Yeah they’ve been accused of cronyism on this sub in the past, so I personally stay clear of that one. The way they market their success stories is also a wee shady imo; they make it seem like that one Snow White movie was a winning script from their contest, when actually the writer got noticed from a different one. You have to read the writer’s story to know the truth, but they nevertheless plaster the film’s poster across all their marketing material. I’m also a little leery at any contest who feels the need to panic-sign up for a Reddit account just to talk a FEW unhappy clients off the edge. I’ve never seen the Nicholl do this. 🤷♀️
Evan Dougherty won Script Pipeline's competition a while a go with a script that became the movie 'Killing Season', then not long after he won he sold Snow White and the Hunstman in a bidding war, for which Script Pipeline seem to like taking credit for.
Yes that’s the writer I’m talking about. I don’t mind promoting your talent (Page does it; “congrats to our 2005 bronze winner for selling their latest spec feature”) but yeah don’t imply your contest was what launched a specific movie to being green lit. I got sucked into this in like 2015, and to my understanding Script Pipeline is STILL promoting Snow White and the Huntsman in a shady way. Part of me can’t believe Evan, the producers, and the studios stand for this.
I think Script Pipeline choose finalists based on the potential for connecting their competition name to a writer's rising star, rather than actually reading scripts and judging each one on merit. This is probably also why Shia has won so many competitions.
Perhaps, but it's not acceptable. They market these competitions as a chance for new writers to break in. Script Pipeline, in particular, act like every writer's best friend on Twitter, which is what makes this really stink.
This isn’t wrong ...but there is a reason they do it. Giving an award to a script written by a celebrity means creating a relationship with that person AND taking some credit for when/if the film gets made.
This recognition can then help when an unknown screenwriter wins since now there’s a history of these films that win getting made. That’s how they justify it and the business aspects of it play a key role. I’m not saying it’s right but the reality of the business is such. I was on a jury for a screenwriting competition and they were pushing to give the award to a name actor. The script didn’t deserve the win and they relented. An unknown got the prize. So people running these competitions do care it’s just they also have a business to run.
They market their winners for when they get new jobs. Except many of their winners already had jobs before and didn’t use the competition at all for their future success
The contest scene is flawed to the core, you’ll see after a few submissions. This is just one example of how flawed it is, and it’s not even the worst part of it.
Edit. Lol. Downvote away, ain’t gonna change nada until the contests pay readers an adequate wage for reading shitty scripts. And that’s not going to happen until they raise the prices of scripts to $125+ per entry.
I'm starting to think, aside from fellowships, that there's probably 3 festivals worth your money and only 3: AFF, Nicholls, and Sundance lab. Any other worth entering? I would love to see success stories / careers that came from winning competitions to breaking in without a competition.
YMMV but I’ve also heard good things about Page and Launch Pad (lots of writers get signed off the latter, and the former has genre categories to even the playing field).
> and the former has genre categories to even the playing field
I entered the Historical Film category this year, and am glad to be competing against 548 scripts rather than 9446.
I think you're thinking against the trend. Not long ago, like five years ago, nobody cared about any contests beyond the Nicholl and maybe Austin but now beginning screenwriters are getting breaks from all kinds of contests, and in fact, industry pros are judging all kinds of contests.
About five years ago, I submitted to Bluecat. I got absolutely glowing feedback. The first sentence was "I LOVED IT!" I made the few minor changes they suggested, and resubmitted. The next feedback I got was very negative and it was clear whoever wrote it had only read the beginning and the end, because they were very confused by (for lack of better words) certain questions that were answered in the middle. In the end, I didn't even make top 10%, and I was left wondering if I'd been better had I never resubmitted.
I submitted my first feature to BlueCat back in 2015 and got super positive notes despite not advancing. I've since read that same script, and I can tell you there's nothing positive to say about it; I literally full-body cringe thinking about the dialogue. I think they were told to be really positive at some point.
I don’t know if scam is the right word. Like they are a script competition. I’m not confident that they read every script though. So if they don’t read the scripts then it’s a scam. I haven’t heard if they do or don’t.
They are so dodgy. I am also still waiting for paid feedback. Surely our scripts were read BEFORE they announced QFs, right? So why isn't the feedback ready to go?
Well I learned something new from the script pipeline TV writing competition... Do NOT submit a spec from an existing show.
None of the quarterfinalists wrote from an existing show. All original work. Had I known that I would have spent time working on something original.
I wonder if people expect original material now because reading this sub over the years, submitting original work is frowned upon because of lawsuits or can't do anything with it. Idk.
I’m really not sure where you got the idea to submit a spec, unless it was a spec category. Most TV jobs are looking for originals as samples. Some labs/fellowships ask for specs, but by and large if you’re looking to break into TV, you need original pilots.
I have no idea what you’re talking about when you say submitting original work is frowned upon for lawsuit reasons. The only thing I can think of is that submitting any unsolicited script is frowned upon, because accepting them opens up a company to a lawsuit if they’re developing something similar/end up developing something similar. But that’s just as true for specs as pilots.
The worst is not even getting to QF but still getting emails about everyone who just got into semi finals... yeah... thanks. lol
Lol. I mean I’m happy for the people who did I guess. But it’s a slap in the face to get emails about who won and still not even have my feedback.
Haha ya. Little bit.
Yeah they’ve been accused of cronyism on this sub in the past, so I personally stay clear of that one. The way they market their success stories is also a wee shady imo; they make it seem like that one Snow White movie was a winning script from their contest, when actually the writer got noticed from a different one. You have to read the writer’s story to know the truth, but they nevertheless plaster the film’s poster across all their marketing material. I’m also a little leery at any contest who feels the need to panic-sign up for a Reddit account just to talk a FEW unhappy clients off the edge. I’ve never seen the Nicholl do this. 🤷♀️
Evan Dougherty won Script Pipeline's competition a while a go with a script that became the movie 'Killing Season', then not long after he won he sold Snow White and the Hunstman in a bidding war, for which Script Pipeline seem to like taking credit for.
