I have a general question about screenwriting contests and increasing chances of the screenplay getting optioned or sold. In other words, does a contest winning (or placing) screenplay actually have a better chance of getting legitimate traction in the market over non-contest-winning screenplays? Do laurels really make a difference? Yes or no, is there evidence to back it up on way or the other? Do you have personal experience?
I realize a small handful of contests have truly significant industry cache. I'm more interested in the broad question of getting laurels from any contest (and there are a ton of them).
[Note: I'm not interested in merely hearing anti-contest prejudices.]
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Statistically - No. With that said, everyone's personal success story is different. The important thing if you want sales is to have a business plan. Screenwriting is 20% of the time writing, and 80% marketing/business (I left out an unlimited percentage for procrastinating).
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Contests and "Getting Your Film Made" are two different beasts with nothing to do with one another. The former asks, "Is this critically, in my opinion, a good read?" and the latter asks, "Would I spend more than a house's mortgage to make and would people actually watch it?"
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Mike Childress Usually the budgets are limited and they are made on the cheap cheap cheap. Unless you know of a different model, there aren't any of these contests that will make a $2M film or higher. And a lot of them are pendant on "finding financing." But if you want an imdb credit that could lead to other work, go for it. My personal opinion is that there are far better options to getting a limited-budget film made.
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It depends on the contest, Tucker Teague. Like a Stage 32 contest for example. If a writer wins the contest or places as a Finalist, Stage 32 will send their work to agents and literary managers who are seeking new talent.
It also depends on if the writer takes advantage of the win/placement, meaning does the writer mention the win/placement when they network with other creatives and industry pros, and does the writer mention the win/placement when they pitch their script?
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Nicholl only. And even that comp is no golden ticket. I believe only three or so Nicholl-placed scripts have actually been produced.
All the rest of the comps are a massive waste of effort and money that are meaningless to the industry.
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There is also a difference between being sold and being produced. And if you have a manager/agent or not. You can sell a script and never get it produced. And if you don't have a manager/agent, saying that your contest has won laurels, doesn't get you in a meeting with a potential buyer. If you do have a manager/agent, saying your script has laurels will have potential buyers maybe reading it, not necessarily buying it. I guess a contest helps to legitimize that your writing has an audience... getting it sold is a bigger step, unless a contest advertises that they do that.
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Great topic and I've always had that question because dollars add up when entering contests. Nicholl as the ONLY legitimate one? It is certainly the most prestigious. The higher ranking the contest the more cred your script has. I also wonder how many contests rely on entry fees as income without truly advancing the script to a legitimate option / sale.
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"[D]oes the writer mention the win/placement when they network with other creatives and industry pros, and does the writer mention the win/placement when they pitch their script?"
Maurice Vaughan that's basically what I'm asking, and if doing so does it really make a difference? I would also add, should a writer ever list awards on the screenplay's title page? I would think not, but I'm curious.
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I've talked to writers who did those things, and it led to script requests, managers, etc., Tucker Teague. And I've seen script leads where producers only wanted scripts that won or placed in contests.
I don't think a writer should list awards on the title page. I'm not sure how producers/etc. would feel about it.
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Tucker, keep placements off the title page or second title page. Keep them for queries.
That a writer placed in the Quarters of the East Hot Coffee, Mississippi Swap Meet and Screenplay Competition makes zero difference.
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I have my fair share of contests participation, especially as an actor, and I would answer it's a hard no. In fact, for me, as an actor first, it was counterproductive. In the moment I started to receive recognition overseas I started to get less and less acting jobs. Of course, being a Caucasian actor in Singapore it's already difficult per se, but still. In the moment I stopped sharing "the good news" I resumed getting acting gigs. Lucky thing this is not my mainstream income...
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@mike I've read about the NF "miracle" as well. I'm keeping my list of competitions very tight now. NF, Page and probably Austin and Stage 32 for my female driven trilogy.
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One thing that competition placings do is demonstrate that your screenplay has been read by others and they have liked it/seen merit in it. This is especially helpful if it is a competition that is known to have industry professionals in the judging process.