MovieBytes Interview: John Dart

An interview with John Dart regarding the StoryPros Intl. Writing Competition.

A: This contest is sponsored by StoryPros, a professional screenplay analysis service founded in 2005, and is owned and operated by award-winning screenwriters, studio readers, and development professionals. Our owners have worked for ITC Entertainment, Lynch/Frost Productions (David Lynch's prod. co.), DIC Entertainment, I.R.S. Media, Ralph Edwards/Stu Billet Productions, Jack Scagnetti Agency, Gordon/Rosson Agency, Showscan Films, and many others, in the areas of development, production, and as script readers.

A: I am the contest coordinator. I am also co-owner of StoryPros and one of the senior story analysts.

A: No. However, several of our winners have gained representation and most have gotten their work read at major production companies, allowing them to make valuable industry contacts they can approach in the future. Many of our winners also tell us that mentioning their winning placement at pitchfests or in query letters has gained them additional interest in their work. Hollywood pays attention to contest winners -- contests function as a pre-screening method and let them know the writer can deliver a quality screenplay. We aggressively promote our contest winners to over 3,000 agents, managers, and production companies and year-round on our website. What we can guarantee our winners is invaluable exposure to the industry. Unfortunately, we can't ensure a sale ... but then again, nobody can!

A: Early rounds of the contest are judged by our staff of screenplay analysts, who are all either award-winning screenwriters or studio readers or both. The final rounds are judged by our senior analysts.

A: Scripts are read cover to cover. It's always wise, however, to make the first 30 pages as strong as possible. A weak Act 1 may keep the script from advancing to the later rounds, even if the rest of the script is stellar. Let's put it this way -- winning scripts invariably have three strong, fully developed and executed acts.

A: The contest is open to all genres with dramas, comedies, action/adventure, animation, thrillers, etc. all treated equally. Only feature film scripts of 90-140 pages in length are considered. The scripts likely to place the highest are well-structured, well-written scripts free of typos, properly formatted, with a solid premise, memorable characters and writing which engages the reader from start to finish.

A: We have over 25 "preferred" contacts, including major production companies like Escape Artists (The Pursuit of Happyness, A Knight's Tale, The Weather Man) and Laurence Mark Prods. (Dreamgirls, I Robot, Jerry Maguire) -- as well as several management companies -- who get first look at our winners. We then send out an email to over 3,000 agents, managers and producers identifying our winners, their loglines, and contact information. The winners are also promoted permanently on our website, and get free placement on Inktip and in their newsletter (which goes out to 4500+ industry contacts).

A: Enter early and often! Earlier entry fees are lower, and entering early helps keep your script out of the last-minute crush. Of course, every script is judged equally with the same criteria no matter when it is submitted -- so if you can't stand to wait to find out how you did, take all the time you need. The entry period lasts for approximately three months, so there's plenty of time for everyone!

Posted Thursday, September 11, 2008