Stage 32 TV Writing Contest

Contest Closed. Winners are announced! Click on the "Winners" tab above.

By popular demand!

Grand prize winner to be flown to Hollywood to meet with 4 industry executives!

All category winners will have access to an industry executive of their choice!

9 Writers will receive a prize package!

Stage 32 Happy Writers has helped change the lives of hundreds of writers, just look at our last contest results:

“As of yesterday I have signed with a management company in LA, Infinity Management Intl. I met them when Stage 32 flew me down to LA, and now the deal is done. This could be a game-changer for my career...and I'm so thrilled to have Stage 32/Happy Writers and The Blood List in my corner for this ride. I've been plugging away for more than 10 years to secure representation. So I guess my message is never give up on your dream, and surround yourself with people who can help you get there. For that, Stage 32 has become my lynchpin.” -- Glenn Forbes

Glenn was signed by Seth Nagel at Infinity Management International. See a video here:



"I was fortunate enough to win The Stage 32 Happy Writers Working Writers 2013 competition, and the enthusiastic endorsement of Joey Tuccio captured the attention of an outstanding managing agent. The agent read my script, offered representation, and soon thereafter I became a staff writer on the ABC drama, Black Box. It’s apparent that Joey is widely admired by agents and producers for his discriminating eye, and his recommendations are held in the highest regard. The success I‘ve enjoyed would not have been possible without the support and commitment of Joey and his staff at Stage 32 Happy Writers, and I’ll always be grateful."

- Michael Madden (Stanfordville, New York)

Michael was signed by Daniel Vang at Benderspink, which lead to being repped by ICM and being hired as a writer on ABC's show, Black Box.
 

About the Stage 32 Happy Writers TV Writing Contest

Our Stage 32 television writers asked, and we answered.

If you have a TV pilot that you are convinced will have the world coming back week after week, or, if you feel you have a voice that needs to be heard on an exisiting fan-favorite TV show…then the industry is waiting! Introducing the Stage 32 Happy Writers TV Writing Contest - we are searching for the next best television writer!

There's no question we're in a Golden Age of scripted television right now with some of the best written shows the medium has ever seen hitting the airwaves over the last 10-15 years. The diaglogue, plot and structure coming from 30 minute shows such as Veep, Modern Family, Silicon Valley, The Big Bang Theory and Parks and Recreation has shown that quality writing can pack a punch in a short amount of time. In addition, it's clear that groundbreaking hour long shows such as the Sopranos, The Wire and Six Feet Under have influenced some of the best, award winning recent programs such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Orange is the New Black, True Detective and Fargo.

It's no surprise that more and more production companies are opening up TV departments. Additionally, with streaming companies such as Netflix and Amazon moving into original programming, television has never had a bigger need for new writers with original voices and ideas.

The Stage 32 Happy Writers is thrilled to bring you our Stage 32 Happy Writers 1st Annual TV Writing Contest. We want it all! Serialized, sitcoms, procedurals, miniseries, one-hours, you name it! We are looking for 30 and 60 minute original and 30 and 60 minute existing show teleplays. We've had many television writers find great success with us and now we're casting the net a bit wider to find more talented writers for our Stage 32 Happy Writers executives. Last year's television category winner of our overall contest, Michael Madden, was signed to Benderspink and ICM and is now a staff writer on ABC's Black Box.

We are the main destination to uncover new talent, and this contest is no exception. Our Stage 32 Happy Writers executives are looking forward to seeing what we have to offer, so if you are looking to get staffed, find representation or get your idea into the right hands, enter now! Our grand prize winner will be flown to Hollywood to meet with 4 television industry executives!  Our 4 category winners will have a Skype meeting with the executive of their choice. No other contest offers this kind of access to a greater number of writers!  This is truly where preparation meets opportunity!

What Kind of Teleplays Can I Enter?

Stage Happy Writers are looking for scripts that encompass both 30 minute and 1-hour shows. We will be searching for up and coming writers in 4 categories:

• 30 Minute Original

Teleplays in this category are 30 minute original ideas, not based off of an exisiting show.

