3rd Annual New Voices in Animation Screenwriting Contest

THE WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!

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Stage 32 is proud to present the 3rd Annual New Voices in Animation Screenwriting Contest!

Our Grand Prize winner will:

• Be flown to LA for meetings (travel permitting) to meet with top industry professionals working in the animation industry with Disney, Bento Box, Sony Pictures Animation and more!
• Work with Stage 32 to develop your script’s pitch deck for the market.
• Get a free membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room and free access to some of Stage 32’s educational resources
• Continued support from the Stage 32 team to help move your career forward and get you in front of decision makers!

ALL 10 Finalists will:

• Have your loglines presented to over 500 industry executives including literary managers, agents and producers in a Stage 32 lookbook. Past lookbook writers have been set up on meetings with 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA, APA, Art/Work Entertainment, Zero Gravity and more!
• Get a free one month membership to the Stage 32 Writers’ Room

Stage 32 will be a champion for your script - once you’re part of our community, we make sure you rise to the top!

Our New Voices in Animation Winners See Results

Our previous New Voices in Animation contest winners and finalists have had exciting success in the industry. Click the "Success Stories" link here for testimonials from our past winners! Stage 32 has quickly emerged as the leading source for industry executives to uncover new talent. Is this your year to move the needle on your career?

• Winner Samantha Clay signed with Zero Gravity Management for literary representation with her winning script, THE GROWTH.
• Last year’s winner, Tayler Carter, had meetings with Sony Pictures Animation, Disney, Skydance Animation and more!
• Finalists have had their work requested by managers and producers at Good Fear Content, Circle of Confusion, Lit Entertainment Group and many others

Still don’t believe us? Let New Voices in Animation Winner Samantha Clay tell you why you should enter!

Congratulations to our Winner!

Congratulations to our Finalists!

Congratulations to our Semifinalists!

Congratulations to our Quarterfinalists!

About the Stage 32 3rd Annual New Voices in Animation Contest

Animated features and series bring the imagination to life. Animation is so important to the entertainment industry because of the way it connects with every person out there. In such divisive times, we need these films and series more than ever. We are looking for Animation scripts of all subjects and tones. Whether your story is a wholesome fantasy film, an edgy comedy show or anything in between - our judges want to read it! This contest is open to Features, Television Pilots for Limited Series and Recurring Series. Please no pilots over 65-pages or features over 130 pages.

About the Exposure For Your Script

The Grand Prize Winner Will be Flown to Los Angeles to meet with:

Mike Disa, Animator/Producer, Disney (HERCULES, THE SIMPSONS)

Daniel Gonzales, Animator, Pixar & Disney (MOANA, FROZEN)

Alison Mann, VP of Creative & Strategy, Sony Pictures Animation (PRINCESS AND THE FROG, SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDERVERSE)

Jason Stiff, Producer, Bento Box Entertainment (SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, BOB'S BURGERS)

Kevin Michael Smith, Producer/Screenwriter, Bohemia Group Originals (HAPPY FEET, WRECK IT RALPH)

Evan Anglin, Literary/Animation Manager, Zero Gravity Management (OZARK)

Jonny Perl, Associate Producer, Cinemation (PAWS OF FURY - Just Released!)

Amy Schwartz, Screenwriter (BOJACK HORSEMAN, CHICAGO PARTY AUNT)

In addition to these meetings, the winner will also receive unlimited access to Stage 32’s Educational resources, be promoted on Stage 32’s social media, and have their complete portfolios and professional biography sent to an exclusive roster of over 30 agents and managers hand picked by Stage 32 who are actively looking for new clients and material. Stage 32 will facilitate introductory meetings to any of the representatives who respond to your material and bio. This is the type of exposure that will change your career forever!

If you reach the Finals, you still get massive exposure to decision makers!

ALL FINALISTS will receive a FREE MONTH OF THE MEMBER'S ONLY STAGE 32 WRITERS' ROOM and will be in a Stage 32 Look Book which includes their script title, logline & bio mailed to over 500 industry executives including, managers, agents, producers, development executives, and financiers! Stage 32 Look Books are some of the most sought after talent resources for the industry and have helped secure meetings with places like Verve, Good Fear, 3 Arts, APA, Echo Lake, Amazon, UTA, CAA, WME, First Friday, Pathfinder, The Cartel, Art/Work and many, many more.

