Message Board

Hate to trash a contest but...they charge a whopping 75 bucks and then don't offer any sort of coverage. I know a lot of contests don't offer that, but they don't charge 75 bucks. This year they have the (what's female for balls?) to ask for an additional 25 bucks for coverage. And last but not least, what's with the discrimination? I don't think I would like it very much it there were a male only contest.

Like all good Americans, I believe the "cream will rise to the top" theory regarding screenplay competitions. If moondance is a great competition then the $100.00 fee (entry plus coverage) will be acceptable and female writers will flock to it and enter. I am sure some will because of the reduced competition (no male writers plus excessively high fees). If moondance doesn't get enough entrants to cover their fixed cost, they will lose money and either change their business model or go out of existence. If you don't like their methodology, enter somewhere else. If enough people avoid them, they will change.

The idea of a screenplay competition that limits entrants by some criteria is not unlike. Black female, female, latino-limited entrance competitions have all occurred.

What I would like to see is a contest with a screenplay purchase as the prize for a sci-fi genre only, limited to males only of American-German descent, where the writer must currently live in New Hampshire, with the writer's age between 54 and 56 and the writers last name must start with a K and end with an S. That is the contest I am looking for. Any producers out there want to run that contest? I'll gladly enter.

Steve Karels

Just for the record, I have elected never to enter Worldfest again having entered three times (including one to their now defunct sister competition) and received identical 'sorry' letters each time. I figure $100 entry fee ($90 + $10 late entry fee) is just a little too much.

For what it's worth, I think Moondance is a cut above Worldfest. Moondance got pretty good reviews -- check out their report cards on this site. At the same time, I too was a bit hesitant when I read their fee schedule. And it's $50 for a short.

They have different categories. Only one is women only.

John

Chris,

I've entered Worldfest Houston each year for the last 4 years and never was a finalist until this year. I've been to the awards banquet at the now defunct Worldfest Flagstaff twice and attended Worldfest Houston's award banquet once before (although I wasn't a finalist at that dinner).

They have a great banquet, better than the one I just attended at Santa Clarita. I'm going this year because I've got a script in the finals. The dinner is free for finalists. So, for me, they've done alright. If you are a finalist you receive a nice plaque. I've got two of them on my wall at home. I have nothing but praise for them. Worldfest Houston is a lot tougher competition than the now defunct Flagstaff. I like the challenge.

You, of course, are free to your own opinion and maybe Worldfest doesn't meet your needs. I decided against entering Nicholl (see previous posting) for different reasons. Bottomline: Choose which contests you like but keep on writing. Best Wishes.

Steve

Steve I appreciate the well-meaning advice and take it on board. I noticed that last year against the winners names every single phone number was a U.S dialling code. I'll be checking this year's list to see if it's the same.

I entered and placed in the 1999 semis at Moondance. The conference was exceptionally well-run and informative. I think it is a first-class organization. The female-only thing bothered me just a little bit but they have since changed the criteria and now accept material from both genders in a variety of categories.

My decision not to enter in 2000 was based on my personal belief that mainsteaming is the best way to achieve equality. Since the change, I will probably enyer again this year.

-L

It may be a well run contest, but my original point (one of them) was that it is a very expensive contest and for that amount of money, they could throw a few paragraphs of coverage at the people who don't place.

Fees for entering contests have been escalating. Will someone answer this question? Spelling and Spielberg are worth more than $800,000,000, each! Others in the business are worth scores of millions. Why don't they and others sponsor screenwriting contests with a $5.00 entree fee? What do you think of that idea? Grover

Because, Grover, the vast majority of contests are designed to do one thing, and one thing only; to make money for their promoters.

Who take advantage of new writers who are trying to get a break. I don't know much about Moondance, but a $100 entry fee is outrageous. As is the $66 charge by Igottascript, who then takes 10% as a "finder's fee" if somebody buys a winning script as a result of its being placed on their website.

Nicholl, Scriptapalooza, and Austin are honest. Can't say that about most of the others. And don't get me going on Scriptshark and similar script barracudas.

As Dan said, "Nicholl, Scriptapalooza, and Austin are honest. Can't say that about most of the others. And don't get me going on Scriptshark and similar script barracudas."

I concur. A form rejection letter or two thin pages of "coverage" which trashes your writing without mercy aren't likely to help you develop as a writer. And you don't feel better knowing you paid a hundred bucks or more for the privilege of being abused or ignored.

There are some good contests and good analysts but they're heavily outnumbered. Better be selective, kiddos.

Ron B.