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This is an excellent topic Irin (especially for someone like myself who is new to all this - literally 6 months in).

I'm a bit unsure if the fact I am from, and still live in, England may count against me (especially as my first feature was set here).

Anyway my (albeit somewhat limited) experience so far; I entered the Feb edition of scriptsavvy and scored a 53. I thought their feedback service was very good, and the contest as a whole seemed to be well run.

The script has since been redrafted and sent to Page, Nicholl, Scriptapalooza and Austin (All of which seem to mentioned fairly positively on here). I can't really comment on them as contests yet though as I am so new to all this (though i did receieve confirmation fromm all except Austin practically straight away).

I'd definitely be interested to hear more about 'cold calling' and people's experience with it. It's also great to hear people's feedback who have won or placed in these competitions. I agree that people shouldn't throw their money at contests that don't treat the writer well and have our best interests at heart.

Irin from your own personal experience do you feel it's sometimes better to sacrifice a couple of contests and use a consultant?

Once again thanks for the excellent topic.

Congrats everyone who advanced.

Out of interest, has anybody ever used Julia as a consultant?

Curious to know if people on here use WGA, copyright office or both?

So in truth copyright is the obvious choice? I registered my last with the WGA (perhaps foolishly thinking they both serve the same purpose) as the contests do encourage either the WGA or copyright. Thanks for the advice guys (best get copyrighting now then).

I'm fairly new here, but was curious (for those willing to share) to know what the average age of writers on Moviebytes is.

Yeah Irin I imagined the ages would be all over the shot.

I have been pleasantly surprised at just how friendly this board is (it's great to see). It's already helped me loads in this short period of time.

Haha oops, must be a sixth sense. Well the secret is well and truely out now guys.

I'm gonna be accused of being a home-wrecker now as well!

It's always stated that the scripts should be in English, but as a writer from England does it matter how I spell words like colour/color, realise/realize, etc. Is it just a case of being consistent? I always spell them the English way typically (because it's the correct spelling here), but for American Screenwriting contests should I be using the American-English spellings?

Cheers

Cheers guys.

Haha, you wanna patent that translator of yours.

Thanks for that Mike. I'm probably being picky but the z's just look wrong to me as well!

Did you move to LA because of your writing?

Congrats to Mike and anyone else on here who advanced.

I'm going to go call my parents and shout abuse down the phone for not being American.

I've entered one in Austin, and I might enter an early draft of another, but not sure. Quite strapped for cash as me and my partner are getting married in a couple of months. For some reason she seems to think flowers and table decorations are more important than script competitions at the moment; women....

Congrats!

Good luck guys.

Excellent Stephen. Hope you go all the way.

I apologise on behalf of England for inflicting Pop Idol upon you. X factor, Strictly come dancing and Britain's got talent dominates our ratings now (in excess of 12 mil viewers - more for the final). The only thing that can compete are the soaps. X factor (similar to your pop idol, before we axed it) is so formulaic and predictable in my opinion. Britain's got talent is getting that way. Part of its appeal are the auditions where people (especially here in Britain) love to watch people make absolute tits of themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if the ratings are slightly higher for the audition stages actually.

As much as they get ridiculed though they do dominate the TV, and I find myself watching them with my partner. The live semi finals for Britain's got talent starts tonight and no doubt i'll end up watching. Car crash telly they may be, but they're addictive and popular, and there are lessons we can learn from them to adapt into our screenwriting. I remember having a seminar with a fairly succesful sitcom writer here in the UK and he was a firm believer that you learn just as much from bad shows that work/don't work than you do from anything critically acclaimed.

Just my opinion though. My girlfriend loves them.

Strictly come dancing (what you call DWTS) competes with X factor over here every year in the ratings (they're on the two biggest TV channels and go head to head), and both are massively popular. It's slightly different demographics who like them though. I know that if I ask my class which they prefer then the majority will say X factor. My Mum loves strictly though (not that it is that straightforward, but people who are slightly older seem to prefer the dancing). Tbh i'd actually rather watch strictly, but I secretly really want to learn how to dance! (And some of the female dancers are so good looking, but I digress...).