Important Dates to Be Aware Of

Super Early Bird Deadline: July 14th, 2022

Early Bird Deadline: August 10th, 2022

Regular Deadline: September 7th, 2022

Final Deadline: September 28th, 2022

Quarterfinalist Announcement: December 2nd, 2022

Semifinalist Announcement: December 16th, 2022

Finalist Announcement: January 6th, 2023

Winner Announcement: January 20th, 2023

Submission Options

Feedback & Resubmission Option

Would you like immediate feedback on your submission and the option to make changes and resubmit? Using our NEW Feedback & Resubmission Option you will get 3-5 pages of coverage/notes back in 5-days with a guaranteed option to resubmit one (1) revised draft of your script up to 10 days after the Final Deadline (October 7th)! You can position yourself for the best chance of success - all for an additional fee of only $99. Please submit revised drafts to contests@stage32.com.

This option is good for a one-time use and is non-refundable/non-transferable if you do not enter an updated draft. See full terms in the Rules Section.

Feedback Option

We offer discounted coverage for $49.00. With this option, you will receive 1-2 pages of coverage/notes after the Quarterfinalist Announcement on September 30th, 2022. See full terms in the Rules Section.

Resubmission Option

We offer the option to resubmit a new draft of your script later in the contest for $39.00. You only have until the Final Deadline on September 28th, 2022 to submit a new draft. You cannot submit a new draft after the reading process has commenced or after any announcements have been made.

If you have any questions regarding this contest, check out frequently asked questions here.

Mike Disa (Judge & Mentor) - Animation Director, Netlfix

Mike Disa is currently the director of the Netflix series "PARADISE PD" and has been in the animation industry for over twenty-five years.

 

Mike has found success at studios such as Dreamworks Animation, Disney Feature, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and many others. Over a fascinating career, Mike has worked with some of the greatest and most infamous people in Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Eric Goldberg, Ralph Bakshi, Glenn Close, Steve Oedekerk, David Tennant, Amy Poehler, Adam Sandler, Jeffery Katzenberg, and Roy Disney.

 

Mike has worked on over 16 feature films, developed/written two television series, and directed 5 animated feature films. Some of Mike's credits include "WACKY RACES" forWarner Bros. Animation, "THE SIMPSONS", POSTMAN PAT for Dreamworks, POCAHONTAS, TARZAN, FANTASIA 2000 and MULAN for Disney, and HOODWINKED TOO. 

Jason Stiff (Judge) - Producer, Bento Box Entertainment

Jason's credits include King of the Hill for Fox; SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Invader Zim, Dora the Explorer, in addition to numerous other series for Nickelodeon; Avengers Assemble, Guardians of the Galaxy and Ultimate Spider Man for Marvel; as well as work on series for Comedy Central, Netflix, and Adult Swim. He is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Prior to joining the Bento Box Atlanta team as a Producer in March of 2016, Jason was an Emmy and 6 time Golden Reel Award winner during his time with Nickelodeon Animation Studios, where he served as Vice President of Post Production. There he managed animation pipelines for television, direct to video, commercials, promos and other special projects including live action integration using a multitude of systems. His work has taken him to many different countries including South Korea, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland and others to manage the technology and workflow back to the US.

 

Alison Mann (Judge & Mentor) - Talent Manager and President, Fourth Wall Animation Production Co

Alison Mann is the President of Fourth Wall Animation Production Co and also a talent manager. Prior to that, she was the Vice President of Creative & Strategy at Sony Pictures Animation. In her role, Mann is responsible for managing the development and talent for the studio’s feature film, international and series-based projects, collaborating with business affairs, recruiting, and the creative team to foster new relationships with key creatives within the animation industry.

As an artist, Mann always knew she wanted to work in animation. She began her career at Nickelodeon as a finance department intern while attending Columbia College in Chicago. After graduating, she was offered the amazing opportunity to continue working with Nickelodeon/MTV as their recruiter/coordinator of talent relations. Through her 17 years in the industry, she gained experience in TV, film and gaming while working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Zynga, Disney Interactive, Paramount Pictures Animation, and Illumination Entertainment.

Mann is the co-founder and CEO of the BRIC Foundation, an organization set up to solve how to create new access points for women and people from underrepresented groups so they can excel at creative leadership and to enable culture change through engaging and empowering talent.

As creative and supporter of talent, Mann is passionate about storytelling and identifying and working with inspiring creators that can continue to elevate the animation industry.

