Screenplay
Competition Rules, Release Click
here
to go back to the main contest page or to enter the competition.
Click the blue button at upper right to register for the Expo
2010
Screenwriting
Expo Screenplay Contest Rules and Regulations
1) All submissions must be postmarked by
deadline. The Competition reserves the right to extend the deadline. 2)
By submitting, you agree to;the Release Form (copied below)
and to abide by all the Contest Rules. 3) Submitted screenplays must be the unproduced, unoptioned, and
wholly original work of the writer(s). There must
be no dispute about the ownership of submitted screenplays or the
writers’ right to submit screenplay. Submitted teleplays will
adhere to the industry “spec script” practice of
being a derivative work based on a pre-existing
television series, however submitted teleplays must contain original
story and dialogue. For teleplays, any characters
created by the writer(s) must be wholly original work. Pilots for
unproduced television shows or episodes of an unproduced
series will not be accepted. 4) Scripts
by more than one writer are
eligible, but only one prize will be given and it will be the
writers’ responsibility to distribute the prize. If writers
of a script are unable to agree on the distribution of a prize, their
script will be disqualified. 5) All writers of
submitted scripts must be
at least 18 years of age. 6) Writers of submitted
scripts must not
have earned more than $8,000 (in cash or other consideration) for
writing services for film or television. Furthermore writers must not
have won a fellowship or writing contest that includes a
“first look” clause. 7)
Scripts must be in English, in an accepted electronic format
or printed
single- or double-sided on 3-hole white paper with the pages numbered
and with the title (for TV specs include name of show), name of
writer(s) and contact information on the title page. Online
submissions must be in either Movie Magic, Final Draft, PDF or RTF
format. It is preferable but not mandatory that the file has the title
page as the first page of the file. Font must be
12-point Courier, Courier New or Courier Final Draft. Feature
screenplays must be between 85-140 pages and in standard spec
screenplay format; if paper, scripts must be fastened with 2-3 brads
with (optional) blank
cardstock covers. Short screenplays must be 20 pages or less, fastened
with 2-3 brads or 1 staple. Teleplays for hour-long series must be
between 50-70 pages. Teleplays for half-hour shows must be between 25
and 55 page (more than 40 only if double-spaced dialogue).
8) Hard-copy submissions must contain
eligible scripts(s), a signed, initialed and completed application,
entry fee (check, money order or credit card information), and, if you
want notification that we have received your materials, a
self-addressed-stamped postcard. Hard-copy submissions must be mailed
(USPS, UPS, etc…) via a delivery method that does not
require a signature. Online submissions must contain eligible script
(as a Movie Magic, PDF, RTF or Final Draft file), valid credit card
information and a valid email address. Confirmation of receipt of
online submissions will be only done via automated form email at the
time the script is entered. 9) Employees,
contractors, or immediate
family members of principals of Creative Screenwriting, The
Screenwriting Expo, and their parent company Inside Information Group,
Ltd. may not submit
screenplays. Scripts and writers that have won a cash prize from any
previous Expo Screenwriting Competition are ineligible. 10)
Please read and understand these Rules
and Regulations. Failure to adhere to The Contest guidelines will
result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee. 11)
Judging will be performed by trained
readers and industry professionals. The finalists’ scripts
will be read by industry professionals. The decisions of the Judges
will be final. 12) The 2010 Screenwriting Expo
Screenplay
Competition may substitute alternative prizes of equal or greater value
in place of previously announced prizes. 13) Entry fees are nonrefundable.
Make your
check payable to Creative Screenwriting. 14)
Questions regarding The Screenwriting
Expo Screenplay Competition should be directed to: contests@screenwritingexpo.com
15) “Trip to Los
Angeles” is defined as a continental U.S. round-trip plane
ticket (maximum price: $300) to Los Angeles for one writer on a major
airline, up to 3 nights accommodations for one person at an official Expo Hotel (not including any
additional charges incurred there), and free entrance to the Expo as defined by the Official Prize List at http://screenwritingexpo.com/prizelist.html. No substitute for the Trip To Los Angeles terms will be
accepted. For example, the Competition will not reimburse for
lodging at a non-Expo hotel unless all Expo hotel rooms are sold out.
In that case, maximum reimbursement for hotel will be no
greater than the single rate at the headquarters hotel. 16)
No writer will win more than one of the
following categories: Action-Adventure, Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi,
Fantasy, Comedy, Family, Animation, New Visions Prize, Grand Prize,
Runner Up in Main Category. Winners of the prizes sponsored by entities
other than the Creative Screenwriting/Screenwriting Expo enterprise may
be selected by the principals of each respective company and
may coincide with writer(s) who have won another prize in the 2010
ExpoScreenplay Competition. 17) All winners will be
responsible for
their own U.S. income tax withholding. | 