• 30 Minute Spec (based off an existing show)

Spec teleplays in this category would be 30 minutes based on existing shows: ie. Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Veep, Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, Silicon Valley, etc.

• 1 Hour Original

Teleplays in this category are 1 hour original ideas, not based off of an exisiting show.

• 1 Hour Spec (based off an exisiting show)

Spec teleplays in this category would be 1-hour based on exsisting shows such: ie. Mad Men, Breaking Bad, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones, etc.

Judges

We have hand selected a group of high profile producers, managers and executives for our judges panel based on their hands-on involvement in television. Not only are the judges fantastic, but the winners will also be exposed to top tier companies for possible representation or production. We are commited to giving you access to some of the best decision makers in the industry. Check our the JUDGES and PRIZES tabs above - you have to see it to believe it!

Winner Announcements

February 1st, 2015: quarterfinalists announced on Stage 32

February 15th, 2015: semi-finalists announced on Stage 32

March 1st, 2015: Finalists announced on Stage 32

March 23nd, 2015: Winners will be announced on Stage 32

Grand Prize Winner

• Listed on the Stage 32 Happy Writers site for 1 year
• Plane ticket to Los Angeles
• Meeting with 4 executives: Mitch Solomon from Magnet Management, Kendrick Tan from Madhouse Entertainment, Justin Littman from Gotham Group and Malcolm Gray from Sketch Films.
• Cocktail hour with various executive contest judges

Category Winners (1 each per category: 30 Minute Original, 30 Minute Spec, 1 Hour Original, 1 Hour Spec)

• Listed on the Stage 32 Happy Writers site for 1 year
• One Skype meeting with the industry executive of their choice (*see executive judges)
• 3 Stage 32 Happy Writers online pitch sessions
• Stage 32 Happy Writers studio script coverage

1st Runner Up (1 each per category: 30 Minute Original, 30 Minute Spec, 1 Hour Original, 1 Hour Spec)

• Listed on the Stage 32 Happy Writers site for 1 year
• 3 Stage 32 Happy Writers online pitch sessions
• Stage 32 Happy Writers standard script coverage

"I was fortunate enough to win The Stage 32 Happy Writers Working Writers 2013 competition, and the enthusiastic endorsement of Joey Tuccio captured the attention of an outstanding managing agent. The agent read my script, offered representation, and soon thereafter I became a staff writer on the ABC drama, Black Box. It’s apparent that Joey is widely admired by agents and producers for his discriminating eye, and his recommendations are held in the highest regard. The success I‘ve enjoyed would not have been possible without the support and commitment of Joey and his staff at Stage 32 Happy Writers, and I’ll always be grateful."

- Michael Madden (Stanfordville, New York)

Michael was signed by Daniel Vang at Benderspink, which lead to being repped by ICM and being hired as a writer on ABC's show, Black Box.

It is with great honor that we announce the finalists of the
1st Annual Stage 32 Happy Writers TV Writing Contest!

We received an amazing amount of quality teleplays for our first annual TV Writing Contest and our judges shared with us throughout the process how amazed they were with the quality of material that was submitted. Our winners characters, tones, voices and stories were unique and on-point with current programming.  Stage 32 is excited to work with these writers to help get them to the next level.

A special thank you goes out to our judges, which include Daniel Vang - Manager, Benderspink, Kenchy Ragsdale - VP of Development, Latin World Entertainment (Sofia Vergara's Company), Jessica Lubben - Creative Executive (TV dept), Scott Free Productions, Roberto Alcantara - Vice President, Marblemedia Amanda Bowman - Manager, Alloy Entertainment, Matt Horwitz - Manager, Echo Lake Entertainment, Mitch Solomon - Manager, Magnet Management, Kendrick Tan - Manager, Madhouse Entertainment (PRISONERS), Justin Littman - Manager, Gotham Group, and Malcolm Gray - Creative Executive, Sketch Films.
 

• Our Grand Prize winner will be flown out to Los Angeles to have 4 meetings with various judges, as well as a cocktail hour with additional judges and executives. 

• Our Category Winners will enjoy one-on-one meetings with the executive judge of their choice, plus 3 online pitch sessions and studio script coverage from an executive.

