As I began my research I could not believe how much information was sitting right there in my inbox. There were contests and pitchfest all there for me to select. I saw that the information was enormous and unbelievable to the point of almost falling over. The sheer numbers of the contest and pitchfest were too many to count. First, I will start with the pitchfest only because they outnumber the total amount of contest I have found and my research covers them the most.
From my inbox I found an email from Final Draft dated December 27, 2010 the subject line reads “Script Weekly: More Pitchfests; Writers Guild Norms; Jewerl Ross; How to break in if You’re NOT in L.A. and Much More!” I thought this was prefect… everything I needed to know and more. The first article reads the Best of the Rest: Pitchfest click here so of course I clicked. The article is written to the point of a road map of all the pitchfest taking place over the next two months along with that it list the fees and prices. The first few are the cream of the crop and are untouchable, from Screen Expo, The Golden Pitch Festival dates include September 15-18 and September 16-18 All events are at the Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles CA. Nevertheless, I thought this was about not having to go to L.A. So the next one I found is the 15th Hollywood Pitch Festival July 30-31, 2011 again you guessed it in Los Angeles, I’m thinking this subject line must have been a typo. There is a phone number and of course a link: REGISTER ONLINE NOW!
The next one I found, which I like the most, only because Robert McKee will be there is the Great American Pitchfest. This will include a lecture, which will take place from 9AM until 5PM (coffee break at 11:00 – 11:20, Lunch 1:30-2:30) and the other title and content seminar: an interactive seminar covering other writing techniques. Listed for the travel and accommodations are at the Marriott Burbank Hotel & the Convention Center 2500 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank CA. on June 4 – 5, 2011 I guess I missed that one. Therefore, I am still looking for the event that will help you break in if you are NOT in L.A. Then I found it EHollywoodLive an Internet version in FADEIN, Hollywood Pitch Fest February 18-20 May & October, only $225 for 5 meetings, $375 for 10. All you really need is a webcam, oh and a script of course.
The first contest I found was the "Big Break" being put on by Final Draft the 2011 events extended deadline is June 15th and is still open for entries. The top three winners all receive secured representation and the winner has an option to rewrite and direct his script. Judges include Palak Patel of Roth Films, with Mitch Solomon of Magnet Management, and Brian Spink of Bender Spink. Also Todd Garner of Broken Road Productions with Jewerl Ross of Silent Management and Jeff Graup, CEO of Graup Entertainment and last but not least Kirsten Smith. The three finalists are flown to Los Angeles where they will attend the Final Draft Inc. Annual Award Event. The Date of the Event is October 14th at the Paley Center (for Media) Beverly Hills. The Prizes include fifteen thousand dollars in total cash prizes, airfare to Los Angeles breakfast with Pen Denshim, lunch with Marvin Acuna. Entry fees for early birds are forty dollars and sixty-five for the extended deadlines, which ends June 15, 2011. The contest is open to any individuals over the age of eighteen years of age. All submissions should consist of full-length screenplays (from 80 to 120 pages). Any screenplays over 135 pages or less than 80 pages will be automatically disqualified. The contest ran and managed by the Shelly Mellott editor of Script magazine.
The second contest I found was the Script Pipeline also referred to as Script P.I.M.P, which has been running for over ten years. Even though it is a full service resource for anyone attempting to develop a screenplay it has a host of opportunities for a person looking to expose his or her screenplay. From access to producers and film industry professionals, then to the “Writers Workshops” that are designed to analyze and help develop talent. The “Writers Workshops” reviews not only film screenplays but also television spec and pilots, along with short scripts. This year alone the contest pulls in over 3,000 writers with an entry fee of only fifty dollars. The contest is aimed at assisting and polishing the finalist's script before circulations and helps by consulting and discussing the marketability and strategy when sending out their script. The four grand prizes include fourteen thousand dollars in total cash prizes three thousand five hundred each, a thousand dollar towards a writer “Think Tank” at Writers Boot Camp. The winning script record is by iScript with all finalists winning $3,200 total in cash a seat for the Script Pipeline's Secret Door Pitchfest in August 2011. A $250 travel voucher and invitation as recognized finalist to attend the Script Pipeline Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles.
Comparative Summary
I think the contest and the workshops was the best if you can make it to L.A. if not the next best thing would be the Virtual Pitchfest you will save a lot on the travel expenses and get your work out there anyway. Overall, the learning experience cannot be matched and my favorite is the Great American Pitchfest. It is a little ways from L.A. but Robert McKee will be there and you can’t beat that. There seems to be more upsides with the margin of television specs and movie pitchfest to then that of the contest even though both options have different pros and cons depending on your overall situation.
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