TV PILOT SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
Launch Pad
DEADLINE: May 9, 2021
INFO: The Launch Pad Competitions have led to more signings, success stories and careers than any other screenwriting competition. With nearly a decade of experience in promoting up-and-coming writers, The Launch Pad Competition has firmly established itself as the premier hub for Hollywood to discover fresh voices and new ideas. We advocate for all of our Top 100 finalists, working with them to share their work with the right industry members to advance their career.
Our prestigious juries of industry members include managers, agents, producers and executives at companies across Hollywood. We also offer exclusive partnerships with management and production companies to give writers an extra leg up.
Through these partnerships, as well as our exclusive mentorship opportunities, we seek to provide as many avenues towards success as possible. No competition will do more to help all of their finalists take the next steps in their careers, and no competition has had as much success in helping writers break into the industry. Enter now for a chance to join this tradition of Launch Pad success.
We are committed to helping writers take meaningful steps in their career, and there is nothing more important in developing your craft than thorough, in-depth notes from a trusted source. We are proud to offer our Feedback Notes program, providing 1-2 pages of in-depth notes on your competition entry, with insight into the story, characters, writing and commercial potential.
https://tblaunchpad.com/competitions/pilot/
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WRITERS’ ACCESS SUPPORT STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM
The Writers Guild Foundation
DEADLINE: May 10, 2021
INFO: TV writers and producers Tanya Saracho (Vida), Mike Royce (One Day at a Time), and Liz Hsiao Lan Alper (Day of the Dead) have partnered with the Writers Guild Foundation to launch the Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the full inclusion and employment of underrepresented groups in the television industry.
The program’s mission is to provide writers who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled writers, and writers over the age of 50, with tools and education to become a writers’ assistant and script coordinator, ultimately resulting in meaningful employment opportunities. These positions have historically been an invaluable way to learn the writing process first-hand, with the ultimate goal of getting a writing job.
Graduates of the program will be included in an ongoing list of trained writers’ assistants and script coordinators (WA/SCs) primarily from underrepresented groups, which will be made available to studios, networks and showrunners, in order to increase the pool of eligible hires. By offering this opportunity to writers who are typically excluded from the writers’ room, we hope to increase representation among television writers, and capture stories from all corners of the human experience.
Applicants will be reviewed by a committee of television creators, executive producers, and showrunners, and writers who previously worked as WA/SCs, including Saracho, Royce and Alper, along with Steven Canals (Pose), Sera Gamble (You), Jenniffer Gomez (Vida), Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz (Love Life), Lindsey Villarreal (Resident Evil), Prentice Penny (Insecure), Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (The Carmichael Show), Brian Tanen (Love, Victor), Liz Tigelaar (Little Fires Everywhere), Danny Chun (The Office) and Sanjay Shah (Central Park).
https://www.wgfoundation.org/programs/writers-access-support-staff-training-program
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NEW VOICES
Humanitas
DEADLINE / FEE: May 17, 2021 ($85)
INFO: NEW VOICES was created with the vision of discovering, developing and launching a new generation of talented writers under the mentorship of Hollywood showrunners and studio partners.
Every year, NEW VOICES selects up to six writers through a rigorous selection process. Candidates are asked to submit a script and participate in personal interviews. Once matched with a mentor, the writers have three months to further develop their script under their mentors’ supervision. After the script is honed, HUMANITAS sends it to a partnering studio or network executive. The winning writers are given recognition at the annual awards ceremony and are awarded with a $7,500 grant.
We are looking for well-written scripts with compelling stories and developed characters. Any genre is accepted as a 30-minute pilot, 60-minute pilot, or feature film screenplay. We accept only one application and script per year. To be eligible a TV writer can have experience up to and including "Executive Story Editor", and feature writers cannot have earned more than $25,000 writing fictional work for film.
TIMELINE:
Announcement of semi-finalists and finalists: August 2021
Annual awards event: September 2021
A SIGNATURE HUMANITAS NEW VOICES STORY MUST:
Challenge us to use our freedom to grow and develop.
Confront us with our individual responsibility.
