Reflections: A Book

Screenwriting contests!!!

Got an e-mail from trackingb! ▼

via MovieBytes, is this legit Jeff ?
TRACKINGB Feature Script Contest – Open For Entries!

**PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERY WRITER WHO ENTERS TWO SCRIPTS WILL RECEIVE A FREE 1-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO TRACKINGB.COM! ($89 VALUE)**

**PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO ABSOLUTELY ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ENTER (THIS COULD INCLUDE REPRESENTED WRITERS, SOLD OR PRODUCED WRITERS, FORMER FINALISTS/HONORABLE MENTIONS, ETC.)**

WHY ENTER CONTESTS THAT PROMISE TO CONNECT YOU TO THE INDUSTRY WHEN YOU CAN ENTER ONE THAT IS THE INDUSTRY?

"I've been plugging away at this dream for years. I have a master's degree in screenwriting and had written 17 scripts with no success when I submitted to the trackingb contest, and after becoming a finalist, I landed two of the best reps in town and sold my first feature within two months of the announcement. The Insider worked tirelessly behind the scenes and was instrumental in all of the success that I am now experiencing; which includes my first movie (EVIDENCE) being produced and a writing career that has taken off. I can say with all honesty that the trackingb contest was the launching pad. If that's not an endorsement then I don't know what else to tell ya!" John Swetnam - Finalist (and now Produced Screenwriter with EVIDENCE, STEP UP: ALL IN, & BLACK SKY!)

"Sunday night I was grading papers in front of the TV when I got the call that I was a finalist in TrackingB. By Thursday I had a manager at Circle of Confusion, an agent at ICM, and my script was already in the hands of production houses. I've been busy ever since..." Emily Blake - Finalist

"I've placed in several big screenwriting contests before, but none of them delivered anything close to the results of my Honorable Mention in the Trackingb.com contest. I received over a dozen requests from top representatives and production companies, one of which became my first option. Now Mike (my co-writer) and I just sold a comedy pilot to Spike TV. It all traces directly back to the trackingb contest." Gabriel Snyder - Honorable Mention

"The entire experience with TrackingB was phenomenal, from the submission process through the finalist notification, but that was just the beginning. I received over 30 requests from top tier agencies, managers and production companies. The Insider was a tremendous host throughout the whole process and helped me navigate the requests and phone calls as they poured in. I highly recommend this contest for anyone looking for an edge into the screenwriting industry and a possible life and career changing experience." Alveraz Ricardez - Finalist

"My script was one of the finalists in the first trackingb contest and I wound up getting approached by a who's who of agents, managers, and production companies asking to read it. I ended up signing with a respected agent and currently have two scripts in play with major producers." Phil Berger - Finalist

"I've been writing for years non stop and never had any luck seeking representation. When I placed in Trackingb my whole life changed. My story got read by a ton of fantastic people in the entertainment industry. Within 3 months I signed with a manager, signed with an agent, and sold my first screenplay to CBS Films. I can't recommend this competition more." Cameron Alexander - Honorable Mention (And Now Sold Screenwriter with winning script I AM ORB -- retitled OMEGA POINT)

THE TRACKINGB.COM SCREENPLAY CONTEST:

We don't offer any of the usual screenplay contest smoke and mirrors... No coverage from someone being paid $10 per script (please ask Mom). No cash (please ask Grandma) or writing clinics from gurus who have never sold a screenplay (Dad?). What our winners do receive is: INDUSTRY ACCESS AND INDUSTRY READS.

THE PRIZE:

Three finalists will be promoted on trackingb.com to our community of entertainment industry insiders AND will also be read by each member of our esteemed judging panel who will pick an overall winner. Five honorable mentions will also be selected to receive exposure on trackingb.com.

THE INDUSTRY PANEL:

Brooklyn Weaver - Manager/Producer - Energy Entertainment
Anna Culp - Vice-President, Motion Pictures - Imagine
Jennifer Au - Lit Manager - Caliber Media
John Campbell - Creative Executive - Bruckheimer Films
David Boxerbaum - Lit Agent - Paradigm
Ken Freimann - Manager/Producer - Circle of Confusion
Brin Lukens - Executive - Varsity Pictures/AwesomenessTV
Norm Todd - Creative Executive - Infinitum Nihil
Erin Westerman - VP - Good Universe
Chris Sablan - Lit Agent - Original Artists
Ava Jamshidi - Lit Manager - Industry Entertainment
Scott Carr - Lit Manager - Management SGC
Janet Jeffries - Development Executive - Lawrence Bender Productions
Lucas Carter - VP, Film - Intrigue Entertainment
Josh Goldenberg - Lit Manager - Kaplan/Perrone
Ryan Cunningham - Lit Manager - Madhouse Entertainment

AND WE ARE PLEASED TO OFFER... THE APA/ADLER PRIZE:

For an extra $30 per entry, you can have your script be considered for the APA/Adler Prize-Guaranteed representation for one chosen WRITER (not one particular script) by APA Literary Agent Mike Goldberg & Literary Manager Josh Adler.

TIMELINE & PROCESS:

All entered scripts will be read by trackingb staff who will select their top choices. Then, The Insider will consult with the industry panel to get their thoughts (based on concept/summary alone) on the top selections, and take their opinions into account in the final decisions. In late January, 2015, five honorable mentions and three finalists will be announced (note: honorable mentions cannot be finalists), and soon after an Overall Winner will be chosen by our judging panel from the three finalist scripts. The APA/Adler Prize Winner will also be announced in late January, 2015.