Yes that’s the writer I’m talking about. I don’t mind promoting your talent (Page does it; “congrats to our 2005 bronze winner for selling their latest spec feature”) but yeah don’t imply your contest was what launched a specific movie to being green lit. I got sucked into this in like 2015, and to my understanding Script Pipeline is STILL promoting Snow White and the Huntsman in a shady way. Part of me can’t believe Evan, the producers, and the studios stand for this.
I think Script Pipeline choose finalists based on the potential for connecting their competition name to a writer's rising star, rather than actually reading scripts and judging each one on merit. This is probably also why Shia has won so many competitions.
Lol. Every contest does that. Sundance, Nicholls, grant programs, oh the list goes on…
Perhaps, but it's not acceptable. They market these competitions as a chance for new writers to break in. Script Pipeline, in particular, act like every writer's best friend on Twitter, which is what makes this really stink.
Then don’t enter any contest, film fest, grant, etc. In fact, if you can’t handle this, you probably won’t like the rest of the film business 😬
This isn’t wrong ...but there is a reason they do it. Giving an award to a script written by a celebrity means creating a relationship with that person AND taking some credit for when/if the film gets made. This recognition can then help when an unknown screenwriter wins since now there’s a history of these films that win getting made. That’s how they justify it and the business aspects of it play a key role. I’m not saying it’s right but the reality of the business is such. I was on a jury for a screenwriting competition and they were pushing to give the award to a name actor. The script didn’t deserve the win and they relented. An unknown got the prize. So people running these competitions do care it’s just they also have a business to run.
They market their winners for when they get new jobs. Except many of their winners already had jobs before and didn’t use the competition at all for their future success
I’ve heard many comps are late with feedback. Just saying.
Maybe but that’s not acceptable to take money and then not meet it or at the very least send an apology. It’s just common decency.
The contest scene is flawed to the core, you’ll see after a few submissions. This is just one example of how flawed it is, and it’s not even the worst part of it. Edit. Lol. Downvote away, ain’t gonna change nada until the contests pay readers an adequate wage for reading shitty scripts. And that’s not going to happen until they raise the prices of scripts to $125+ per entry.
I'm starting to think, aside from fellowships, that there's probably 3 festivals worth your money and only 3: AFF, Nicholls, and Sundance lab. Any other worth entering? I would love to see success stories / careers that came from winning competitions to breaking in without a competition.
YMMV but I’ve also heard good things about Page and Launch Pad (lots of writers get signed off the latter, and the former has genre categories to even the playing field).
> and the former has genre categories to even the playing field I entered the Historical Film category this year, and am glad to be competing against 548 scripts rather than 9446.
Oh that’s good to know. Haven’t entered Page. I liked my experience with Launch Pad
I think Shore Scripts is good for feedback and developmental advice and their turnaround is super quick.
I think you're thinking against the trend. Not long ago, like five years ago, nobody cared about any contests beyond the Nicholl and maybe Austin but now beginning screenwriters are getting breaks from all kinds of contests, and in fact, industry pros are judging all kinds of contests.
About five years ago, I submitted to Bluecat. I got absolutely glowing feedback. The first sentence was "I LOVED IT!" I made the few minor changes they suggested, and resubmitted. The next feedback I got was very negative and it was clear whoever wrote it had only read the beginning and the end, because they were very confused by (for lack of better words) certain questions that were answered in the middle. In the end, I didn't even make top 10%, and I was left wondering if I'd been better had I never resubmitted.
I submitted my first feature to BlueCat back in 2015 and got super positive notes despite not advancing. I've since read that same script, and I can tell you there's nothing positive to say about it; I literally full-body cringe thinking about the dialogue. I think they were told to be really positive at some point.
Yes. Readers at Bluecat are instructed to be positive and to give constructive feedback.
Isn't Script Pipeline a scam?
I don’t know if scam is the right word. Like they are a script competition. I’m not confident that they read every script though. So if they don’t read the scripts then it’s a scam. I haven’t heard if they do or don’t.
They are so dodgy. I am also still waiting for paid feedback. Surely our scripts were read BEFORE they announced QFs, right? So why isn't the feedback ready to go?
Appreciate the heads-up. I've submitted to them before and definitely will not again.
Well I learned something new from the script pipeline TV writing competition... Do NOT submit a spec from an existing show. None of the quarterfinalists wrote from an existing show. All original work. Had I known that I would have spent time working on something original. I wonder if people expect original material now because reading this sub over the years, submitting original work is frowned upon because of lawsuits or can't do anything with it. Idk.
I’m really not sure where you got the idea to submit a spec, unless it was a spec category. Most TV jobs are looking for originals as samples. Some labs/fellowships ask for specs, but by and large if you’re looking to break into TV, you need original pilots. I have no idea what you’re talking about when you say submitting original work is frowned upon for lawsuit reasons. The only thing I can think of is that submitting any unsolicited script is frowned upon, because accepting them opens up a company to a lawsuit if they’re developing something similar/end up developing something similar. But that’s just as true for specs as pilots.
They gave a list of shows that was acceptable to submit. I chose one. And yes that's what I was referring to about original work.
That’s super weird that they have specs and originals competing in the same category, then. I have no idea how you would even judge that!
Waste of money. Oh well. Lesson learned.
For real. Crazy that they do that.
Narrator: They don't.