Examine the consequences of our choices.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
One original 30-minute pilot, 60-minute pilot, or feature film screenplay (name redacted)
Logline
Brief synopsis (1 paragraph)
If you are selected as a Semifinalist, you must prepare:
Letter of interest (1 page, double-spaced)
Resume (no more than 2 pages)
Bio (1 page, double-spaced)
https://www.humanitasprize.org/new-voices
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2021 SCREENPLAY & TELEPLAY COMPETITION
Austin Film Festival
DEADLINES / FEES:
Feature Screenplay: May 21, 2021 ($70)
Short Screenplay & Teleplay: May 21, 2021 ($60)
INFO: Austin Film Festival’s Script Competitions stand a league apart. No velvet ropes, no VIP areas. Join AFF in demystifying the festival experience and instead participating in a one of a kind, world class event.
AFF’s Competitions aren’t just about the winner either! We’re here for you the entire way. Not only do all entrants receive FREE “Reader Comments”, but all entrants receive registration discounts regardless of placement. Attendees of AFF’s world famous Writers Conference get access to over 175 panels, roundtables, pitch sessions, and workshops, covering every nook and cranny of the art, craft, and business of storytelling through film, television, and digital platforms.
However, unlike other screenplay competitions, your experience with AFF doesn’t end after making the first cut. Second Rounders, Semifinalists, and Finalists get larger discounts and have the opportunity to attend exclusive panels, intimate roundtable discussions, script reading workshops, and are afforded special access to industry professionals.
SCRIPT CATEGORIES:
If you would like to submit more than one script, you will need to submit a separate online form, entry fee, and PDF for each.
I - FEATURE SCREENPLAY COMPETITIONS
Drama Feature Screenplay presented by Writers Guild of America, East
The category is open but not limited to feature drama scripts in genres such as historical, western, family, romance, horror, thriller, etc.Comedy Feature Screenplay
The category is open but not limited to feature comedy scripts in genres such as dark comedy, satire, family, animation, slapstick, horror, etc.
II - TELEPLAY COMPETITIONS
Drama Teleplay Pilot
Open to any pilot script written in the one-hour or half-hour format for an original drama television series.Comedy Teleplay Pilot
Open to any pilot script written in the half-hour or one-hour format for an original comedy television series.Drama Teleplay Spec
Open to any spec script for a current drama television show in the one-hour or half-hour format.Comedy Teleplay Spec
Open to any spec script for a current comedy television show in the half-hour or one-hour format.
III - SHORT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
Open to any narrative short script in all genres 5 to 40 pages in length.
IV - SCRIPTED DIGTIAL SERIES COMPETITION
Deadlines & Pricing:
Late: $45 thru May 21
Extended: $50 thru July 9Open to short-form episodic scripts intended for the web. Writers can submit 1-3 episodes of their series totaling no more than 30 pages.
V - SCRIPTED FICTION PODCAST COMPETITION
Deadline & Pricing: $40 thru July 9
Writers can submit up to three episodes 3-30 pages in length of their series with the overall content of the story not going longer than 90 pages. Writers should also include a series outline, detailing the events of the remaining episodes in the series.
VI - PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
Deadline & Pricing: $30 thru May 21
Open to full-length stage plays 60-90 pages or that could reasonably be performed within 90 minutes on stage.
ADDITIONAL AWARD AND FELLOWSHIP CATEGORIES
Additional Awards and Fellowship categories require an additional $20 entry fee per award and may not be applicable to all categories listed above. If you have already submitted and would like to add one of the following additional awards to your existing entry, please email us at screenplay@austinfilmfestival.com and include your Submission ID (found in your confirmation email).
Horror Award
The Horror Award is open to any feature horror script including dark suspense, thriller, sci-fi and macabre themes.
*This award can be added to the following category submissions: Drama Feature Screenplay, Comedy Feature Screenplay
Sci-Fi Award
Open to science fiction, fantasy, horror, surrealism, myth/legend and fantastical storytelling.
*This award can be added to the following category submissions: Drama Feature Screenplay, Comedy Feature Screenplay
Enderby Entertainment Award
The Enderby Entertainment Award category is open to feature scripts in all genres with an original concept and distinctive voice that can be independently produced under $10 million. Co-founded by Rick Dugdale and Daniel Petrie, Jr. (Beverly Hills Cop, The Big Easy), the production company acquired the 2008 AFF Finalist script Stranded (now titled Dawn Patrol) which premiered at the 2014 Festival starring Scott Eastwood and Rita Wilson.
