Over the past couple years I've been entering my pilot for JOHN H. WATSON, CRIME DOCTOR in various screenwriting contests. Most of them are through ISA, but lately FilmFreeway screenwriting contests have been showing up in my e-mail, and I figured "Why not enter these?"
The reason I'm asking is because the Watson pilot has won "A Major Award" (just like Ralphie's Dad in A CHRISTMAS STORY!) in three of the FilmFreeway contests—WRPN.TV's "Platinum Award" for television writing, "Best TV Pilot Screenplay European Winner" from the New York Screenwriting Awards, and the "Special Jury Prize" from the Blue Berry International Film Festival in India. None of these Major Awards have cash prizes, meetings with industry personnel, or even a mention on IMDB unless I can somehow do it myself. (Though I think I got a free pitch from the New York Screenwriting Awards, which I haven't used yet!) Most other screenwriting contests I enter I'm either not selected, or I get laurels for being a Quarter-Finalist or "Top 100" member.
I'm asking here because everybody here has varying level of experience—are these even legit, or have I been wasting my money submitting to them? I'll post copies of the three Major Awards so you can see why I'm concerned....
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Apparently I can't post all three at once, so here's the NY Screenwriting Awards....
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And the Blue Berry International Film Festival.
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Congratulations on all your success in the contests and festival, Timothy Liebe!!!
I haven't entered many contests (I entered some way back), but I've heard from writers on here that the major contests are the ones to target (Academy Nicholl Fellowships, Final Draft Big Break, PAGE, etc.).
And I've heard meetings with industry pros is one of the best prizes since it can advance your career. Like the Stage 32 contests do.
Another thing I've heard is competition winners need to network after they win, telling producers, agents, managers, directors, etc. about the wins. Writers should build upon their wins.
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Thank you, Maurice! I've been a bit shy about telling producers, agents et al about these wins because I was afraid they were like Participation Trophies....
But this helps me realize maybe I should be a bit prouder.
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I think they're pretty legit. I've found some success with them.
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More success. Plus FINALISTS and OFFICIAL SELECTION tons of times!! You know what they say-- "The more you enter......."
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Mickey Mouse, is that a reference to them being close to Goofy?
There were 800 last time I checked. Most are not connected to a festival they are just competitions. The rest are not even on film making towns or cities. They are rarely connected to the industry in anyway.
I entered one or two when I first started. It is a place to put my brackets.
So are they valuable. I would say they are fun.
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You're welcome, Timothy Liebe. "I've been a bit shy about telling producers, agents et al about these wins because I was afraid they were like Participation Trophies." That goes back to what I said about the major contests. A lot of producers, agents, etc. won't care if you win a bunch of smaller contests, so I suggest entering the big ones, then mention those wins to producers, agents, etc.
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Like the line from the movie, "The Producers" One could make more money creating a Screenplay Competition than entering one! I feel your pain, I have a few wins, and and bunch of finals listings, but nothing that has propelled me anywhere. I do it mostly for the feedback, and see where I stack up against other screenplays. Remember, All things make you stronger!
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At one time, the top contests had an income cap rule- writers couldn't earn more than 35k-$50,000 from show biz. The cap was there to keep the playing level fair for beginners. The theory then was contests are for exposure. Not "make my contest script into a movie."
Now it's a free for all, mostly money grab businesses with lots of salary execs, reps & readers moonlighting on the side 'cause show biz salaries suck. The whole contest business went to shit when Shia LaBeouf was winning screenwriting contests.
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The Burbank International Film Festival is legit. I work there, haha
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I had the same concerns as you. I entered and won the first contest I entered. Filmfreeway is legit, and I've made some amazing connections there. I recommend it.
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Thanks, everybody! This is very helpful to me, especially when I'm looking at my WRPN.TV "Platinum Award" and thinking, "If I just put a bulb and lampshade on it...."
Here's a picture for those of you not fortunate enough to have A CHRISTMAS STORY playing for 24 hours straight during Christmas on one of your television networks.....
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Craig D. Griffiths — I think it's a WWII term meaning "Not important, a waste of time and resources, laughable."
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In the service it means....foolish, not to be taken seriously....applies to both people (officers mostly) and situations.
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I have won a number of awards through FilmFreeway, but I am bound to ask, how can there be so many film festivals in the world ?
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Timothy Liebe it was my attempt at humour. We now know why I don’t write comedy.
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IMO, MOST screenplays are a ripoff. There are quite a few only available on Film Freeway which are as fake as they get. I place in top 3 in a few of them...the websites now link to hardcore porn. Best to submit to vetted contests via S32 or Coverfly. There's less than a dozen which are worth spending your money.