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There's something off about this contest. I requested the name of the last winner (fall 2011), but a Google search shows nothing about the woman or her script. Meanwhile, the Paypal page they link to is not like any other Paypal page I've ever seen. And their website seems very amateurish, with lots of Google Adwords and splog-like search terms. Proceed with caution, IMHO.
Oh great. I already entered the contest this month and purchased the feedback. You guys have me pretty worried now. I will be sure to let you know how I make out.
I am new to screenwriting and decided to enter my first screenplay to this contest. Knowing that I was still in the re-write process, I was anxious for feedback from industry professionals and MAN, did I get it!
I submitted the screenplay on 11/3/11, paid the expedite fee (which I highly recommend) and received a very thurough 1 page written evaluation and ranking sheet on 11/9/11. The feedback was positive - highlighting successful scenes/aspects of the screenplay - but also provide invaluable feedback on how to improve it.
I would highly recommend this contest for individuals that want quick and helpful feedback. I can't speak to the promotional aspect for the contest winners (bacause I didn't make the finals), but based on my experience I would certainly put it on my short list of contests to enter!
I am new to screenwriting and decided to enter my first screenplay to this contest. Knowing that I was still in the re-write process, I was anxious for feedback from industry professionals and MAN, did I get it!
I submitted the screenplay on 11/3/11, paid the expedite fee (which I highly recommend) and received a very thurough 1 page written evaluation and ranking sheet on 11/9/11. The feedback was positive - highlighting successful scenes/aspects of the screenplay - but also provide invaluable feedback on how to improve it.
I would highly recommend this contest for individuals that want quick and helpful feedback. I can't speak to the promotional aspect for the contest winners (bacause I didn't make the finals), but based on my experience I would certainly put it on my short list of contests to enter!
Per Caitlin Garvey's comments regarding A/Exposure monthly contest. I empathize with your frustration. I posted a negative review of my own when I discovered that the entire contest is a fraud. In fact, the telephone number they listed at time I entered didn't even work. Yet, I foolishly entered anyway for the immediate gratification of seeing a result within a few weeks. The result was a kick in the head. The winning script they posted, at best, looked like a graduate-level attempt at something compelling. Couldn't get beyond twenty pages, most of which I forced myself to read. If anyone sees A/Exposure, make a U-turn and save yourself some money.
Does anyone have any experiences or comments they can share about this contest? I'm thinking about entering it but $80 is a lot for a contest. I'd like to know something about it before making the plunge.
I got to semifinalist level, but the very good thing about this contest is the excellent set of notes they sent me. I may not agree with some of the things they wrote, but they showed they read carefully the script and provided some good suggestions. Recommended.
The notes were very brief and based on the first 20pages of the script. One was a consider, the other a pass, saying basically opposite things. So, I wouldn't recommend this contest.
I received my Feedback / Analysis Report from the Pulsar Sci-Fi Contest yesterday. The feedback was insightful, helpful, and prompt. The contest deadline is still over two months away and I've already gotten coverage, and useful coverage at that. The analysis that my reader provided has proven to be well worth the entry fee.
I also found it refreshing to have my screenplay read, reviewed and judged by lovers of the Science Fiction genre. I am a fan of the subject matter and, until I entered Pulsar, not one of my readers even liked sci-fi. It's nice to finally know what my target market thinks of my premise and plot.
Thanks Reel Authors!
Hello. Just wonderfing if anyone has heard anything about this contest. The contest's website is not updated, and results were supposed to be released in December. Just curious. Thanks.
The contest was well run. They provided everything that was promised. From a personal standpoint, the feedback I received was enormously helpful.
Honestly, steer clear of this contest. I entered my script in the monthly contest and paid for feedback. When I contacted Annette and the WriteMovies staff, they were entirely unresponsive and never provided me with feedback, nor did they offer to refund some of my money. Before this happened, I mistakenly paid for a consult with Alex Ross on my screenplay and was scammed out of money.
Author: Ben Krapf
Posted: 01/12/2012 10:45 PM
Took 2nd in May-October 2008 Feature contest. Never received anything other than a certificate. Maybe they've gotten their act together since, but I'm not holding my breath. For the money, there are far stronger competitions out there. I'd rather get an honorable mention in the Nicholl, to be honest.