HOW TO ENTER:

Early Entry deadline is: July 27th, 2014. Late Entry deadline is: September 14th, 2014. And the Really Late Deadline is: October 26th, 2014. To enter, please visit:

http://www.trackingb.com/?page_id=861

Please make payment for each entry using the appropriate paypal link and then attach and send the script pdf (with ONLY the script's title on the title page - as scripts will be read blind with no identifying information), and include logline, & your contact information and paypal transaction i.d. # in the body of your e-mail to: [e-mail]
**TRACKINGB, APA, JOSH ADLER, INDUSTRY JUDGES AND THEIR ASSIGNS AND EMPLOYEES SHALL JUDGE SUBMITTED ENTRIES IN ANY MANNER THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE AND FIT IN THEIR SOLE DISCRETION. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WILL WRITERS RECEIVE ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK ON THEIR SCRIPTS OR ANY FURTHER INSIGHT INTO THE JUDGING PROCESS.**

**TRACKINGB, APA, JOSH ADLER, & INDUSTRY JUDGES AND THEIR ASSIGNS AND EMPLOYEES MAY ALSO ENDEAVOR, WITH THE CONSENT OF AN ENTRANT, TO REPRESENT, AND/OR PRODUCE, PACKAGE, OPTION/PURCHASE SCRIPTS DISCOVERED THROUGH THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING, YOU AGREE THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE IS ACCEPTABLE AND AGREEABLE TO YOU.**

Early Entry ($89)
Early Entry With APA/Adler Prize ($119)
Late Entry ($99)
Late Entry With APA/Adler Prize ($129)
Really Late Entry ($109)
Really Late Entry With APA/Adler Prize ($139)

TRACKINGB.COM - GET THE INSIDE TRACK ... FOR YOUR SCRIPT TODAY!

ION: The 5 Best Screenwriting Contests to enter in 2014 ▼

http://www.tloclub.com/2014/01/the-5-best-screenwriting-contests-to.html

Monday, January 6, 2014

The 5 Best Screenwriting Contests to enter in 2014
I am a screenwriting contest veteran**, and from my years of experience navigating those waters, I’ve seen the benefits and drawbacks of chasing that grand prize. The three benefits of entering contests should be the following: bragging rights, cash prizes, and (most importantly) Hollywood connections. Every entrant should look for those three when forking over an entry fee. After all, most of the contests come with a fee usually ranging from $30-75, and if you enter multiple contests for multiple years, then this adds up quickly.

If one Googled “screenwriting contests,” hundreds would pop up. That’s why it’s good to be strategic and only go after contests that can give you the three benefits and possibly a little something extra. Below you’ll find my list of the top 5 Screenwriting Contests worth entering in 2014.

1. Nicholl Fellowship: This is the most prestigious screenwriting contest that you can win, and even placing in the semi or quarterfinals may give you access to getting read by a Hollywood manager, producer, or agent. The contest is run by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the same people who give out the Oscars), and it has uncovered such screenwriters as Susannah Grant, Ehren Kruger, and Andrew Marlowe. Not only will winning a Nicholl give you bragging rights for life, but the prize is a fellowship of $35,000, which gives you one year to complete at least one more original feature film screenplay. http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/index.html

2. Bluecat Screenplay Contest: I was a finalist for this contest in 2010, and after winning, the head of the contest, Gordy Hoffman, was kind enough to meet with me and give me notes and I was also contacted by independent producers who heard about my placement. In addition to its professional benefits, the cash prizes are pretty high. The grand prize winner receives $15,000 and finalists each receive $2500. But what truly distinguishes this contest from all others is that ALL ENTRANTS receive script analysis. Buying this service from professionals would cost you at least $50, so the fact that it’s included in the entry fee is an amazing deal.
http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com

3. TrackingB: TrackingB is a relatively new screenplay contest (it was started in 2007). Although its entry fee is high ($75-$125), its batting average for the success of its winners is incredible and it has a good reputation amongst writers. For instance, my friend was a finalist for TrackingB, and although she had placed in other contests, it was TrackingB that led to her getting signed by a major Hollywood management company. The other benefit to entering this contest is that if you enter two scripts or more, they give you free access to the trackingb.com website for one year. If you’re not too familiar with the site, it provides Hollywood job listings, script sales, industry news, and other information you would probably not know unless you worked in the industry.
http://www.trackingb.com/?page_id=861

4. Script Pipeline: In 2010, I was a grand prize winner of the contest, and I had a great experience with it. Immediately after winning, I was read by various managers and production companies, and even though a few years have passed, Script Pipeline still sends me writing opportunities and shares my work with production companies. Plus, I also received other goodies such as writing software and a subscription to their Writers Database. It looks like recent winners will receive those same benefits, but now the grand prize is huge--$20,000!
http://www.scriptpipeline.com/home

5. Final Draft’s Big Break Screenplay Contest: The Feature Grand Prize is $15,000, and the genre award winners each get $1,000. Both grand prize winner and genre winners each get writing software, a listing on Inktip, and a year’s membership to Script Pipeline’s Writers Database, along with a lot of other swag; but an even better benefit is that all winners get to read judges’ feedback.
http://www.finaldraft.com/products/big-break-contest#winners


**In 2010, I was the Grand Prize Winner of the Script Pipeline Screenwriting contest (formerly Script Pimp), and I also placed two scripts in the finals (At the time, the winner structure was four grand prize winners and ten finalists.) I was also a 2010 Finalist for the Bluecat Screenplay Contest, and before that, I placed in the quarter or semifinals of the American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest, Scriptapalooza, and the Disney TV Writing Fellowship.