke:

"And like Zen pointed out, that comp you linked to requires a fee. I'd like to keep away from that for the time being."

I sure agree with that statement. No fees. We are making progress!

Satire

Any news on how this is coming along? Just wondering. :)

Ditto

bump

bump
Wow, forgot about this thread...

Not sure if it's a good idea or not...

Assuming this could be worked out, what if the grand prize was a production of the short script? Of course someone would have to step up to make this happen but assuming the script is GOOD, I can see it benefitting both parties i.e., a finished production with a good story.

Just thinking out loud mind you...

filmy

I'm always on the lookout for a good short to produce.. so I'd throw my hat in the ring to produce the winning script.

I'm always on the lookout for a good short to produce.. so I'd throw my hat in the ring to produce the winning script.
Sweet!

filmy

I'll talk to the Screenwriting Guru. ;)

I'll talk to the Screenwriting Guru. ;)
Looks like we're moving ahead on this competition... I'm currently working out the details with indietalk as well as banging out the rules.

Having said that...

This IS IndieTalk... Please submit your suggestions to this thread.

Also, is anyone else out there willing and capable of producing a winning short screenplay? Seems like we should have a back up or two...

My thinking thus far is that the scripts should be free of special effects and rely on STORY.

filmy

well will, I'm in MN, so I'll pitch in where I can with the winning script...Roo is in MPLS as well, he's an excellent AD. He's acting in and ADing in my current production.

Regarding SFX:

I think the person(s) shooting the film should probably dictate this. I'm not sure what Will has at his disposal, but some people may have lots of SFX talent and resources that they could draw on.

I definitely think focusing on story is a good idea though and should be the basis on which the screenplays are judged.

Regarding SFX:

I think the person(s) shooting the film should probably dictate this. I'm not sure what Will has at his disposal, but some people may have lots of SFX talent and resources that they could draw on.

I definitely think focusing on story is a good idea though and should be the basis on which the screenplays are judged.
I agree... I guess I wasn't clear on that... I meant the actual screenplays... Free or relatively free of SFX and definitely one aspect of judging them...

filmy

I really think it would be awesome to see what different directors make of the same script. I'm for both, to write and direct a short. Doesn't need to be a contest with prizes, I just think it would be awesome to see what gets produced. Don't get me wrong I'm all for prizes but I wouldn't want it to take anything away from the contest in progress or to put the squeeze on the bank roll that hosts this web space.

Bonus points for High Concepts?

That could be interesting Boz Uriel. Sounds sort of fun and doesn't put all the pressure on one person to deliver the goods so to speak.

I like Filmy's idea that the winning script gets produced...I also like Boz' idea of dif directors interpreting the script, perhaps this (proposed) film extension of the script competition could be the theme for the next ITOOFC round.

I like Filmy's idea that the winning script gets produced...I also like Boz' idea of dif directors interpreting the script, perhaps this (proposed) film extension of the script competition could be the theme for the next ITOOFC round.

I also agree with Shaw who stated:

"I definitely think focusing on story is a good idea though and should be the basis on which the screenplays are judged."

Satire

Just and idea here. Seems I remember a one act play competition, no more than ten minutes, only two actors and it had to take place in the same setting. One room, one area of a park, one back porch, that kind of thing.

A small cast with one location would serve two purposes, force the directors to use more than the two person master shot and get more people involved since the set up, cast and crew is minimal.

Hi Boz Uriel:

What comes to my mind is "Twelve Angry Men" in one room with Henry Fonda, holding out on a hung jury. Concept of one room was fantastic, argument was logical, lasted for more than ten minutes.

Satire

Can I play? Sounds like a great idea getting the winners production directed by another. But if Filmjumper is entering I will boycott on the grounds of umm "NOT FAIR" heh

I really like the idea of a contest where the script gets produced. Or maybe a few combined to make a 30 minute short. That maybe a new twist on things.