I was confused at how to find the posted results. It seems that the finalists should appear on the American Screenwriting Competition web site itself. I received a phone call this morning informing me that the quarter finalists had been posted on flatshoe.com. I was bummed naturally that I wasn't one of the names but this is the first time I've run across a different website announcing the winners of the quarter finalists. Did anyone else have this problem? They also kept extending the deadline. I kept writing as one individual made a point of but I felt I was kept in the dark and began to wonder if I had been scammed
I highly recommend this fantastic contest. Julie is a wonderful lady and an absolute pleasure to deal with. The prizes offered by the contest are not only great, but helpful! Julie keeps you informed every step of the way throughout the contest period and is more than happy to answer any questions.
One of my favorite contests. Big thumbs up!
I won this in January 2011 with Broken Roots. I got a free consult on my script and at that time it got low notes. Since then I didn't have much contact with them. I did several rewrites and decided to get in touch and see how it goes. They were eager to help me improve it and I got two more free consults. Although I didn't win money I have to say that their consults helped me polish my script. Not that it's ready they will send it to industry professionals and I'll see how it goes from there. So I reccomend this to all the writers at the begining of their work. If you have a script that is good they can help you make it great.
It was such an honor to have my screenplay placed as one of the 20 honorable mentions in The Happy Writers screenplay contest! This was my first entry and it gave me the motivation to keep writing. The two paragraphs on improvements were not only useful, but very encouraging. I've had the privilege of working with Joey Tuccio, Founder of The Happy Writers, and would be happy to recommend his company to all of my fellow screenwriters, novice and seasoned. I look forward to the next contest! Thank you!
Author: Johnny H
Posted: 01/03/2012 05:30 AM
Entered my screenplay.
Great list of judges, best I've ever seen in a competition.
Prizes aren't too bad either!
Fingers Crossed!
Smashcut Screenwriting Contest is straight up criminal enterprise. They'll take your money and run. There are a lot of scams out there, but I've adopted this one to expose. I almost hope they try to do it again next year -- Advertisers, beware who you associate with. Affiliation with a scam is negative advertisement
The WriteMovies Winner's Lunch was amazing. There were three other writers, (two of whom have sold or optioned their scripts), two producers, one manager and ... an agent from William Morris Endeavour. Despite my anxiety attack and my inability to taste my lunch,(which was supposedly delicious), I was able to appreciate the clout which made this possible. Now working on the cogent revisions suggested by the WriteMovies/Alex Ross team. Wish me luck, guys.
I have never truly despised a group of people. That is, until I tired to do business with the low-life, crooks at Script Savvy.
Rot in hell, Marisa Gomez!
Author: Ann Morse
Posted: 12/24/2011 07:38 PM
It was difficult to wait for the comments but I'm grateful for the time between the results and the feedback. I was dissappointed that I didn't pass the first round of judges. The time to process the dissappointment allowed me to apply the constructive feedback and made me a better writer. I appreciate what the folks at Gimme Credit are doing. They are always professional and the experience has been nothing but positive for me.
Wonderful to see so many people as angry about this as I am--wonderful in that others are actively seeking to be reimbursed and DO NOT plan to roll-over-and-play-dead for Script Savvy--but distressing that writers, who pour so much of their time and energy into writing, should have to spend time pursuing this. And, as any writer knows, your scripts are personal, we aren't talking about buying hammers from Home Depot here, we're talking about having our efforts treated with a modicum of respect, and to be so thoroughly dismissed, stone-walled, written off, in the manner that Scipt Savvy has chosen to operate is not only a financial loss(if they get away with it) but a slap in the face to all of us. I hate taking the time to pursue this, but I hate even more the thought that Script Savvy would get away with this (and continue to operate
a business) and I hate the idea that other writers
are still sending their scripts, and their hopes, in to such a disreputable company.
I have contacted the Attorney General in Texas -- www.oag.state.tx.us/ --and been informed that they don't respond to complaints individually, but do respond if they get a number of complaints about a business--so do fill out their online complaint form! And maybe this will eventually do some good. I've also filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office in Colorado (where I live) and they are actively pursuing it.
When I contacted the Better Business Bureau in Texas they were not able to get Script Savvy to respond to their emails or phone calls.
Anybody who has any success getting reimbursed, spread the word. Until then, let's keep hammering away and spreading the word that no writer, and no writer that respects the efforts of other writers, should even think about sending Script Savvy a script.
Wonderful contest. Gordon is always a pleasure to correspond with and quick to respond. I've entered both the Annual and Monthly contests and have nothing but praise for the way they are run and the professionalism involved. Highly recommended!
