Empire Announces Finalists; Discontinues Future Contests

EMPIRE SCREENPLAY CONTEST

PRESS RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA--We are experiencing delays in judging for the 4th Annual Contest, but expect that winners will be announced within a few weeks in both categories. Finalists so far determined include:

HOLLYWOOD OR BUST Category

"Geneva" by Beth Szyperski

(one or two more likely to be named in this category)

HIGH VALUE Category

"Laguna Monsters" by Larry Newnam

"Sasha Says" by Daniel Louie

"When Harry Tries to Marry" by Ralph Stein and Nayan Padrai

(no more finalists to be named in this category)

Meanwhile, in the 5th Annual Contest all but the last one or two quarterfinalist titles have been selected. Authors of the following should visit the Contest website immediately and follow the Next Steps listed there (MENU: Promotion SUBMENU: Projects).

HOLLYWOOD OR BUST Quarterfinalists

"1-800-SCANDAL"
"American Prophet"
"Compulsive Acts and Mutual Needs"
"Cradle to Grave"
"DoubleTalk"
"Dummanios"
"Escape from Botany Bay"
"Of Fools and Kings"
"A Guy Who Works for Dr. Maybe"
"The Human Continuum"
"Indiana Jones and the Demons of Doom"
"Jump Cut"
"The Last Roundup"
"Marcus"
"Matadora"
"Rising Sun"
"Semper Fi"
"The Seventh Slayer"
"Sir Barton"
"Time Stud"
"Tourist Season"


HIGH VALUE Quarterfinalists

"All You Can Eat"
"Aurora"
"Back to Life"
"BONDAGE - A Codependent's Guide to Love in New York City"
"Class Alibi"
"The Final Gift"
"Fugue"
"The Gift: The Treasure The Light The Guardian"
"The Great Beyond"
"Haunted House"
"The Healer's Hand"
"Icarus Fool"
"Jack the Dog"
"Killing Johnnie"
"Last Summer"
"Little Man on Campus"
"Love You to Death"
"The Memphis Tales"
"Public"
"Qpid's Arrow"
"Rebels"
"Reflections: White"
"Roomies"
"Runaway Lake"
"Scotty's"
"Screenplay"
"Snowmen in Hell"
"Tale Spin"
"To Act Naturally"


Thank you to all who entered the 5th Annual Contest. Unfortunately we will be unable to contact each of you individually. We had numerous qualified entries and quite often those projects not advancing in this (or any other) competition find success elsewhere. We wish all entrants the best with their writing careers.

CONTEST NEWS

With the 5th Annual Contest, the Empire Screenplay Contest ends half a decade of helping Hollywood identify projects and writing talent, and screenwriters advance their writing careers. We take pride in some of our innovations--categories separated by production budget level, the early-regular-late deadlines, enhanced resubmission of projects during judging, extensive writing guidance posted to the Contest website, a companion workshop, etc.--and in some of our successes in advancing writer careers, many of which are posted to our website.

Most recently we have been trying to redirect our efforts away from simply identifying finalists and winners, awarding prizes, and posting their names to aiding fundamentally in the twin objectives of any success-minded screenwriter: 1) write a great script; and 2) get it into the right hands. Turning the battleship around mid-course can be difficult, however, and slumping submissions in the last two years, and consistent delays in judging have made continuing this service increasingly difficult.

We intend to dedicate the next year to completing the judging of the last two competitions, enhancing the winning writers' projects and marketing materials, promoting their projects to Hollywood, and making good on our award commitments.

Thank you to all who have participated in the Contest over the years, and we apologize to those for whom the process may have been less than satisfying.

Updated: 10/30/2000