Amy Schwartz (Judge) - Writer/Script Coordinator,

Amy Schwartz is a writer known for her work on BOJACK HORSEMAN, TUCA & BERTIE and CALIFORNICATION. She has worked as a script coordinator and writer's assistant on several prominent animated television shows, including the new Netflix series, CHICAGO PARTY AUNT. Amy is also an actress.

Jonny Perl (Judge & Mentor) - Associate Producer, Cinemation

Jonny Perl is an Associate Producer with Cinemation, an animation company built by the creative minds behind Disney's THE LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER, and THE HAUNTED MANSION, DreamWorks' & Netflix's "THE MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN SHOW", STUART LITTLE, and Lionsgate's THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM.

 

They are currently in production on the animated feature BLAZING SAMURAI, starring Michael Cera, Samuel L Jackson, Ricky Gervais, and Mel Brooks.

 

Jonny is developing projects for animation and the stage. While a student at UCLA, he founded the student-run company Positivity Productions and continues to produce musical and interactive content with Shinbone Theatre Company, having most recently partnered with HBO/Cinemax to produce an immersive martial arts spectacle to launch their TV series WARRIOR. 

 

Kevin Michael Smith (Judge) - Producer / Screenwriter, Bohemia Group Originals

Kevin Michael Smith is a multi-award winning screenwriter/producer and playwright as well as a development executive. He works closely with Bohemia Group Originals (BGO), but also has a number of other producers he brings material to. BGO is the recently launched production arm of 25 year old, international talent management company, Bohemia Group. BGO is focused on both finding and developing outstanding material for an ever-changing marketplace.

Bohemia group represents over 400 industry professionals including Catherine Dyer ("Stranger Things", THE BLIND SIDE), Elizabeth Daily (HAPPY FEET, WRECK-IT RALPH), Geoffrey Cantor ("Daredevil", HAIL, CAESAR!) Aaron Schwartz (THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, "Gossip Girl"), Jed Brophy (THE HOBBIT, DISTRICT 9), Annet Mahendru ("The Americans", "The Following"), Christie Lynn Smith (THE CRAZIES, "Justified"), and Lindsey Haun ("True Blood") to name just a few.

BGO was recently featured in Variety for their current development of THE GET, a feature film based on the 1981 interview between Emmy winning late night talk show host Tom Snyder and convicted murderer Charles Manson - an interview executive produced by Roger Ailes.

 

Kevin's career has been focused on stories about common people demonstrating uncommon valor, with his portrayal of ordinary people bringing about change by the accomplishment of extraordinary feats being a theme throughout all of his work. In his 30 plus years in the TV and film industry Kevin has worked on a number of features including his own ESPY-nominated PRIDE produced by Lionsgate Films and Fortress Entertainment and starring starring Academy Award-nominee Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac.

Kevin's has set up or worked on other projects including FINDING WOODSTOCK and ALL-STAR MOM with Bohemia Group Originals, the animated feature FOREVER FRIENDS with Turtle Pond Productions & Bohemia Group Originals, MY BROTHER'S KEEPER and THE PITTSBURGH POWDERKEGS with Baldwin Entertainment Group, ONE HEARTBEAT with Baldwin Entertainment Group and Hyde Park Productions, FLIP, with Atmosphere Productions and Baldwin Entertainment Group, BUMP & RUNNING with Bear-Bucca Entertainement, and JOE LOUIS VS. THE WORLD with Atmosphere Productions.

 

Evan Anglin (Judge) - Literary/Animation Manager, Zero Gravity

Evan Anglin is a literary manager specializing in animation at Zero Gravity Management. He has several years of experience as a literary manager, and has previously worked for Innovative Artists, Partos Company and BOLD. Zero Gravity is a leading literary management and production company with credits like OZARK, BLACKLIGHT and THE MARKSMAN.

Daniel Gonzales (Judge & Mentor) - Animator, PIXAR & The Walt Disney Animation Studios

Meet Daniel has been animating for 13 years for studios including PIXAR Animation and The Walt Disney Animation Studios. He has helped make films such as FROZEN, MOANA, ZOOTOPIA, WRECK IT RALPH and more.

Daniel attended San Francisco’s California College of the Art. By Daniel’s college sophomore year he was working at Pixar Animation Studios and soon after found himself working in Los Angeles for the Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Daniel received attention for his artwork at an early age. His entrée’s in the Museum of Latin American art and The U.S. District court for the southern District of California, that are still on display, would be the start of a promising career of fine art, teaching, public speaking, and animation. When not working Daniel has been creating his personal work and teaching art at various institutions in his spare time.