I actually really like the film Strictly Ballroom! I letn it to a friend once a few years back and she still hasn't given me it back...

Strictly is our DWTS, but X factor is our pop idol (except it is open to a far wider age range - there are 4 categories).

So for the ratings it's almost like signing vs dancing - although both shows feature live music from professional singers; Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis, etc...although Simon Cowell has more contacts so he tends to get the bigger stars on the X factor. However the dancers on strictly always put on some incredible (and contemporary) performances inbetween the celebs dancing.

I don't watch these shows religously, however every September when strictly starts up again I always say I want to learn to dance! Maybe this year....

Janet you are incredibly passionate about your dancing, it's great to see/read about! They say write what you know, so I imagine that passion really has worked well when transfering to page.

I think it's a shame that a lot of these contests don't seem to cater well for the musical genre.

Congrats Stephen and Mike!

The fact that this has never happened to me leads me to believe I may be the one fidgeting uncontrollably!

When I tap my gf tells me straight away though, but she knows me... would she tell a stranger? Probably not, but she would certainly moan to me about it later. Truth be told i'd probably either put up with it or go to the toilet and sit at another seat on returning.

Congrats Mike.

Few competitions announce on time.

That's brilliant Mike!

I would have thought that there would be an overall winner as well as the smaller genre prizes. I can't be sure though as I havn't entered that particular contest. I don't think being in the running for the smaller prize will rule out the entry in the grand prize though (but I could be wrong).

I thought Prince of Persia was alright. I will agree that the endinf, because of the whole premise, is really predictable and a little pointless. I have actually been so disappointed this year with the Blockbusters so far (Iron Man 2 in particular was a massive let down - although I did actually really enjoy Robin Hood, but I appear to be in the minority on that one). I haven't left the cinema much this year thrilled (although Kick Ass was definitely an exception).

I love the character Robin Hood so perhaps it's bias. I mean it's flawed, but I still enjoyed it. I watched the Kevin Costner and the Disney version the night before I went to see it to get in the mood, haha.

Overall though I have seen more disappointing films at the cinema this year than good ones.

I liked Shutter Island; I thought Green Zone was ok as well; I also liked (I can imagine i'm in the minority here as wewll) Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson.

Some films though like The Princess and the Frog and Clash of the Titans really disappointed (not that I actually expected Clash of the Titans to be special).

I do find that even in bad movies that it's a real learning experience somtimes though. Me and my partner went to see The Last Song a few weeks back and a lot of audience members were crying their eyes out. They were really positive about the film afterwards too.

I don't think there is a need for peole to have a go at Janet for this (her intentions are good). I will however second Irin in that I think a list of contests TO enter as opposed to NOT enter is more beneficial. Let's celebrate the good good contests and enter those ones that we list in Irin's thread.

It was through the scrippedguys website. I saw it but did not enter. Congrats Stephen; keep everyone updated how it goes.

Nice one Janet :)

Thread of the week right here (h).

Congrats to those who advanced. I have heard a lot of good things about Bluecat, so I wish I had entered now!

Well said Steve.

Congrats guys.

I think it depends how much potential you see with this new character. I think it's sometimes good to go for the rewrite. At the end of the day you don't need to keep with it if it isn't working.

I signed up last week. I haven't had much chance to browse the site yet, but I did start reading Wedding Knight before getting called into work, so I'll finish that on my days off this week.

I haven't had any problems with firefox.

Toy Story 3 hasn;t reached the UK yet :( Pixar's films always seem to come out significantly earlier in the states (UP was released in May there and October here!) Really looking forward to seeing it though.

Four weeks Bobette!

I'm not asking generally, but more individually because some people seem to and others don't. Is it becoming a thing of the past?

I was curious myself when i receieved the e-mail. I'll wait to see what others say.

