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In 2019, I entered 11 screenwriting and film grant competitions. Over 12 months, I wrote and pitched two short films, a series pilot, and 20-page film treatment. It was a staggering amount of creative work for me (especially considering I accomplished all this while earning my Master’s degree). Needless to say, I was super proud of my level of productivity last year.
However, after months of developing and writing projects, none of them qualified, placed, or won any of the competitions I entered. My only claim to fame was a placement on Coverfly’s Red List, which features their top-rated short screenplays in certain genres (this placement is automatically calculated by the scores awarded from the competitions you enter on Coverfly’s platform).
After receiving another disappointing email (earlier this month), notifying me that a script would not be moving forward in a competition, I came to the following conclusion;
Screenwriting competitions are a complete waste of time.
Hear me out…
While competitions are a great way for aspiring screenwriters to potentially gain industry exposure, win money, and kick-start their careers they’re still a waste of time.
Here are 3 reasons why;
1. There’s too much competition.
And, I know what you’re thinking, “Duh, of course, there’s competition, it’s a contest!” Yes, but, the fact remains, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of hungry writers competing for the same small pool of prize money, industry recognition, and exposure. Every competition is different, but the higher the profile of the contest (or the greater the rewards), the more people will apply; making it near impossible for you to win.
2. They’re too expensive.
Screenwriting competition entry fees range anywhere from $25 – $75 and this price fluctuates based on early, regular, or late registration fees. The price can skyrocket to nearly $140 if you’re submitting a feature film with coverage (professional feedback of your script). Enter a couple of competitions every month and now you’re spending a small fortune just to compete against hundreds of other writers.
3. They’re too time-consuming.
This is by far the greatest reason why screenwriting competitions are a waste of time. While you’re spending your time crafting the perfect sci-fi or family-friendly adventure for a competition, you’re taking away time from developing your passion projects (or time away from a potential client that could be paying you to write a script!). Remember the 20-page treatment I mentioned earlier? Well, I’ve been working on the screenplay since February 2019. I’ve stopped in the middle of development to work on new scripts and pitches for competitions that demanded my focus & time. It kills me that I haven’t finished that script yet (I’m determined to hunker down and finish the first draft by the end of February).
If you’re still reading this rant, I want to assure you that it’s not all gloom and doom. The sun always shines after the rain.
While screenplay contests have too much competition, are too expensive, and time-consuming, you should still enter them.
Here are 3 reasons why;
1. Screenwriting competitions give you a sense of accomplishment!
Finishing any kind of project, whether it’s a short film, feature, or series is a great accomplishment! There are thousands of people that go to a movie or watch a show and say, “I wanna write something like that,” but never do. When you set a goal to write a script and follow-through, you set yourself up for long-term success as a screenwriter. That sense of accomplishment will give you the positive reinforcement you’ll need to push through on your next passion project, spec script, or assignment.
2. Screenwriting competitions help you become a better writer!
Other than reading scripts, the best way to learn the craft of screenwriting is to write screenplays (crazy huh?). With each script, I enter I feel like I’ve had a creative growth spurt. I recognize what I could have done better in previous scripts and I try to incorporate what I’ve learned into the next. I also tend to do a lot of research on structure and formatting while writing so I also learn more about these concepts as well. I especially appreciate the feedback I’ve received on various screenplays…this also helps me become a better writer.
3. Screenwriting competitions can open unexpected doors!
I remember entering a competition for a film grant from the state of Mississippi’s art alliance last year. I worked hard on a pitch, but couldn’t finish the screenplay in time for the deadline (this competition allowed you to enter a pitch or a screenplay into the contest, which was helpful). I didn’t receive the grant, but the competition director invited me to submit the project to their film festival once it was produced. This would have given me a special spot on the program that highlights hometown projects. I was grateful and honored that they kept my project in mind.
While you may not win every competition, you never know what doors may open. But, you’ll never know until you hit the submit button!
So, what now? That’s up to you. I hope that despite the rough time I’ve had with screenplay competitions, you’ll stay encouraged on your journey toward success. As we move forward into the new year, I want you to keep something in mind.
It only takes one yes, in a room full of no’s for your life to change.
Keep writing and submitting your screenplays, because you might be one yes away from a breakthrough!
In my next blog post, I’ll share a few tips and best practices that I’ve picked up when entering screenwriting competitions. To help you succeed in 2020, here are the top screenwriting and film grant competitions you should enter this year.
Have you had any luck with screenwriting competitions? If you’ve entered but never placed, what do you think you could do differently next time? If you’ve placed or won a competition (or grant), what made the difference for your screenplay? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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