Author: Roy Cho
Posted: 12/19/2011 10:09 AM
I've entered this contest two times and was a runner-up this past year. I'd highly recommend this contest. Mark Andrushko is extremely responsive, knowledgeable and professional. Scriptapalooza pushes your script for a year after the contest and sends out semifinalist scripts and up to production companies, managers, lit agents etc (who all work as readers for the competition itself). This is a wonderful contest that's run very effectively and professionally. Highly recommend!
One of the best hidden jem competitions out there!
WEBSITE HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED/FAILED.
The contest was inactive for a few months, then reopened in September. I entered my screenplay in the Shorts category, assuming September winners to be announced in October. I tried to contact them via their website, to which no reply back. I found their email addy via my Pay Pal account (contest@screenwritingawards.com), and tried to contact them this way - the reply I got was a "delivery failure". Looks like they took our money and ran - a shame they screwed Winners from earlier this year as well.
While I was not a winner, I did qualify as a finalist. I am impressed with the professional and timely communications I received regarding my entry and results. While I have not yet received a request to read my script, it is close to Christmas, so I am hopeful that I will in the new year. This contest is definitely worth the investment and on the up and up. Thanks Jared!
Author: Ron Ecker
Posted: 12/16/2011 02:04 PM
Unbelievable! The deadline on this contest was December 15, 2011. When I got ready to submit my entry, though not completely satisfied with the script, I saw that the deadline had been changed to December 16. I was glad to see this one-day extension, as it gave me time to clean up a couple of things in the script. So on the 16th I get ready to submit, and incredibly the date had been changed back to December 15. This deadline change was made, mind you, when it was too late to enter. I have entered quite a few contests, and this is absolutely the worst thing I've seen.
Full apologies. Right comment but to wrong festival. Is there a delete??
Expensive and dismissive; never again!
It was awesome to have my sitcom teleplay be among those listed as honorable mentions in the first contest by The Happy Writers in 2011! I received (in a PDF file - nice touch!) a multi-category rating of my spec teleplay and two paragraphs of comments on suggestions for improvements - exactly as the contest promised. This was sent to me directly by the founder of The Happy Writers, Joey Tuccio, who indicated he'd read the script himself -- an unexpected bonus! We traded a couple of email messages and I'm convinced he and his company are the real deal. Equally important, the contest results were posted on the promised date, which is something that doesn't always happen even with competitions that have been running for years. This one contest demonstrated to me as a screenwriter that industry access is both affordable and achievable. I recommend it for 2012!
It appears they're off-line, bust, or can't be bothered.
This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. THIS IS A WARNING MESSAGE ONLY. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESEND YOUR MESSAGE. Delivery to the following recipients has been delayed. info@querypros.com
Author: Fred Kim
Posted: 12/15/2011 10:54 PM
I was a top twenty finalist this year, and I really appreciate everything Script Pipeline did for me as a result. Advice on how to jumpstart my career, opportunities to meet with agents, managers, and producers, and even a get together with all my fellow finalists!
But the benefits of doing well in the competition don't end with the awards ceremony. Script Pipeline works hard to get the finalists placed with representation throughout the year.
I recently met a manager thanks to an introduction through Script Pipeline, and now we're working together on a new project. It's exactly the kind of opportunity I've been hoping for, and I owe it all to entering this contest!
This was my first time to enter and I should've read the user comments on here first. Having to request the feedback with no instructions in the FAQ section should've been a red flag. Theeennnn... it's up to a ten business day wait. If the site is correct, there weren't even that many entries so I am confused as to why the wait and why so long especially if (my understanding is) notes are something compiled while the reader goes through the script. Plus, the feedback isn't more than just a couple of paragraphs???? Never-ever-ever-ever-ever-ever again. But CONGRATULATIONS to the Cycle X Winner for being able to write a feature that takes place in the shower! Reading that was pretty much the only positive thing to come of this experience.
For Cycle X, one of the scripts I entered, S&M In Space, won the "Artistic Vision" award in the super short category. For me this validation is a great way to end the year! I got a personal email message from Director Erica Engelhardt, posting of my script's logline on the Gimme Credit website, a one-year membership in Script Pipeline (now activated), other benefits and most importantly, concise comments and useful ratings from two Gimme Credit readers for ways to improve my story. Their succinct, relevant feedback was consistent with what I'd heard from another contest and will be used as I rewrite this 5-pg screenplay. Regardless of results, I have entered some script contests only once. I've been entering short screenplays in Gimme Credit competitions since 2008. That should say something, both in terms of 'staying in the game' and in terms of value received.