• Our Runners Up will receive 3 online pitch sessions and standard script coverage from an executive.

And here are the winners...

Grand Prize Winner POLLY/ANNA - Stephen Lance

Runner Up
THE MINDY PROJECT - "The One" - Coletta Preacely-Garcia
 

Finalists
 

Semi-finalists

Quarterfinalists:

Daniel Vang - Manager, 3 Arts Entertainment

Daniel Specializes in True-Stories, High-Concept Horror, Grounded Sci-fi, and material based on KNOWN intellectual property.

 

HIDDEN FIGURES, written by Good Fear client, Allison Schroeder

 

Daniel Vang started at William Morris as a feature film literary assistant where he worked for two years before landing at Benderspink as a literary manager in both film and TV. After BenderSpink's recent split, Chris Bender formed Good Fear Film + Management in May 2016. Good Fear instantly became one of the largest management and production companies in the industry with high-profile productions on the horizon like Disney's live-action MULAN, and the 2016 Black List script MAN ALIVE.

Daniel Vang represents some of Good Fear's biggest clients working at all major studios and networks on projects including Disney's upcoming THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS, Netflix's "Orphan Black", "Hannibal", "Hawaii Five-0", "Gotham", "The Vampire Diaries", "Chicago Fire", "Kobra Kai", "Agent Carter" and more!

 

Good Fear's clients include:

• Allison Schroeder (CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, HIDDEN FIGURES, "90210")
• David Robert Mitchell (IT FOLLOWS)
• Sharla Oliver ("Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.",  "Under the Dome")
• Billy Brown ("How to Get Away With Murder")
• Eddie Jemison (OCEANS 11)
• Matt Gerald (Netflix’s "Daredevil")
• Adam Busch ("Colony")
• Jordan Ross (CRUEL INTENTIONS)
• Victoria Aveyard (RED QUEEN)
• Evan Daugherty (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES)
• Joe Greenberg (MAN ALIVE)
• Mac Marshall ("The Goldbergs")
• Isabella Carbonell (BOYS, HITGIRL)
• Sue Chung ("Agent Carter", "Gotham")
• Vivien Mejia ("East Los High", "Ugly Betty")
• Barnett Brettler (MONOLITH).
• Liz Alper ("House", "Sneaky Pete", "Chicago Fire")

 

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He helped these writers land representation at ICM, get staffed on a TV series for ABC and get a project picked up by ImageMovers (CAST AWAY, FORREST GUMP)

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Company & client credits include:

Kenchy Ragsdale - TV Development Executive/Producer,

Kenchy is looking for 1 hour TV dramas, and 1/2 hour comedies. All budgets welcome. Kenchy is not interested is projects that take place in the entertainment business (a la Entourage).

Kenchy Ragsdale is a 20 year veteran of the entertainment industry, working in film and television development and production. Over the past 8 years, he has served as an executive/producer on over 10 drama and comedy pilots for CBS Television Studios and FOX (working with Executive Producer Sofia Vergara on FOX).

Kenchy's most recently drama pilot was developed for FOX with Eduardo Cisneros (Instructions Not Included) and Jason Schuman (Lone Survivor, Role Models, Anger Management).

Kenchy began his career working in production on independent films and music videos before moving to New Regency Productions (12 Years A Slave, The Revenant, Birdman). Kenchy continued on from NRP to serve as a Showrunner's Assistant on TV shows like The West Wing and CSI. Over the past 12 years, he has worked in TV development for NBC and FOX TV on shows like The Shield, Burn Notice, White Collar, and The Riches.

 

Check out the "Pitching Tips" tab to see how Kenchy likes pitches to be structured! This will help you fit your pitch to perfectly match his style.

Credits include:

Jessica Lubben - VP US Television, Scott Free Productions

Jess Lubben graduated from NYU with a degree in Economics and Cinema Studies. She began her entertainment career in July 2011, working for Alicia Gordon, head of the LA Book Department at WME. After a year at the agency, she left to work for Audrey Chon in feature development and production at Good Universe. There, she worked on films like Spike Lee's remake of Oldboy, starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen, and Gil Kenan's remake of Poltergeist starring Sam Rockwell and Rosemary DeWitt. Now a manager in the TV department at Scott Free, her focus is on finding exciting new material and cultivating relationships with writers and directors in order to expand the company's slate. Scott Free currently produces The Good Wife, and is in prep on AMC pilot Galyntine and a Halo digital feature for Xbox.