*This award can be added to the following category submissions: Drama Feature Screenplay, Comedy Feature Screenplay
AMC One-Hour Pilot Award
We’re proud to announce that AMC returns as the official sponsor and judge for the One-Hour Pilot Award. The AMC One-Hour Pilot Award is open to any pilot script written in the one-hour format for an original television series. Scripts submitted to this category must be at least 45 pages in length. Scripts submitted under this page-minimum will not be considered. AMC will review the top scripts submitted in the category and will determine the semifinalists, finalists, and winner. Finalists will be given the opportunity to meet with a representative from AMC during this year’s Conference (October 21-28) or over the phone at a later date.
*This award can be added to the following category submissions: Drama Teleplay Pilot, Comedy Teleplay Pilot
Warner Brothers Pilot Award sponsored by WarnerMedia
We’re excited to announce WarnerMedia as the official sponsor and judge for the Warner Brothers Pilot Award. The award is open to any pilot script and any writer. WarnerMedia will review the top scripts submitted in the category and will determine the finalists and winner. Finalists will be given the opportunity to meet with a representative from WarnerMedia during this year’s Conference (October 21-28) or virtually at a later date. The winner will have the opportunity to meet with WarnerMedia executives either in LA or virtually.
The winner will also receive a $1,000 prize; reimbursement of roundtrip airfare (up to $500 per script excluding frequent flyer miles); hotel reimbursement at the Film Festival (up to $500 per script); and the AFF bronze typewriter award.
*This award can be added to the following category submissions: Drama Teleplay Pilot, Comedy Teleplay Pilot
The Rooster Teeth BIPOC Fellowship
The Rooster Teeth BIPOC Fellowship seeks scripts from underrepresented writers in the industry. While open to any genre, submissions should generally align with Rooster Teeth’s voice: an emphasis on comedy concepts that feature ordinary people in extraordinary situations, coming-of-age stories, or other engaging journeys of self-discovery.
The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and will be flown (travel-expenses covered) to Austin for a week-long mentorship with Rooster Teeth’s team. The winner will meet with Rooster Teeth executives and their development team.
*Note: This category is only open to writers who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). To submit to this category please select one of the options within the Demographics section in this form. Applicants from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.
The Rooster Teeth Women & Animation Fellowship
The Rooster Teeth Women & Animation Fellowship seeks scripts from women looking to enter into the field of animation. While open to any genre, animation scripts should generally align with Rooster Teeth’s voice: an emphasis on comedy concepts that feature ordinary people in extraordinary situations, coming-of-age stories, or other engaging journeys of self-discovery.
The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and will be flown (travel-expenses covered) to Austin for a week-long mentorship with Rooster Teeth’s team. The winner will meet with Rooster Teeth executives and their development team.
*Note: This category is only open to writers who identify as female. Applicants from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.
Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship
Acclaimed producer Barry Josephson has been a longtime supporter of AFF since the very first festival in 1994 when he optioned the winning script from the Screenplay Competition. For the third year, Barry will present the “Josephson Entertainment Screenwriting Fellowship” which will provide a one-on-one mentorship for the writers of two scripts – one feature script and one teleplay pilot – selected from the Final Round of the 2021 Screenplay Competition. Finalists will be invited to apply and AFF will select the top writers for Josephson Entertainment to further review. The selected fellows will be announced and presented by Barry Josephson at the Awards Luncheon on October 23, 2021. Each fellow will be flown to LA to be mentored by Barry and take meetings with various executives from Josephson Entertainment to take their writing to the next level.
*Finalists of the Drama Feature, Comedy Feature, Drama Teleplay Pilot, and Comedy Teleplay Pilot categories will be invited to apply for this fellowship.
VIRTUAL PITCH COMPETITION
Send in a 90-second video pitch, based on the feature script you’re submitting. If it passes our initial judging round, you’ll be invited to the finals where you’ll perform your pitch live (virtually) in front of a panel of industry judges. The winner will receive a one-on-one conversation with an industry professional. All who submit a video pitch will receive written feedback from the first round of judges.
*This competition can be purchased following category submissions: Drama Feature Screenplay, Comedy Feature Screenplay, Drama Teleplay Pilot, and Comedy Teleplay Pilot
Rules for video pitch submissions:
All entrants must submit a feature or TV pilot script to the 2021 Script Competition. The pitch must be about the script submitted.
Video submissions cannot be longer than 90 seconds.
Pitches must be in English.
Pitch video should not be edited; but rather, performed as if one is pitching live in front of someone.
Video must be in .mp4 or .MOV format and less than 300 MB.
Only allowed to submit one (1) video pitch per script entry.