Yeah I am always consistent. I just seem to read more and more these days that don't do it so was just curious.

Thanks Stephen

I agree her blog is good. She did say she doesn't understand 'soccer' though so I think i'm gonna have to explain....

Good luck with it Stephen.

I saw this on twitter - cool idea.

Cheers for everyone's input. Seems lots of people do different things. So it really isn't a problem to capitalize words in action for emphasis (SMASH, CRASH, etc) even if you don't cap words such as PUNCH...

Thanks for that post, Robert.

Michael that sequel has to be made!

Nick would you be able to keep us updated? I have also considered using it.

Hi Andrea,

the comps that split the categories into genres are always well received. People seem to worry about their Horrors taking on romantic comedies, etc. In a similar vein It's nice when you get judges who get your genre; so if a judge states he likes action and sci-fi and hates westerns, he would be handed more action and science fiction scripts and not any westerns.

I have to say I think you're doing a great job advertising this comp. I love the social networking discount as well. Hope all the hardwork pays off.

The worry is the site doesn't attract enough attention and take off. Does anyone use any similar sites (Winningscriptspro, etc)?

Also to save me making a new topic: Ink Tips Pref-newsletter.... worth the money?

Good luck everyone.

Great stuff both of you. Three in there Stephen; nice! I'll have my fingers crossed for both of you.

Ooo sorry Irin, missed you when i scanned the list quickly. Good luck to yourself as well.

Voted.

Thanks Stephen.

Keep us all updated how this vote goes. I bet you had a load-a fun writing this!

They should state how the process works in my opinion. If they're only going to read the first ten pages then fair enough, but state that in the contest details.

If they're passing on scripts cause you're not in a certain location then that's harsh. Studio execs can do it, but like you say they don't owe the writer anything.

However, if you've paid money into a contest you would like to think the money hasn't been a total waste and they'll at least get past the title page.

I thought the opening ten minutes of Inglourious Basterds were brilliant! I guess this shows how subjective it is - It reads as well for me on the page as it does watching the film.

I have never been a fan of M Night, and he's got progressively worse in my opinion. I actually enjoyed Eclipse though... I know I shouldn't have, but it's turning into a guilty pleasure for me!

Really looking forward to Predators this Thursday!

Oh and happy belated birthday! Hope the films didn't ruin it too much!

So many valid points on this topic.

What Stephen has said is particularly key. Read other people's scripts. I try to read the first ten pages of two or three scripts every morning (A produced one off IMSDB, and another from an 'amateur' from such sites as Circalit). You'll soon learn what works and what doesn't and get a pretty good idea of where the script is going.

I look back at the openings of early drafts I wrote when I started out a year ago and shudder. I'm not saying my writing is particularly great now, it's just better than it was a year ago. In a years time I'll probably shudder at yesterday's draft... I may even shudder at yesterday's today.

One of the things they always drilled into our heads at Uni was the importantance of the first ten pages; in reality what we're reading about shouldn't alter us in anyway. We've still gotta write incredible openings. See it as a challenge. Don't give them a reason to put your script down; give them a reason to keep on reading - Hell we gotta make it impossible for them to put that script down.

Down let what's been said demoralize you. What Stephen wrote is true: 99% of screenwriters won't make it, but I truely believe a large proportion of them have the wrong mindset. They don't study the craft. They don't read the books, the scripts, watch the movies, listen to people speak (people moan they struggle with dialogue and don't actually listen to people around them every day), use coverage and consultants (your best mate isn't a consultant - of course he finds your script funny - you're best mates for a reason) and most importantly, like Michael always says on here, keep writing - every day, either at the computer, in your head, on post it notes, etc.

I'm not saying any of this because I think my writing is wonderful or because I think my advice is worth anything. Hell I've made so many mistakes this last year (and I'd have made even more had it not been for some of the incredibly helpful people on here) - I'm still learning (and will be till the day I die cause I don't believe in perfection - Angelina in Tomb Raider aside), but I won't fail in getting where I want to. I'll either get there or die trying; I erased the word fail out my mindset ages ago.