Roberto Alcantara - US Development, Project 10 Productions

Project 10 Productions is Canadian-based production company that is quickly making waves since its founding in 2015. Headed by executive producer Andrew Barnsley, Project 10 is in development and production on shows starring Eugene Levy, Cobie Smulders, and more.

Roberto Alcantara is the former VP of Marblemedia’s Primetime Scripted Development. Charged with developing the company’s key creative relationships with writers and showrunners, Alcantara oversaw the primetime slate of projects for Marblemedia to produce and develop, as well as the expansion the company’s profile in the Los Angeles.

With almost a decade of experience, Alcantara has a vast understanding of the television industry working on the production and development sides of the business. In his previous role at Momentum Entertainment Group, he worked on the company’s scripted drama, comedy and digital development slate, cultivated relationships with writers, agents and network executives as well as developed and packaged their series Full Circle. His background also includes roles at Ostar Enterprises and CAA. Alcantara began his career producing television commercials for the advertising industry.

 

Project 10's credits include:

 

 Tips on pitching to Roberto:

• Have a personal connection the material. What inspired you to write this?
• Make sure the stakes are clear and that there is a well determined episodic story engine.
• When pitching a comedy, include a few comedic set pieces to showcase the tone. But make sure it connects to the characterization and plot. Don't include random jokes in the pitch if it doesn't drive the story forward. 

Amanda Bowman - SVP of Television, Development and Current, Lionsgate

Amanda Bowman is the SVP of Television Development and Current Programming at Lionsgate. She previously served as Senior VP at Entertainment One for over 5 years, and she was the Director of Development for Original Programming at TV Land and Paramount Network.

Amanda is a former executive with ABC Family where she worked on Pretty Little Liars, and a former manager with Alloy Entertainment (The Vampire Diaries, The 100, The Originals). She was named the Director of Development for TV Land in 2015.

 

Amanda is looking for comedy TV pilots, all budgets are welcome. She is also interested in family dramas, but her primary focus is comedy TV.

 

Company credits include:

Matt Horwitz - Manager, Echo Lake Entertainment

Matt Horwitz got his start at literary management company Sleeping Giant Entertainment in 2006. At Sleeping Giant,while serving as the executive assistant to President Dave Brown, Matt began working closely with award-winning writers and directors such as:

• James Manos Jr. (Creator of DEXTER)
• Jon Amiel (ENTRAPMENT, THE CORE, THE SINGING DETECTIVE)
• Victor Salva (JEEPERS CREEPERS I & II, POWDER)

Concurrently, Matt assisted the CEO of Night & Day Pictures (WAITRESS), allowing him to participate in both the representation and physical production side of filmmaking.

Upon moving to Artist International in 2010, Matt was promoted to manager and started building his client roster, which includes:

• LaToya Morgan (SHAMELESS, TURN)
• John Hyams (UNIVERSAL SOLDIER III, UNIVERSAL SOLDIER IV)
• Guy Moshe (BUNRAKU, HOLLY)
• David Regal (ZEKE AND LUTHER, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND)
• Mike Teverbaugh (BETTER OFF TED, LAST MAN STANDING)
• Brenda Hsueh (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, SULLIVAN & SON)
• As well as the Zenescope Entertainment comic book company

In 2013, Matt moved with all of his clients to Echo Lake Entertainment (NEBRASKA, ROMEO & JULIET, THE JONESES, WATER) where he continues to focus on film and television writers and directors.

Originally from the Washington DC area, Matt graduated from Indiana University with dual-degrees in Telecommunications and English.

Matt has clients on shows such as: 

Tips for pitching to Matt: 

• Have a well focused, clear and concise logline.
• Keep it on the story and go into adequate detail when pitching the story.
• Flush out and elaborate on your characters. Why are we rooting for them? 

