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WINTER - SPRING 2011 CONTEST:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS THERETO:
What
kind of screenplays may I submit? What are
you looking for?
We
encourage submissions from all genres. No particular genre
has an
edge. Our winner could be a typical mainstream movie, or a
horror movie about mutant rutabagas or a romantic comedy based on
the life of Ivan the Terrible. What our judges are looking
for is a great story, compelling characters, and sharp dialogue. Submit
your best work without regard to genre or budget.
May I submit an adaptation of a previously
written work or similar material?
Unlike some
of our previous contests, the AAA Screenplay
Contest does accept adaptations, on one of
two conditions: a) that the work is in the
public domain, or b) that the author has
the right to use the material and can provide
written proof thereof. A good adaptation
is just as hard to find as an original work,
and we feel that these scripts should be
given a shot.
Does submitting electronically hurt my chances, as paper is the industry standard?
Electronic
submission is now Hollywood's industry standard. Your script can
be reviewed much faster by every interested party and forwarded from
one exec to another much faster . In other words, it is a big
advantage to submit electronically.
May I submit more than one script to the
contest?
Yes!
Feel free to enter one script, or twenty—we'll read them all!
Because judging is a subjective process, multiple submissions will be
distributed to different readers to make sure that each script has an
equal chance. Becuase judges evaluate each script separately, you must pay the same entry fee for each script. Best opening prizes if offered:
Every script submitted by any "best opening" deadline is eligible
for this prize. A single writer could conceivably win more than one
"best opening" prize.
Will there be an extension? Your contests seem to do that every year.
Yes, this year.
A high proportion of entrants choose to enter late each year.
So rather than turn away those who want to write late, we often
do extend -- at a higher price. See this page.
Are there discounts for submitting multiple
scripts?
No, but in a way, yes: Instead of offering multiple script discounts, we offer a
discount for early entry, a regular-deadline price as low as possible,
and slightly higher price for those who need extra time
because that extra time makes it necessary for us to bring in extra
help. So you can save the most by entering your most finished scripts
early, and achieve the same savings as you would with a multiple-script discount.
Why
an early-script discount instead of a multiple-script discount?
Most writers wait until late in each contest to submit.
Submitting multiple scripts right at the deadline puts a terrible
strain on judges. So submit your most finished/polished scripts
early, and use the contest period to work on that great script you want
to rewrite.
I live in another country. Can I still enter
the contest?
Of course! We encourage submissions
from all over the world. All submissions
should be in English, and all funds should
be payable in U.S. funds, either by money
order or credit card.
I have sold/optioned a script before, and/or
I have an agent/manager. Am I still eligible?
Absolutely!
However, because the contest is geared toward
offering access into the world of screenwriting,
we do have to limit applicants to those who
have made less than $25,000 on feature options
or sales in the past three years.
If you learn of a violation of this contest rule, it should be reported to customer.service@creativescreenwriting.com
Does my script have to be formatted? How
long should my script be?
Scripts will not be
disqualified based on formatting, but keep
in mind that the purpose of this contest
is to provide a foot in the door to a professional
writing career. Good script formatting
will not only make your script easier to
read, but it's also something every writer
needs to know. Traditionally, scripts
are 90-130 pages in length. Scripts that are
over 125 pages require an extra $10 entry fee.
How do I submit my script?
Online is best by far because it is de facto industry standard. However, scripts
can be submitted in two ways:
• Print
out a copy of the submission form and mail
it to us with the entry fee, release form,
a self-addressed stamped envelope, and
your script. If you would like confirmation
of receipt, please send along a self-addressed
stamped postcard, which will be mailed back
as soon as your script is processed.
• Use
our online system and submit your script
as a .PDF, .RTF, Movie Magic Screenwriter, MS Word, or Final Draft file (.FDR).
Online submissions will be confirmed via
e-mail.
When is the last, final deadline
for script submissions?
Barring extensions, scripts must be postmarked before or or submitted
online by the official deadlines posted on the Rules page.
How do I protect my script?
We
recommend that all scripts be registered
with the WGA or copyrighted through the U.S.
Copyright Office. Keep in mind that many
ideas are similar, and Creative Screenwriting
is not responsible for scripts with similar
storylines.
Who will read my script?
How does the judging work?
All scripts will
be judged by a panel of experienced industry
readers. Our judges have read for a variety
of production companies, studios, agencies,
and distinguished coverage services. The
top ten percent of our entries will go on
to the quarterfinal round, in which senior readers will narrow the field
down to ten finalists. Our senior
readers will each read the top ten scripts
to decide on the final three, and the First
Prize winner.
When will winners be
notified?
Barring delays (which do happen), semifinalists
will be notified and posted on the website within 45 days after the
contest closes, or earlier if judges can complete their work
earlier. Barring delays, finalists
will be announced within 15 days after that, and the winner will be
chosen no later than 15 days after that. So if there were no
delays and no extensions, the 2011 announcement dates would be:
- Semifinalists
by April 28-May 1, 2011
- Finalists
by May 12-15, 2011
- Winners by
May 25-28, 2011
If the contest were to be extended two weeks, add two weeks to the above.
What
do I win? and What does “access” mean?
Breaking into the world of screenwriting is no easy task. By
“access” we mean our way of giving a few talented writers a
push in the right direction. In fact, we have signficantly increased
your access opportunities with this year's contest. See the page THIS PAGE for full details.
Other questions?
For complete
rules, please consult the official AAA Screenplay
Contest rules page.
Confused? Concerned?
Lost? Please feel free to contact contest
coordinator, -- customer.service@creativescreenwriting.com
AAA Contest Sponsors
Include
These Organizations:
Submission
Deadlines And Entry Fees
(Deadlines
Are All At Midnight ) |
| Postmarked/Uploaded
By: |
Deadline
Extended 2
Weeks to
Midnight,
March 14, 2011
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| Feature |
$65 |
| NEW: Additional features in same submission |
$50 -- save $15 |
| Teleplay |
$50 |
| NEW: Additional Teleplays in same submission |
$40 -- save $10 |
| Judge's Script Notes |
$59.95 with order |
Judge's Script Notes
at this price must be ordered through the online entry form when a
script is
submitted (or by the special offer to writers who entered
before
judge's notes were added to the entry form). NOTE: We will
probably offer judge's script notes at a higher rate after the contest.
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Judging And Announcement Target
Dates:
- Semifinalists
by May 8, 2011
- Finalists
by May 30, 2011
- Winners
by June 5, 2011
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$100
Prize(s) For Best Script Opening(s)
Among
scripts submitted by December 12,
2010.
For details on 'Best
Openings" prizes, CLICK
HERE
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The AAA
Contest strongly recommends that you copyright your screenplay with the
U.S. Copyright Office.
Also, it is common practice and a good idea to
Register
your screenplay with:
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