That's just my input, for what it's worth. Oh and Stephen you'll probably beat the majority of us there so can you get the drinks in at the finish line...

The 'I'm hotter than you' and the shirt line got big laughs in the cinema I was in. The 'I'm hotter than you' line was followed by a shout 'Damn right you are' by a lday behind me... I almost followed it with a 'Yeah Jacob you're so damn hot, how do you ever drink Milk!', but I resisted.

You mean the secret about the way us Brits act is out? I do in fact have crumpets and a cup of earl grey tea every morning for breakfast (my bed is in fact made out of crumpets - really comfy!), we all have really bad teeth cause it's not covered in our NHS and we all sound like either Hugh Grant or a cockney gangster from a Guy Ritchie flick.

Cherio!

You must have crumpets in America! They're probaly called something else; you always change our language and make up your own words... ;p

Yeah but you call a photocopier a Xerox machine; that's just silly.

You're in second with BSOG aren't you Stephen?

It's a decent site.

That's fantastic news Stephen!

Congrats!

Once again congrats Stephen!

Excellent post. By the ten year logic I have 9 years to go! I write more than 10-20 hours a week though (on average) So I might shave a year or two off ha ha.

In all seriousness though I don't think there is an exact science in working out how long. Most won't 'make it', some will take longer and some will do it a bit sooner.

It takes dedication, motivation, discipline, guidance, ambition, self belief and luck (amongst other things). All things that aren't exclusive to just screenwriting.

I liken it to running. I ran from 9 through till I was 19. Session after session building up from two a week through to training twice a day when I was 18. Running 70 miles a week in winter - rep after rep up the sandunes - countless hours in the gym and on a rough grass track in summer (our town couldn't afford a proper track, but you make the best of what you have) - with my coach shouting out splits to me and my training partners, making sure we never slacked.

We would never have won all the county titles and area championships, and got to travle up and down the counrty week in week out were it not for all the attributes mentioned above.

I tore my ligaments when I was 19, but everything I learnt running will still stay with me. And I liken screenwriting to running. When I sit at the laptop everyday, or when I watch a movie in the evening, or read a script over breakfast, or talk to other writers through here - they're training sessions for writing.

I loved training for running, just like I love training for writing. However I trained all those hours on the track for the race - that feeling when you cross the line, smash your best, stand on top of the rostrum - I loved that feeling. I look forward to emulating it in the screenwriting world, and If I don't get there I'll make sure I know I did all I could trying.

http://www.redplanetpictures.co.uk/prize.php

Contest entries need to be in by the end of the month. It's free to enter, 5k prize money, a script commison and chance to be repped.

It's a sixty minute TV pilot this year. The last two winners have both had TV scripts made as a result of this contest. It's well worth entering.

Only Brits eligible, though. Good luck to any others who enter.

Irin I'd appreciate that 'short' list if you wouldn't mind.

You'll find everyone on this site really helpful Lisa. I've only been here a short while myself, but people are incredibly supportive for one another.

Irin's thread is a great starter when deciding what contests to enter. Look at the list of contests on Moviebytes as well, and then check any comments people have made. Word of warning though, take some of the comments with a pinch of salt as people like to bash contests if they simply didn't do well.

Hope you stick around the boards!

I'd say what they mean is that a lot of people rush through a first draft and think a script is finished. They won't rewrite; they won't use a coverage service; they won't hire a consultant; they won't read other scripts or do the required research, etc. Instead they'll just presume their work is done and send it off.

Ha ha are us Brits being mocked again!

Going to see Predators on Wednesday and Inception on the weekend. I'm really looking forward to both!

That's brilliant. I bet your mouth dropped when you realized you were talking to a well known Hollywood actor ha ha.

Fantastic news! Congrats Mike.

We need to combine our super cool powers to take this thread to a whole new level of epic-ness!

Yeah good luck with the shoot. I enjoy reading your little updates through twitter and facebook.