I was really disappointed with this outfit. They took forever to deliver notes, and what they gave me was incredibly generic and vague. Frankly, the incredibly terse comments felt like A-B-C screenwriting tidbits just cursorily slapped together. They could have been talking about anyone's script. No insights, no interesting thoughts, nothing remotely thought-provoking. They also have a very standard, under-developed rubric with minimal categories. In all honesty, I feel like I got shortchanged, especially in comparison to other contests I entered that were cheaper and more thorough. As someone who has worked in development for multiple studios and production companies and served as a judge for several other screenwriting competitions, I feel like I have the credibility to say that the effort and analysis offered by Gimme Credit is subpar. Would certainly not recommend them.
I entered Golden Brad Awards this year and am awaiting the next round announcement. Since several winners complained on this site about not receiving awards and exposure, I'm wondering if this contest is actually even judged. Does being a winner mean anything? What's your opinion?
I appreciate everyone's information about the various contests. Very helpful.
I entered this contest this year mainly for the standard feedback form they give all entries. I am not a screenwriter but had turned a short story I wrote into a screenplay with basically my only guide being a book on formatting that I purchased at Barnes and Noble. The script was pretty much the first draft, my first screenplay, and I wanted some kind of professional feedback as to whether there was hope for it or not. I have to say that I am very pleased with the overall experience of this contest and the helpful critique I received in my feedback. The grading system helped me to understand where the strengths and weaknesses in my script are and the comments, though brief (as they are supposed to be), were good, solid bits of advice that gave me a clear understanding of where my script stands and what needs to be changed. I highly recommend this contest for its professionalism and its eagerness to encourage and help its writers. Thanks WOTS!
Brian, Here is the information I am posting on the internet for filing a criminal complaint:
For those of you who have been victimized by the Script Savvy contest, please file a complaint on the following web address:
https://complaint.ic3.gov/ctf.aspx
This is the internet crime complaint center. You will need the ip address for Script Savvy
207.148.251.170
Names: Donna White and Marisa Gomez
Marisa Gomez contact info is: marisagomez@scriptsavvy.net
phone: 512 222 9478
Taking money and not delivering the service is a CRIME.
Please take the time to file a complaint with this government agency. Perhaps, if enough people complain, they will be shut down. Since you are not from this country, it makes it an INTERNATIONAL crime.
-Carolyn
Author: Jon Duff
Posted: 12/07/2011 09:32 PM
I was fortunate to find out today I won the Three Lines or Less contest. I am impressed with the professionalism of the staff and their follow up. This contest has opened some new doors and is well for the money. I encourage others especially not in Hollywood to look at this opportunity. I hope to do more in the future and spread the word.
As a 2011 finalist, my script, LOST STONES, is being read by, among others, Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment, IM Global and Atlas Entertainment. So as far as exposure is concerned, Script Pipeline gets the job done.
I've found Matt Misetich, General Manager & Director of Development, to be extremely helpful, totally professional and quick to respond. And he provides guidance after the contest to ensure the script is ready for public consumption. He even referred me to a producer who was looking for a similar project.
Recommend? Absolutely! I plan to enter a new script next year.
I wasn't sure about entering contests, simply because you could wind up spending a small fortune in entry fees if you enter enough of them! Before I entered Scriptapalooza, I e-mailed them inquiring if my script would be disqualified because of it's length. (At 167 pages, it's a really hard sell!) Well, Mark Andrushko himself replied rather quickly to say that they would accept it. So I entered and my script, "The Copper Queen", made it all the way to the finals in the 2011 contest! Sure, winning would have been better, but the point is that it was read by industry people and liked enough to make it through several rounds of judging. Scriptapalooza definitely tops my list of worthwhile contests.
My script, Ameriqueno, was a semi-finalist in the 2011 competition. Scriptapalooza was really good about keeping us informed about our status and any inquiries from production companies and agents/managers. It's been a great experience and I would highly recommend entering this contest.
As a top twenty finalist in the contest, I was impressed that they gave the finalists the opportunity to pitch producers and managers in LA, and even helped out with transportation costs for out-of-owners. It's a contest that actually creates opportunities for the finalists.
CXarolyn there are a lot of us. I'm waiting for feedback from Jan, Feb and Mar 2011 - not as long as you.
Unfortunately I'm not based in the US, however I would lend any information and give my backing to any action that may get my money back.