You will receive instructions on how to send in your video in your submission confirmation email. The deadline to submit your video pitch is 11:59pm PST, May 21, 2021.
https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/screenplay-and-teleplay-submissions-2/
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Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop
DEADLINE: May 31, 2021
INFO: For over 40 years, the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop has been the premier writing program for new writers looking to start and further their career in the world of television. The list of graduates who have gone on to do great things is long and includes showrunners: Jeff Astrof (Trial & Error), Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives), Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (S.W.A.T.), Jenna Bans (Good Girls), and Joe Henderson (Lucifer), to name a few.
Every year, the Workshop selects up to eight participants out of more than 2,500 submissions and exposes them to Warner Bros. Television’s top writers and executives, all with the ultimate goal of earning them a staff position on a Warner Bros.-produced television show.
The Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop consists of three components, all geared towards preparing the writer for a successful career in television writing.
LECTURES:
Weekly lectures feature guest speakers currently working in television and include a mix of showrunners, directors, actors and agents. Each seminar will teach a new skill essential for surviving and excelling in a writers’ room as a staff writer and beyond.
SIMULATED WRITERS’ ROOM:
In the winter, the Workshop participants are divided into smaller groups for an intensive writing experience. Each participant will be required to complete a new spec script under the same deadlines typical for a show in production. How participants perform during this exercise will determine whether they will be supported for a possible staffing position on a Warner Bros. show. Yes, the stakes are that high!
STAFFING:
Upon completion of the program, studio executives will help participants who pass the Writers’ Room obtain a staff position on a Warner Bros. Television show. We can’t guarantee you will get staffed, but we will get your material in front of the people who make the ultimate decisions – the showrunners.
The 2021-2022 Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop will run October 2021 – March 2022, with meetings on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California, one evening a week from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., with meetings on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California, one evening a week from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Full participation is mandatory.
HOW TO APPLY:
The Writers’ Workshop applications generally open each year during the month of May. Please check back for specific application dates and deadlines.
CURRENT RESUME: Your resume should be in pdf format and include all past writing-related work experiences, and beyond (please note writing experience is not required).
PERSONAL STATEMENT: Your personal statement should be no longer than one page, double-spaced (up to 2,000 characters, including spaces). It should tell us why you want to be a television writer and how your background will add a unique perspective to television writing.
SPEC SCRIPT: Specs MUST be written for a show that is listed on our Accepted Shows page. Not all shows are accepted. Please take a moment to make sure your show is listed. Please include a “Previously On” page after your title page if your show is serialized. The “Previously On” page lets the reader know where your episode takes place in the series, and must also include an episode number (please see the FAQ for a more detailed breakdown). It should be in paragraph form and not longer than a page. Your episode can take place anywhere within the series that you would like. If you have applied previously, you must submit a new spec script. If you apply with a Comedy spec, you will be considered as a Comedy writer, and if you apply with a Drama spec, you will be considered as a Drama writer.
SUBMISSION AGREEMENT: Each submission must include a submission agreement in order for us to review your material. You must download the agreement, print the agreement, sign it, and either scan or upload a picture of the signed document. The agreement must be uploaded to your application before the deadline. Faxes and emails of this document will not be accepted. Please take into account the time it will take to submit your submission agreement when applying.
https://televisionworkshop.warnerbros.com/writers-workshop/program-details/
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2021 TV PILOT CONTEST
Shore Script
DEADLINES / FEES:
Early: May 31, 2021 (1 HR $45 / 1/2HR $40)
Regular: July 31, 2021 (1 HR $55 / 1/2HR $50)
Final: Aug 31, 2021 (1 HR $65 / 1/2HR $60)
INFO: WE HAVE HELPED LAUNCH THE CAREERS OF NUMEROUS WRITERS THROUGH OUR TV PILOT CONTEST. THIS INCLUDES DEALS WITH SONY, YOUTUBE, CBS, & HULU.
OUR TV PILOT CONTEST IS SPLIT INTO 1/2 & 1HR CATEGORIES.
WE ACCEPT ALL GENRES. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU HAVE A BIG BUDGET EPIC OR CONTAINED DRAMA, EACH TV PILOT IS JUDGED EQUALLY. WE, AND OUR ROSTER OF OVER 150 OF THE MOST RESPECTED FILMMAKERS IN THE INDUSTRY, ARE LOOKING FOR WRITERS WITH ORIGINAL VOICES.
PRIZE:
TWO GRAND PRIZE WINNERS $5000 EACH
TWO 2ND PLACE WINNERS $1000 EACH
https://www.shorescripts.com/tv/