Personal preference. I personally try to avoid repetition because I feel it hampes the flow and disengages the reader. Do you need to keep saying 'the trees seem to be staring at him'? At the end of the day no matter how many different words you use you'd still be saying the same thing.

That's just my opinion though, hope it helps.

If you're looking to buy then I'd go for Final Draft. It's easy to use for beginners, but there's load of helpful extras there as well if you want to take the time to learn them.

The only free one I have used is scripped and on the whole it was fine. I did have problems send the file over to FD though (formatting wise).

A writer called Russ Meyer = brilliant!

Gonna have to go watch FASTER, PUSSYCAT KILL KILL now.

I recommend watching as many as you can (especially those closest to yours in tone). I'd try to look at strong and weak examples too cause I think you can learn just as much from poor viewing experiences.

I think it's important to make use of props when you write comedy. I think too many people think humour should always come through dialogue. Someone like Jim Carrey can take the most simple of props and create a five minute set piece with it (or the writer...).

I think it's also important to know your audience from the start. Comedy is so broad you have to nail your target demograph (and hopefully it's a large one).

Hope this helps. I haven't wrote a comedy, mind.

I also don't think actors like to be hold how to deliver the dialogue. I've heard similar things from a consultant/coverage company. Where you think he'd pause, De Niro might choose to deliver at a rat-a-tat-tat pace, so to speak.

Yeah it is. Andrea is the director of it. You can follow her on twitter and add her on faceboo. Her blog's a good read.

I wish it was called faceboo :(

Congrats Andrew :) !

Did you actually not enjoy Inception?

What did it score in Savvy (if you don't mind me asking). If you win savvy or get an honourable mention then you'd more than likely get read requests for it (juging by what people on here have said).

Westerns are a difficult sell though. Think about how few have been made in in the last twenty years. They're a good showcase for your writing though.

I'd use a consultant and coverage company and get it up to a recommend. Then you could send it out to contests/ go down the e-query route, etc.

Stephen Hoover (who posts on here) has done well with his Western (well worth a read if you get the chance, can be found on the circalit website), so they can win or place highly in contests. He'd be able to tell you how much interest he's had in it.

There are advantages for studying film and/or screenwriting at university.

For me personally i got to spend three excellent years watching film after film on their original print and on the big screen.

A lot of films I may never have seen were it not for Uni. I got to study the French New Wave, Italian Neo Realism, silent cinema, lots of other European cinema as well as Hollywood (just to name a few areas) in a lot of detail, and one of the best ways to learn about film is watch films.

Secodly, as someone mentioned above, there's the relationship side of things. I'm on good terms with two university lecturers who will read my work and offer very good and honest feedback. Which saves me money before I go to a consultant. Also you never know who you'll study with. I have a friend now who has just landed a job as script supervisor on a British comedy feature. It's looking like it's going to Cannes and Sundance next year. A lot of it is who you know and not what you know.

However film school isn't a must. In terms of the screenwriting I learnt during my time it wasn't that helpful. Overall though it's a fantastic three years where you get to study something you love while meeting great people and spending about half the time drunk - Having the vodka sweats first thing on a monday morning when you're studying Hungarian cinema - NIGHTMARE!

It's something I want to do over the next year; for myself more than anything as I think it will benefit my writing. For those of you who have done this, what advice can you give? What are the things to avoid? What runs up cost? etc

I have a short 3 page script. Two scenes. Two speaking roles, which I think will be a good one to use as my first.

I have access to cameras to shoot on from the university where I studied at and where my brother studies film. My brother is close with some actors there, though I haven't met them personally.

I teach at a college which has recently, through funding, developed a shooting suite with a green screen etc. We have editing facilities as well, so I have access to things here which will cut cost.

I'm curious for any tips and advice and to know the major pitfalls. I don't want to dive into something unprepared.

All thoughts welcomed.

Thank you Paula, Irin and James. Very helpful.