The competition claims to have "new management" but considering the problems are still the same (no answering e-mails, failing to provide feedback, failing to announce the new competition winners on time...), I truly beleive that it is still the same crooks running it and stealing money from writers unaware of this competitions history.
As I have previously said, any genuine new owners would do everything to restore the faith in what used to be an excellent competition. They would certainly answer queries and get the outstanding issues resolved as a matter of urgency to prove this.
I, personally, have e-mailed them at least once a month since last May and have yet to receive a reply.
As a grand prize winner of this year I can say that this is an incredibly worth-while contest. I have been a finalist and/or winner of Page International, Austin Film Festival, Champion Screenwriting, and Slamdance, none of which have given me the exposure that this contest did.
The support from the staff at Script Pipeline doesn't stop when the contest ends. I have received various emails or calls from producers and managers in the months since, all of which have been due to Script Pipeline's ongoing mission to help their finalists and winning scripts get into the proper hands. Definitely worth the cost of entry for the potential benefits.
Please BEWARE OF THIS CONTEST. I paid $60 to enter the july 2010 contest. To date, Dec, 2011. I have received neither my notes nor my money back, even after repeated emails and threats of legal action.
If this has happened to you, please let me know as I want to instigate legal action. I can understand a slip up, but I can't understand it happening repeatedly and I certainly can't understand not having my emails returned.
Larry -- the script may be named the same, but it's not the same script. This kind of thing happens all the time -- in the last contest, we even had two scripts with the same name! If scripts have been previously produced, they are not eligible for competition...it's that simple. If we discover one has been produced while the competition is on, that contestant will be disqualified.
I have a question about the finalist for Story pros. One of the scripts is titled Firestorm. Firestorm was a 1997 movie script that sold and was made into a movie.
How can I see Firestorm as a title of a movie script? I thought that was copyrighted or is this the script from 1997?
This is a fabulous contest. Mark Andrushko works extremely hard to promote all the semi-finalists and above - not for a month, but for an entire year. I am a runner-up this year and I honestly believe that if you do well in this competition it can really open doors for you. It doesn't automatically open a magic door, obviously, no one can do that. But your script gets pitched to a large number of reputable companies you can't pitch to unless you're represented. In the past there was no feedback option, which may have put some people off, but now you can order feedback.
I'm commenting again - with support for Irin
I'm the 2010 winner of the Golden Brad Short Screenplay and despite all of my effort to get replies from them, I got nothin as well - no $1,000, no certificate, no trophy, no reader contact, not a single thing. I'm so angry that they are fleecing thousands of people from around the world for money, and want to do something about it. I'm from the UK and I contacted various law enforcement againcies here, who signposted me to the FBI, and a scheme they run to investigate web/online scams & fraud. I have registered a complaint with them, and have a registration code to update the FBI with any additional info, so if anyone wants me to add their details to my complaint to aid the FBI with their investivation, then let me know, as combined action might speed up some kind of redress. In the meantime, like Irin, I'm strongly suggesting that people do not pay to enter. You are just giving your money away!
A very disappointed "winner"
Today is exactly 1 year since I won 1st Place, Drama in Movie Script Contest (aka Golden Brads).
I entered the contest on many recommendations, including a friend who'd won it a few years ago, and lots of good work of mouth that Jason Zimmatore really got the winners out there.
My script has not been sent out. I have not received a single prize. No "famous" trophy. I've sent a dozen emails in the past year and received 2 or 3 replies, the last one was around March. I'm being ignored.
Basically - I got NUTHIN'.
I even told Jason that I don't want the prizes and would be happy if he just got me a few reads. No reply to that email as well.
Yet the contest is still going and writers are submitting to the next one. All I can say is - don't. And that's from the previous winner.
I was a finalist this year.
I'm always happy with how the GC people run their competition. I learned when my script was a semi-finalist and when it was a finalist (it got no further).
I strongly recommend this competition for everyone.
I'm very upset over how this competition was run. Those who enter but do not win are not notified of this. While this is the standard for most competitions, it should not be so in this.
I recently e-mailed the competition organizers if there was any decision on the fellowship and was told that the finalists were already picked. Those who didn't make it were not notified of any decisions (atleast I didn't receive any notification).
The winners, here, are expected to go to California and work for Disney for a year. They must alter their lives for this competition. In my youthful optimism, I thought I was still in the running as I received no word to the contrary. I was holding off on all plans for 2012 thinking I might be going to California.
