So I'll mention that I've submitted to a few competitions over the years and I've only made it past "judging hurdles" only three times. But in some cases you can spend so much time working on a script/screenplay and submit to receive nothing for your entry fee, but the exact same script will place well in another. It's very subjective and it can be pretty soul crushing depending on how close you are to your story. Some years I've taken it really poorly; feeling like they are personally attacking my characters that I've spent so much time creating. Love to hear what you all think, more luck than skill or combo of both (which seems to be the obvious answer). My personal thought is whether you like competitions or not its the quickest way to get eyes on your work from someone that can help elevate it. (make it/publish it).
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Funny, I used to impatiently wait for results. Hell of a roller coaster ride. I would take it personally, too. Most of the time. Especially with a script that has done really well in contests. But now I actually forget all about competitions. What I mean to say is that I still enter some, but I forget all about them until I get an email about a placing. Then I usually have to go and look at the list to see which script I entered. It's rather nice. I'm too busy hustling and pitching and writing to give a second thought. Set it and forget it. I'm not in the contest business.,
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Very Zen. That's a good headspace to be in, I'd agree with that.
To answer your original question, contest accolades equal lucky break. :)
Make a some time consuming simple experiment; take some of the most well known competitions and showcases such as black list, blood list, Nicholl AFF etc and see their winners produced stuff. Now, if say 80-90% of those films and shows are garbage, then yes, it's all in the mere luck...and don't put to much effort on competitions without track record of having winners produced, escalated etc...it's almost always just money giveway...
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I agreed with Nathan about the fact that results of the film festival screenplay competitions are quite subjective, especially at the entrance to advance or the gate keeper levels. Does anyone know who are the people reading script at the 1st level.
After a few years into film festival submissions, I've become like GW too. It's really nice to read through the winner list and feel good for them.
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Congrats on the Top 10!
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You definitely need skill and talent to write good stories and if you place anywhere in good competitions then you definitely have that but I’d say less luck and more subjective. That’s what art and craft is all about though. Some competitions will like it and others won’t just as some people will love it and others won’t. The joy is in creating a story that you love, putting in the hard work and skill to craft it and tell it well and the grit in getting through all those rejections to come out the other side. There’s not a well known writer that hasn’t been through the same thing. You’re doing what you enjoy, you’re doing well and just keep going and congrats on the top 10 placement that’s awesome!
It's skill. The majority of entries into any contest aren't great concepts and are poorly written like a first draft. If you write a competent script, it will get you through the first round of most contests except for maybe the top ones like Nicholl Fellowship.
As far as the top 10% and finals, there are a number of professional contest people that keep entering their winning scripts year after year. That does make the competition tough even at smaller contests.
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In answer to you Dan Max, I didn't pay anything. They sent me the list of winners and I just found my name. I'm a photoshop wiz, so I plopped the "Table Read banner" up there so people would know what contest it was for.
Back to contest navigation, I'm of the belief that there are a lot of great writers out there and we are all helping and competing against each other for recognition/entry. What I've tried to do over the years is analyze the different competitions and see what style of winners certain contests choose. Then self-asses: am I a good fit or not based on research, BUT it still comes down to 1st round readers. They have to like your stuff and send it up the river. That is just a subjective opinion of our literary work/art. Only solution I see is to trust the process... I guess. Diversify and self publish as well to build your own groundswell so when you do hit a couple it dovetails nicely. (shrug)
Christopher Phillips, that's a little disconcerting to hear. I suppose past winners can keep entering if you didn't get the grand prize; get another shot, but damn. That makes it tough.