Second Annual Pitch and Screenplay Competition

Scriptwriters Houston
Second Annual Pitch and Screenplay Competition
Saturday, January 16, 2021
​Submission Deadline December 1, 2020
Submission Deadline Extended to December 6, 2020

Goal:
​Scriptwriters Houston has the mission to further the cause of and interest in professional quality writing for stage and screen through critiques, educational programs, development workshops, seminars, and showcases of members work.
Screenplay Submission:

• May be about any subject.
• Must be no more than 20 minutes in length.
• May be a piece of a longer work—this we anticipate to the be the norm.
• Submit pdf of script to [email protected] with PITCH AND SCREENPLAY in the subject line.

Process:

• Entrants will forward their 20-minute submission on or before 11:59pm on December 1st.
• SIX entrants will be selected to participate.
• Entrants will select and rehearse their readers who will read their scripts on competition day. Entrants are responsible for forwarding scripts to their readers and for any rehearsals that happen regarding their scripts. Writers will have an optional opportunity to rehearse one time one the zoom platform that will be provided the day of the competition.
• Before each Screenplay is read, the writer will give a two-minute oral Pitch. This Pitch is also evaluated by the other Entrants and constitutes the remaining 30% of your total score.
• Each Screenplay will be evaluated by the five other Entrants. This grading will make up 70% of your total competition score.
• Each Entrant will receive a maximum of 10 minutes oral feedback from the other Entrants.
• Entrants MUST be present to evaluate all the other entries. Failure to be present for or submit feedback on all the other readings will render an entrant disqualified from advancing.
• The TWO entrants with the highest score will advance to the afternoon and present the same material (reading and pitch) to the judge for the afternoon session, Sage Kosiorek, Project Manager at Austin Film Festival. He will select the winner.

Cost for Submission and Observer Attendance:

• Submission: Scriptwriters Houston active members: $30. Non-members must pay $35. Full time students $20. Payments may be made at https://www.scriptwriters-houston.org/
• Attendance: Observers will be charged $10 for attendance on the day of the event. However, Readers and Observers cannot vote or provide oral feedback. Readers and writers do not have to pay entry at any point during the day.

Criteria for Evaluation:

• Screenplay: Scene setup, Character Depth, Dialogue Quality, Movement along the Character Arc, Conflict, Action, and Conclusion (with a Transition)
• Pitch: Synopsis (including Genre), Involvement, and Knowledge

Competition Schedule:

• Jan. 5, 2021-Selected submissions announced.
• Jan 6-10, 2021-Scheduling opportunity for rehearsals of submissions.
• Jan. 10-15, 2021-Rehearsals for Submissions on a provided Zoom account.
• Jan. 15, 2021-ORIENTATION

        6pm-7pm-All scriptwriters and all readers enter Zoom platform provided by SWH                               to discuss competition Ground Rules.

• Jan. 16, 2021-COMPETITION DAY

        8:30am-Scriptwriters and all readers enter Zoom platform provided by SWH.
        9:00-12:30pm-Readings of scripts and pitch-all writers REQUIRED to attend entire                                        session.
        2:00-4:00pm-Professional Judging-Open to the public.
Prizes:
The selected winner of the competition will receive free membership in scriptwriters for a year, a certificate of acknowledgement, and an opportunity to participate in the next live 10x10 Ten Minute Play Festival.

Pitch and Screenplay Competition Documents

Copy of Screenplay Competition_Rules (2021)

​Copy of Screenplay Competition Rules Updated (2021)

​Copy of Screenplay Competition Ballot