Thank you Robert.

Semi-autobiographical. I've been waiting for zombies to take over just so I could use this 'gift', but it just wasn't happening! So I thought I'd write about what I'd do instead.

I saw you post it on Facebook, and you posted about the extension at least a couple of times before that as well.

Thanks guys.

Thanks guys.

Congrats again Stephen. It's a really good script with some great characters (especially Taylor).

Hope the review is of help to you.

Brilliant news Susan. Keep us posted!

Read this article on DDP. Found it an interesting read.

Congrats Rob, Stephen and Mike. I'll have my fingers crossed for you.

That's fantastic. Hope you gets lots of Reads.

I'm glad it's not just me that has substituted Milk for Jack Daniels in my cereal, Irin.

I really like the concept of your script too (I've read Stephen's BSOG and it was great, so OOS must be a real blast as well)!

Just realized I've joined topics together here... (Yeah okay I've substituted other things for Jack D as well).

I think they do advertise on MB Stephen. I saw an ad for this comp a couple of days ago at the bottom of the homepage.

That's fantastic. Keep us all posted!

It's a good site. I always tell my students to use it when they need to find a script.

You have a lot more flexibility with a short. It also depends what you want to do with it. If you plan on making it yourself I'd write it as short as possible with as few scenes and actors.

If it's for a contest then just have a look around and see the different reqs. Champion, for example, is no more than 15 pages, but they have a section for three pages and under. Writing shorts under three pages is a lot of fun as well.

Will Ferrell and Steve Carell gave us Anchorman. I will always be forever grateful to them for that!

From your list, I think Cera has excellent comic timing. John C Reiley is a decent actor in both serious and comic movies. Russell Brand is a bit hit-n-miss. I'm surprised you have taken to him so well over there cause he irritates a lot of Brits.

That's fantastic Heather!

And Circalit.

Cool interview. The trailer thing was really interesting, and definitely something that would be beneficial before you begin writing.

Great stuff Stephen and Mike!

Have you done much to Wedding Knight since I read it Stephen?

Cheers Rob. I saw Stephen has a couple in there (maybe more, I skim read), and I saw Irin's Out of Sync as well.

Good luck to everyone still in.

Great stuff Rob!

I got a second round letter for the script I entered, today.

Irin I got my second rounder today and I'm in England, so you'd have thought you'd have got the mail before me (which is a good sign for you :)) I heard from a couple of people who contacted Austin that they were starting the phone calls on Monday (whether that was reliable or not though). Just make sure you don't go under any tunnels and lose signal on your phone!Really hope you make the cut.

Just mentioned it to the mrs and I think I'm gonna go over for it next year. You guys speak so highly of it!

Huge congrats to Stephen, Melissa and Heather!

Congratulations Robert, fantastic news. The script that won it also placed in scriptapalooza, but yours does sound more commercial with a great concept.

Great job :)

Just reading the brief synopsis of the top three, and they all sound like scripts I'd like to see made!

Plug it as much as you can in Austin Robert!

That's fantastic. Keep everyone updated Irin. Hopefully it won't be long before Out of Sync is picked up.

That's brilliant! Great job Rob, that script really is on a roll.

Marjory that't fantastic, I'm not surprised you're excited!

Nice one Stephen!

Brilliant news :)

Just seen on script Savvy's facebook page that you won the August contest.

Love the title of the script and it sounds like it would be fairly cheap to make as well. Keep us posted!

It sounds amazing. Really glad you all had a great time. I'm definitely going to fly out for it next year.

I've told my better half! She's happy for me to go, so I best get saving!

Great stuff guys!

It's not out yet here, but Toy Story 3 is head and shoulders above anything else I have seen at the cinema so far this year. It is on my christmas list, that's for sure.

That's great news Marjory! Very exciting times.

Thank you Marjory. Congrats to you, Heather, Kate, Mike, TJ and Dana, and goodluck with the next round.

Fantastic job Marjory:)

Thank you Rob. Good luck to the other movie byters.

