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hey, it worked for dg, didn't it? someone wants to read his script. actually, now that i've got your attention, any suggestions on the top three to five contests (deadlines still open)? have limited funds and would like to try and spend them on operations that actually read the script.

David, TFI (Texas Film Institute) returns reader's notes to contestants. They have an excellent writer support program. The Big Australian definitely reads entered screenplays, but I don't know whether they share the reader's notes. Avoid Cyclone and any contest with the word "Worldfest" in it. Read the contest descriptions carefully and enter your screenplay in contests that it seems to fit, and don't waste your entry fees on contests with small or no monetary prize. I'll take $5,000 over "our great Hollywood contacts" any day. Good luck!

David, Have entered numerous competitions and have had more personal success with smaller ones, most of which offer little prize money. At the same time, I've managed to accumulate a string of seven semi-finalist, quarter-finalist and honorable mentions for my resume. Also, the notifications I've received -- especially the very first one! -- have provided a little extra boost of encouragement during times when I needed it most. Meanwhile, I continue rewriting...but not with prize money as a primary motivator.

David, I don't write for contest prize money, either. But, in entering contests, it's a factor to consider. If the payoff is less than 50 times the entry fee, then there should be some other significant result for winning, something you feel is worthwhile. As for your question -- which contests actually read the entries -- don't hesitate to e-mail the director and ask about the judging procedures (if they're not already posted). That way you'll know for sure. If you don't get a response, they probably don't want you to know, so avoid.

HEY DAVID G.!!!

Any relation to KENNY G.?(Joke)

When did I ever resort to murder or arson to get atention?

NEVER!

I write it instead of "doing" it, savvy?

My SP-- EONS has been reviewed several times already and just like the EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, the enlightened "get it" and the others are in need of their particular burning bush or whatever to clear the trees out of their ruts.

EONS has been likened to --

"IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD" meets "2001" meets DR. STRANGELOVE"

It's also been trashed and smashed because it's --

"Not funny" and it's been labeled --

"Amateurish" because I let the neophytes know it's copyrighted on the final page!

Needless to say, I'm ecstatic about every review, "good or bad".

Why? Because I LOVE to entertain!!

ANY FEEDBACK TELLS ME IT WORKS!!!D.G.

Contests are such a messy thing, but I feel that you enter them for feedback and self-kudos. If you're looking for money, get a job. If you're looking for the ephemeral "Hollywood contact", don't hold your breath unless you place really really high or have incredible luck. However, as Suzanne said, I get a tremendous boost from even the most remote placement (bearing in mind that a lot of these are personal feelings--my script THE BOOK OF ALL KNOWLEDGE was in the top 15% of Nicholls but another contest called it contrived and badly written. Take it with as much salt as you need).