A while back I discussed my experience with the first Writers Store’s Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest. Even though my submission wasn’t what they were looking for, I was still very impressed with the contest itself and the opportunity.
However, if you’re like me, I’m sure you’d like to see how your 15 pages compared to the ones that made the top ten. Well now you can! The Writers Store has just posted nine of them.
To see them all (including the winner’s pages) for the Simon Kinberg contest logline, please click here.
UPDATE: For those entering the current round of the Industry Insider Screenwriting contest, here’s a great tip from Dana Hahn, Industry Insider Contest Coordinator, who was kind enough to provide it to me:
“The main thing that we’re looking for in our contest is the quality of the writing, and a unique take on the logline.”
– Dana Hahn, Industry Insider Contest Coordinator
Thanks Dana! And good luck everyone!
(Yup, the rumors are true. It’s the best frikken deal on the web.)
Looks like The Writer’s Store won the contests for Most Hoops to Jump Through just to read the suckers.
They only came in second, though, for Biggest Time-Eater. First Place? Voting on the Debt Ceiling. Congratulations to the winners!
Trevor,
I am so pissed off at these contest and this one too.
Aspiring script writers,
STOP ENTERING SCRIPT CONTESTS.
STOP WASTING TIME AND THINKING YOU ARE GOOD WHEN YOU PLACED IN THESE STINKING CONTESTS.
WHO ARE THESE JUDGES?
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
IS JOHN FORD ONE THE JUDGES? LOL
IS F COPPOLA ONE THE JUDGES? LOL
IS SOPHIA COPPOLA ONE THE JUDGES? LOL
IS SNYDER ONE OF THE JUDGES? LOL
HAVE THEY MADE A MOVIE? I MEAN, THESE JUDGES.
HAVE THEY WORKED WITH A 30 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET?
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
AND FOR EG. BLUE CAT, WHY SHOULD WE LISTEN TO GORDY? WHAT HAS HE DONE THAT IS POWERFUL ON A BOX OFFICE LEVEL?
I’ HAD IT. FED UP.
GUYS. STOP CHASING SCRIPT CONTEST AND START MAKING FILMS AND LIVING FIMS AND MAKE A LIVING MAKING FILMS.
WRITING SCRIPTS FOR A LIVING. ONLY A FEW DO IT. WHAT KIND OF CAREER IS THAT TO CHASE. SCRIPT WRITING IS AN ABUSIVE JOB. YOU WILL GET NOTES FROM HELL THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE MISERABLE, BORING AND SICK WITH NEGATIVISM.
I HATE IT WHEN I HEAR ABOUT GUYS WHO QUIT THEIR FULL TIME JOBS TO BECOME SCREENWRITERS. WHO’S PAYING YOUR BILLS AND ARE YOU STILL LIVING AT HOME?
HOW COULD YOU MAKE A LIVING WRITING SCRIPTS. ONLY A FEW DO IT.
STOP BEING A LIAR. YOU NOT MAKING A FUCKING LIVING AS FULL-TIME SCREENWRITER.
IS THIS WHAT SCRIPTS CONTEST IS TEACHING YOU. TO LIVE YOUR LIFE LIKE A IRRESPONSIBLE TEENAGER. SOME WHO DREAM OF MAKING IT BUT NOT REALIZING THE REALITY OF WRITING.
FOLKS – SCRIPTS CONTESTS ARE FOR AMATEURS AND DREAMERS AND LIARS.
STOP THE MADNESS.
ISA
Hey Isa,
I agree with you on some level. Chasing contest victories, and indeed, winning most contests, will do little to further your career. The lions share of your time should be spent writing more scripts, improving your abilities. Or like you say, trying to make your own films if that’s the path you’ve chosen.
However, all things being equal, if you’re a screenwriter with zero contest wins, versus a screenwriter with 1 distinguished contest win, who do you think will be more attractive to a prospective agent or producer?
I think competitions like these are great fun. 15 pages doesn’t take too much time to produce and it lets you test your mettle against other writers… Cuz that’s what you’re really doing when you try to “break in” to Hollywood.
No contests are the holy grail, but this one has some really attractive prizes that are worth pursuing, if you have the time.
Remember, even if you win, no writing is ever wasted. It either a) Sharpens your skills or b) Gives you fodder for a future script.
Thanks for the note!