I can accept losing this competition; it's not the first one I lost. This won't happen again as I won't be entering this particular competition again.
Disney should give some thought to ALL to enter their fellowship program, not just the winners.
Contest:
Well, this warning is a little like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped, but this was a horrid experience for me.
I won the grand prize of the AAA feature contest, was a runner up in the hour-long teleplay contest, and I also won the Screenwriting Expo one hour teleplay contest (all run by Creative Screenwriting Magazine). I've received nothing from them, and will not. The magazine filed for bankruptcy, I'm told, and will not be fulfilling any financial obligations. I'm not only out my prize winnings for these contests, but I was also promised reimbursement for travel expenses if I went to the Expo, and I won't get those, either. All told, I'm out close to $10,000 in winnings and expenses.
So yeah. Even when I win, I lose. Great confidence builder. :)
Wow! What a great experience from Fade In to Fade Out! Put Creative World Awards at the top of your contest list. Marlene and Heather delivered everything promised and more. The detailed and in-depth feedback provided was absolutely the best I have received from any contest. The prizes were great and delivered exactly on time. And best of all, I have received numerous queries about my script.
I am a previous Fade In Award winner (13th Annnual FA for my screenplay MAYOR'S DANCE). In response to the comment made by Ms. Foster and her dissatisfaction with this contest. I want writers to know that I have received ALL PRIZES and actions that came with winning in my category. Please read my interview regarding the FADE IN AWARDS.
I ask that all writers who enter this contest be patient... If you know their process and the way they administrate you will clearly understand that their winning announcements are made well into the next year of competition. The reason being is that they work with the winning writers for a FULL YEAR, providing a WGA-credited analysis of the winners screenplay...by the time they are finished addressing EACH winning writers work it is already well into the next year. So if you were selected a winner say in 2009...you would be receiving YOUR ENTIRE PRIZE PACKAGE sometime in 2010.
Again, I stress that newer writers remain patient and allow their process to facilitate. They haven't forgotten about you and they certainly are not scamming you. That's just their process...and they let you know that upfront if you PAY ATTENTION to their website and contest administration. There are many other contests out there...some good, some not. There are the major ones (Nicholl, Final Draft) and the minor ones. It is our choice what we enter into. We should just do it smartly and responsibly.
I have NOTHING to gain by defending any contest that takes advantage of writers. That is unaceptable across the board. I have received everything that was promised to me from Fade In. A WINNERS CHECK made payable to me for my category win. A complete and extremely helpful written analysis of my screenplay from a WGA-credited screenwriter. A congratulatory letter. And my name and script title was placed on their website AND in their e-zine. On top of this, I've had the pleasure of meeting Audrey Kelly(editor-in-chief) at one of their very first pitch events in Hollywood, as well as by phone and email over a fourteen year period...she has ALWAYS been courteous and helpful.
Be smart with your actions and your careers folks.
Please new writers, don't shoot off negatively and prematurely against the few people running legitimate contests that help us legitimate screenwriters move forward in our craft.
Wow! Though I was not a winner with my first screenplay, I'm still a winner knowing I've chosen a competition that's professionally grounded, feedback, exceptional without saying, and trustworthiness, great. They even helped me fix my script to the point of winning another competition, though, that was a draft, too. I will re-enter next year. If not entering contest, getting your script critique is another option. It works. A MUST MUST MUST COMPETITION. YOU GO HEATHER!
Is there on;y one contest each year?
I just checked ... it was the January contest.
I also checked BBB for central, coastal and southwest TX. Of the 5 businesses of this type, they placed FIFTH (worst). What a surprise. (Is there an emoticon for dripping sarcasm?)
I still haven't gotten my feedback -- for which I've PAID -- from January or February (it's been so long, I can't recall exactly how long ago it was).
CWA is a professionally run contest and well worth the investment. Unlike some contests, CWA did a very good job communicating and meeting its deadlines. The judging criteria was clear, well organized and the feedback on my script was very helpful. Heather is very pleasant to work with, responsive to questions and clearly cares about her contest.
I would definitely recommend CWA to others.
As a feature writer and now a Honorable Mention (11/14/11) I again enphasize the total professionalisn offered by the dedicated team behind this contest. Totally worth your time.
My experience with CWA has been "phenomenal". And it's on-going. My screenplay won First Place in the comedy genre so I'm now putting both Heather and Marlene in my will. I was thrilled at winning, and am using the win to open doors in the Industry. So we shall see. The feedback was thorough and spot-on. I would definitely rate this contest as a "RECOMMEND".