Good luck with the feature Stephen. Keep in touch!

Good luck to the three of you! Like Stephen said, hope it leads to some reads and solid contacts.

Congratulations Irin. Keep us all posted. Glad all the hard work is really starting to pay off!

I'm looking forward to this film. It won't be released here for a little while. Did you enjoy it?

There has been a few musicals in the last few years. I agree not a vast amount, but they are being produced. I don't think it's a genre that's ever going to have a load of films produced over a short period of time due to the cost and time of production.

I hope it does well Janet, and it leads to some opportunities for your scripts (and because I like musicals)!

Thank you Janet. Goodluck TJ and Mike.

I agree musicals can make money. Mamma Mia is the third biggest grossing film of all time in the UK. ALL TIME! only Avatar and Toy Story 3 have ever grossed more (so it was number one for ahwile). Had Abba been bigger in the US then it would have done even better (Abba were enormous in Europe).

I agree with you about the songs, dancing and story. I would agree that mediocre singers can get away with singing the songs if they're good songs (plus there was something strangely fascinating about watching James Bond sing ABBA!). Excellent singers singing poor songs won't cut it.

What I mean in terms of production costs was that it's possible to shoot a really low budget horror, comedy and even action film (just look at all of the low budget horror films that are realeased comapred to other genres. You can even go and shoot these genres yourself.

Can the same be said for musicals? I think they need at least a mid budget. For this reason I think the genre doesn't lend well to new writers breaking, because the few that do get produced will probably be filled by established writers. This is my opinion from the outside, it might be completely different.

Having said that I still always try to believe that if you write a great script and market yourself well then you'll succeed. I hope to watch one of your musicals some point in the future Janet!

Absolutely Janet! I wasn't saying it to deter you. Let's be honest we're always told the chance of any of us 'breaking in' are slim regardless of the genre(s) we write, but someone has got to! Hollywood (and further afield) will always need new writers!

Just saw it on facebook. A nice thing to see after a hard day's work! Great job you two, and I hope it gets you some attention! Congrats.

Congrats on making the final 5, Mike and Dana!

Congrats! Hope a moviebyter goes on and wins it!

I've heard lots of good things about the 5D.

Thank you Janet. Goodluck to Mike and TJ.

Congrats again Rob!

My only gripe about the LOC is it's so much more time consuming that the WGA site. As it only tends to get used every 3-4 months I forget the steps and have to read through them all again! Having said that, it doesn't take as long as the guide makes it seem it will.

Congrats TJ, Mike and Mikki!

Nice one Mike!

Yeah I'll second what Mike has said. Gordon and his team are a great bunch.

Have a great Christmas and New Year. x

Matt I'd try and take the positives from it and use it as a way to help get you reads. If this film is a success it could result in your script gathering some positive attention. Good luck.

I'd heard about people starting to do this, but I don't think it matters. I haven't see it in any produced/black listed script yet though.

Excellent news Steve!

That's brilliant news! A great way to start the year :)

Donna has had a rought time of it though. The contest has at least kept contestants informed throughout (and at least they closed submissions for two months to catch up - many would-a' just carried on taking entries and falling further back).

Hey Bobbette! Good to have you back :)

I have those exact pants!

Congrats Janet. Hope you go all the way.

Final Draft's mag (script weekly) just ran a feature on all the top ones). Check that out if you can. If you subscribe to Ink Tip's free newsletter they will send you updates about their next one (which is meant to be a good pitchfest). It's the 21st-23rd of June or July this year - I believe anyway.

I use one and have never been pulled up for it. However I know a few people who do two (perhaps they all use Movie Magic).

That's fantastic Irin.

I'll actually watch anything. First thing we were told at University was to watch as many films as we can; old, new, good, bad, Asian, Hollywood, French New wave, Italian realist, any genre, etc etc... You'll learn something from them all. Was some great advice, and I still agree with it.

That really is fantastic. Hopefully i'll get to see the short in the future.