Mitch Solomon - Manager, Magnet Management

Magnet Management is a passionate advocate for screenwriters. Founded in 2004 as a literary boutique with a handful of select clients, Magnet has since grown into one of the most well-respected management companies in the entertainment industry, with over seventy clients thriving in film and television careers. Magnet also created its production arm, Magnet Pictures, in partnership with producer Mitch Solomon, whose experience spans over fifteen years in both development and production (Cider House Rules, Quiz Show). Magnet's credits include Criminal Minds, Teen Wolf, Friday the 13Th, Dumb and Dumber, and Percy Jackson & the Olympians.

Kendrick Tan - Manager, Madhouse Entertainment (PRISONERS)

Kendrick Tan is a Manager at Madhouse Entertainment. Madhouse Entertainment is a production and literary management company that works with screenwriters and writer/directors in the areas of film, television and new media.

Madhouse's focus is guiding the careers of it's clients from a creative standpoint, providing them with feedback from its many years of development and production experience as it relates to your current projects, future work, and assisting you in navigating the ever changing landscape of the entertainment industry. Its clients have projects in various stages of development at every studio and network, as well as in the increasingly viable world of independent film and cable TV.

In addition to managing its clients, Madhouse also produces. They have many projects in various stages of development in both television and film. Last year they released PRISONERS starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal which won critical acclaim. MURDER OF A CAT starring Fran Kanz and Nikki Reed is currently in production. Their feature GLIMMER with DreamWorks, starring Jeremy Allen White and Dylan O'Brien will begin production in 2014. They are also currently developing ROME, SWEET ROME set up at Warner Bros with SafeHouse and HGP; BLACK BOX with Stuber and Universal; THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE with Warners and Atlas.

Past productions include SAFE HOUSE starring Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington, THE BOUNTY HUNTER starring Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston, CHRISTMAS DO-OVER starring Jay Mohr, FIRST SNOW starring Guy Pearce, Piper Perabo and William Fichtner and BLOOD CREEK starring Dominic Purcell and Henry Cavill was released by Lionsgate in 2008.

Justin Littman - Manager, Gotham Group

Justin Littman is a literary manager at The Gotham Group, working primarily with filmmakers but also working with authors and publishing clients. He comes from a development background, having worked as a creative executive at Gail Katz Productions, where he oversaw development on a slew of studio features as well as television shows. Gotham's illustrious client list of writers and directors include:

• Danny Strong (THE HUNGER GAMES, THE BUTLER)
• Wentworth Miller (STOKER, PRISON BREAK)
• Burr Steers (IGBY GOES DOWN, 17 AGAIN)
• Chris McCoy (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY)
• Henry Selick (NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CORALINE)
• Thor Freudenthal (PERCY JACKSON, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID)
• Wes Ball (THE MAZE RUNNER)

Gotham's upcoming production credits include:

• THE MAZE RUNNER (Fox) starring Dylan O'Brien and Kaya Scodelario
• CAMP X-RAY starring Kristen Stewart, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival
• LIFE OF CRIME (Lionsgate) starring Jennifer Aniston, Mos Def, Isla Fisher, and John Hawkes

Projects by The Gotham Group:

 

Tips on Pitching to this Executive: 

- Have a solid, cohesive logline. 

- The pitch presentation should be indicative of the genre and script.

- Amp up the elements that make your story stand out. 

 

 

Malcolm Gray - Creative Executive, Sketch Films

After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in film, Malcolm Gray moved to Los Angeles to work in the television literary department at Creative Artists Agency. Shortly after starting at CAA, Gray was hired away by Spyglass Entertainment as an assistant to the Senior Vice President of Production where he worked on THE TOURIST starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. In 2010, then CEOs of Spyglass Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum took over as co-CEOs of MGM Studios, bringing their creative department and Gray with them. At MGM, Gray was promoted to Coordinator and involved with such high profile projects as ROBOCOP and SKYFALL. Since 2012, Gray has served as Len Wiseman's Creative Executive at Sketch Films developing both film and television projects, including the hit TV show SLEEPY HOLLOW and UNDERWORLD.