This was my first experience with CWA and it was a wonderful one! The page notes I received were great. The comments from the critque were right on and helped me bring my script to a higher level. Heather followed up immediately with marketing the winners of this year's competition. I'm thrilled to say, my script, Lady Justice, was the 1st Runner Up in the action/adventure catergoy. The prizes are very worthwhile to help the writer to also market their script. This is a first class contest and one I would highly recommend to any aspiring screenwriter. Thank you, CWA!
This was my first script and the feedback I received was enormously helpful. I think the judge commenting on the good parts of the script and then focusing on what needed improvement allowed me to clearly see the points that needed work without all that stuff that comes with a harsh critique. I feel the points the judge made were right on target and right after finishing the novel I’ll be right back working on the script. I would certainly recommend this contest along with the comments portion to any aspiring screenwriter.
My short film won the comedy category in the 14 annual film competition. In 2010! Almost a year later, still no prize money, no write up in the trade's or the Fade In Magazine as promised. I keep getting excuse after excuse why they have not sent out my 1st place prize. I advise that this contest be avoided by writers and filmmakers in the future.
To all writers....avoid this contest at all costs!
Five days ago I won the October 2011 competition with my romantic comedy Love is Blind, and it's been a whirlwind of activity since then! Alex has been in touch multiple times, either with prompt answers to my questions, to pass along valuable information, or to send me professional evaluations of my script from different readers. I will use this coverage to rework and improve my script, then -- when Alex and his team and I have decided the script is as strong as possible -- it will be pitched to multiple production companies! This is indescribably exciting, and Alex is AMAZING; he is genuinely invested in this mentoring process, and is helping me to prepare this script for market -- I feel like I am working with professionals here, the stakes have been raised, and I am taking my work to a whole new level!
Quarter-finalist announcement:
http://www.scriptoidchallenge.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/2011FEATUREQUARTERS.306170452.pdf
Let's face it, there is NO new management team. Obviously Donna was running short of cash!!
They've stated they will post the March/April winners "this week" for the last 6 weeks.
Any new owners would have contacted contestants, kept them up to date, offered something to reinstall belief in the competition. They certainly would keep to their word on deadlines, given the mess the competition was in.
It is just a continued scam and I pity anyone giving these thieves their hard earned cash.
Just noticed, according to the scriptoid writer's challenge website, that they won't be back next year (2012).
So another contest joins Feeding Frenzy and scriptsavvy in that big memory hole in the sky, (victim of the recession unless I miss my bet).
Very pround and happy to be selected for my feature script "The Incident of Death." I hope the best for myself and all the other tuff contestants.
I entered this competition. I won 2nd place in the comedy section in 2010. I haven't received my "trophy". The website wasn't updated as promised. Numerous attempts to communicate with Jason Zimmatore have failed. And he seems to be taking money from a whole new bunch of unsuspecting writers. This guy needs shutting down.
Hello, Everybody! I heard of this contest while surfing internet. It was 7 days to the deadline and I had still no idea how a screenplay was written. I already wrote a novel, which is still unpublished, about the battle of Waterloo, and i thought that since the bicentenary of the battle was close it would have been a good idea to write a script about it. So I got started, I had very few days to do it but i wanted to make it, and i wrote "Love and death on Waterloo battlefield" down in less than a week. I apologize for the tons of mistakes I have made but I had not even the time to review it... At this point does anyone know how it works? I'm in the first round qualifiers, and this is already an huge achievement for me. Is there going to be another step?
It was great to hear I made the first round. "Spirit of the Rain" is my first screenplay, so I'm delighted that they didn't hate it.
Hurray I made it to the first round! This is fun. Even if I don't win it's a rush.
It'd be nice to hear back from them on whether I placed or not. It's like, they just take your money and you never hear from them again. I think they should at least have the courtesy to tell you the results.
Well run contest. Feedback was useful and all things promised were delivered on time.
I think I've posted enough comments about scriptsavvy to claim this post --
#200!!!
Now let's get on with our screenwriting lives without this contest and the people who now run it.
Their web site says that the winners of the March 2011 and April 2011 were posted 'this week'... which week is that? I cannot find the posting anywhere on their site... the latest posting is for February 2011... :(
And e-mails to the e-mail address listed bounce back!
Is it just me, or are there more contests than writers out there now? It's like every failed film school grad has gotten into this game.
