The Professional Screenwriter: What You Should Know About Screenwriting Contests

Screenwriting contests are a great way for screenwriters to break into the business. As contests and festivals pop up all over the country, amateur screenwriters now have many more opportunities to get their work noticed. However, before you enter any contest, be sure to follow a few simple guidelines.

Read the Fine Print
Before entering any contest, make sure you read the entire contest agreement. By submitting to the contest you are legally bound by these rules, and some of them may surprise you.

Some contests have clauses in their rules, similar to contracts, stating that if you should sell your script as a result of exposure from the contest either directly or indirectly, the contest providers are entitled to a portion of the sale. In one contest, the portion is 7% of the sale price if this amount is over $3,000.

"We Make Your Film" Contests
Many short script contests offer to make your film as their grand prize. While this may seem like a good offer, there are often strings attached. Some short script contests will make your film, but you will not direct it. This may not be a big deal for some, but it would come as a rude shock to others. In addition, some contests will let you direct if you win; however, the contest serves as producer of the film. This may give the contest the legal right to represent your film. In other words, the contest controls where you send your film and what contests you may enter. Still other contests will let you direct your film, but the contest is entitled to keep all money's generated by your film.

Most screenwriting contests will not refund the application fee under any circumstances, so make sure you follow their submission guide to the letter. Otherwise, you may make a mistake in the submission process, eliminate your screenplay's chances of success and still be out the submission fee.

The rule of thumb with screenwriting contests is to read the rules as though they are a contract. Make sure you have protected yourself and understand just exactly what you are getting into before submitting your script.

Entering contests online.

Credit: mensatic

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