Screenwriting : Confessions of a Contest Judge: The Difference Between Semifinalists and Winners by Danny Manus

Just read the article. Looking for the X factor in my script. Sometimes it has it, others no. Hard to bring it out over all 112 pages.

So, the judges look for what's trending now? What happened to wanting to find the new, fresh thing?

No, they DONT look for what's trending. The point is that writers are all writing the same type of material.

Good read, if a tad disheartening: my current spec script involves a child in peril. I hate when every other writer out there steals my idea.

I thought no children, no animals was one of the basic rules of screenwriting; right up there with you must use Final Draft 29 (or whatever the latest edition is).

Interesting inside perspective. Thanks for sharing.

You wouldn't happen to know the trends for Sci-Fi and Comedy?

Great read. Thanks for this. Seems like voice and originality are more important than anything else. @James Chalker, no children, no animals is a director rule not a screenwriting one.

Hey Anthony, sorry I don't. I wish I got to read the comedy ones too but only 1 category allowed.

The director doesn't direct in a vacuum. If you're trying to market your screenplay, then you should stay away from children and animals. I understand that these rules are meant to be bent or broken, but still I find it somewhat surprising that so many finalists would involve children in their screenplays. Hey, what do I know: I write in Word.

Great article Danny, and what would you say are the top 10 competitions to enter? There seems to be so many out there!

Very interesting article. Incidentally, one of my scripts made the PAGE Semis (horror) and it features children. Hah! Funny thing is, it's based on a short story I wrote way back in high school (never mind how long ago that was...). I had no idea so many writers submitted scripts featuring kids. Personally, I tell stories that inspire me and demand that I write them. I try to avoid trends if I can help it. I didn't even know horror scripts with kids WAS a trend. ;-D

Nicholls, PAGE, Austin FF, Final Draft Big Break, Scriptapalooza, Script Pipeline, TrackingB, Sundance/Slamdance... then there's CWA, Fresh Voices, SCreencraft, TrackingBoard. And the fellowships - Disney/ABC, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Writers on the Verge, etc.

That's great Danny - many thanks

Wow! What an article! Thanks for the insight.

Danny, thanks for taking some of the mystique out of the judging process. It gives us writers some valuable insight. Wish there were more like you in the other genres.

James, I recently sold a spec script featuring both children (a child, anyway) and animals. It shoots next month, and they're keeping both the kid and the dogs. FYI.

Congrats Kerry!

There's 25 semifinalists in each category/genre. I think about 100 quarterfinalists. I am not sure how many that is culled from to begin with in this genre.

I have been there with one group and what I learned was mainly how to feel good about yourself and critique others, which I didn't do. Blind leading the blind. I found I had already learned more from a childhood friend who used to sell her scripts in Hollywood.

Dan, sadly neither of those are really the case. Certainly not the latter! some contests make big money but between the prizes they pay out and the readers they pay out and overhead, its not as much as you think.

Danny, Correct me if I am wrong but I gather you have been the judge for the same genre for several years with Page. I have a question. Have you ever had the same screenplay (with improvements) make it further in the standings a second time around?

Let's make a contest and earn money?

Great article. I know that writing the first and third acts are the most interesting and, therefore, easiest to write. Maybe, it's not a matter of writers thinking that the judges only read the first 20 and last 10, maybe it's that they get lost in act two? I always have to pay extra close attention to my act two rewrites because I know it always feels like moving through sludge when I'm writing it LOL.

Thomas, yes there are some projects that are resubmitted the next year. there was 1 this year I remembered and it was indeed much better than last year. So yes, that happens.

Thank you Danny. Today's the day I find out if I made the finals.

Best of luck to you, Thomas!

Good luck!!

You made it! Congrats!

I MADE THE FINALS!!!

Awesome job!

Congratulations!

How do you know? Is it up on the site already?

It hit the site at 2pm eastern time.

Congrats Thomas! I'm happy that 9 put of my Top 11 picks advanced to the finals. I guess I have some good taste after all. haha. I'm crossing my fingers for a couple of em!

Great blog. Thanks.

Nicely written, good solid information. Hope your favorites win.

After reading/judging what seemed like tons of scripts for Hollywood competitions some years ago, everything Daniel says is right on. Even though he's focused on the Horror/Thriller genre, all of his points (other than story focus trends) apply across genres. I was particularly struck by the importance he gives to voice. One of those Hollywood "truisms" is that voice is of little value for screenwriters since the form is so much about what-happens-next, though reading the scripts of nearly all award-winning films disproves that claim.

Thanks, Richard. Very helpful.

Great article, Danny. It was a lovely little breadcrumb for those of us desperate for information till the results came out Monday. Even though my script is in drama I was still trying to manipulate it into applying to mine. Now another month to see how it all shakes out. Any advice in the meantime for my query list? Any specific managers/prod co's that per your experience are eager for PAGE finalists?

Yes, there are many actually. Look at the list of judges for previous years of Page and that will be a great starting point.

WOW. Congratulations Thomas. Great great news.

So Danny how did your horror picks do?