I did not win with these guys, but they were prompt, did not blow smoke up my ass and are run by filmmakers.
The coverage I got with Write Movies Monthly A/Exposure was insightfull and intelligent. I have had a few questions. Much to my surprise, Alex Ross has responded thoughtfully and almost immediately. Will let you know how successful I am with the promised producer contacts!
I have to finally add my voice to all those saying, Stay away from scriptsavvy. And I get to feel like a jerk for ever defending them.
That said, if an expose of what went wrong with this contest (madness, addiction, traumatic stress, death and pestilence?) were to be published, I'd be standing first in line to buy it. Whatever it was, it must be something major. You don't simply throw away years of work and carefully established credibility because you got lazy and stupid all of a sudden.
I'm thinking Donna White had a stroke, but that's just my guess.
Working with Alex Ross from the Writemovies.com #27 contest has been great. He knows how to make a good script into a great one and is able to open doors to get that script into the right hands!
A1 contest!
These guys really helped me out and opened doors to real filmmakers not development idiots.
Hey,
They liked my script and called over twenty production companies and agencies for me.
I got 14 reads and 5 meetings so far.
Fingers crossed!
Alex Ross really rocks.
My feedback was three days late so they comped it!
Very professional contest, immediate response to my questions. These guys care.
This is a "winner take all" contest. All the stuff about 2 reads per script (minimum) before being reduced to the top 20 where it will be further vetted to obtain the top 5...well, that all depends on whether they feel like going through that trouble or not.
Steer clear of this contest, they don't live up to their own hype.
A once-bright contest now faded out. Don't go near it.
Author: Rob Tobin
Posted: 10/18/2011 10:41 AM
Unlike any contest I've entered, the organizers and participants in this contest have more passion than I've ever seen, and there is a real sense of community here that lasts far beyond the actual contest. I received two awards from this contes and they are absolutely treasured, and when I promoted my awards online, there was a very good response. I'd absolutely recommend this for any writer.
Author: Rob Tobin
Posted: 10/18/2011 10:40 AM
Extremely responsive and professional, there was a mix-up with my submissions and they immediately offered to resubmit for the next month's contest no extra charge, very good do deal with.
Author: Lana Rory
Posted: 10/14/2011 02:10 PM
STAY AWAY from this contest. There are numerous e-mail threads about winners never receiving their prizes and entrants not receiving feedback they paid for. The 2010 winners aren't even listed on their site.
Unfortunately, I hadn't seen these horrible reviews in the threads before I entered this year. Big mistake. Newbies, don't make the same mistake. They continue to run new contests, take money from hopeful writers, and provide nothing in return. Good people are out good money. I think that's called theft.
I'm sure there are some good people involved here, but I can't recommend this contest based on my experience. My impatient, inexperienced Cynosure reader was not just unwilling to be charmed by my script, but positively annoyed by every aspect of it. Most of her comments concerned characters and language lifted directly from a well-known classic novel from which the script was adapted. And the screenplay itself has placed in ten previous competitions.
How will you know if they've reached their limit of 1000 scripts?
Not the biggest contest, but if you want to get a win under your belt you actually stand a chance here.
Very professional customer service.
Thumbs up!
Did you have the right email address? I submitted my script, had some questions, got an immediate answer + their consulting service was a really good deal compared to what the others are charging. So these are good value as far as I am concerned.
After a 6 year hiatus from TV spec writing, I wrote a new spec and applied. I was 1 of 15 drama writers to get interviewed by WB execs (there were a total of 1750 entries). The execs were very professional yet cool and laid back. I felt like I was sitting down and chopping it up with some of my friends. They asked to see more of my original work (which I supplied). In the end I didn't make it into the program, but I am still impressed by them. I was encouraged to reapply next year (which I will be doing) and I was told exactly what to do (and who to e-mail when I was getting ready to send out my stuff so they can weed me out) to strengthen my chances of getting in. IMO this is one of the most relevant and worthwhile competitions/workshops around. Highly professional and well organized. It can totally jump start your screenwriting career.
Just another scam.
NO FEEDBACK, NO RESPONSE TO E-MAILS, DEADLINES BEING CHANGED!!!
I don't believe there is any "new" management, I believe it is the old management trying to SCAM more money from us.
People are still waiting for feedback from SEPTEMBER 2010!!! What chance is there that any new contest entry will receive feedback??
AVOID THIS CONTEST AT ALL COSTS.
