Ah, springtime, when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of … Screenwriting Contests.Conventional wisdom goes back and forth as to whether they are a waste of time and money or an invaluable aid to the neophyte career.
When I began writing screenplays, lo those many years ago, I entered contests just to see what would happen.
I had the good luck to win a small contest with my fourth script.
With that taste of success came determination, and I've been entering script contests ever since.
Sending something to the Nicholl has become a springtime ritual for me. A sure sign that May approaches, especially when it's still snowing in Montana.
And like springtime in Montana, I've had varied results in the Nicholl, from being in the top 30 to not making the first cut.
However, I continue to plug along, determination unabated, although enthusiasm waxes and wanes. Depending.
One year I only entered contests that offered feedback.
Now I'm winnowing them by prize money. One must draw the line somewhere.
Yesterday, I mailed my contest submissions for this year.
It has to stop snowing sometime.
good luck, I am entering my first contest this year and it just happens the Nicholl is closest one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and good luck right back at you.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't think comps are a waste of time if they give you a deadline and make you hit it. If it weren't for deadlines some of us would never finish anything!
Thanks, Pooks.
ReplyDeleteAugust wouldn't be the same without sweating out those first letters from Greg.
I figure "what the hell?"... I'd blow $30 (plus shipping and handling) on something far dumber than entering a contest on a Friday night anyway.
ReplyDeleteLast year, I began writing my first-ever spec screenplay. It went very well, and was a wonderful process to learn and explore – if not a bit neurotic, compulsive, addictive, or maddening at times! Just a few months ago, I completed my final comb-through, and I love it as it stands now. Those who have read it tell me that it doesn’t suck. I’ll take it!
Since February, I’ve been entering it into competitions, with all of the unrealistic, BIG dreams attached to overblown expectations one could expect from a fledgling writer, high on his first manuscript. Reality is sinking in that, hey... there are a LOT of amazingly gifted writers out there with whom I’m competing with. GULP!
So from me to all of you, I wish only luck and success! Perhaps someday we’ll all be exchanging stories of the movies our scripts inspired.
Best Regards,
~Devin
Good luck, Devin.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you'll be haunting your mailbox this summer like the rest of us.
And Devin, I hope you're writing your next script!
ReplyDelete(laugh)... yes "pooks", I'm already 30 pages into my next script. And 15 pages into the sequel concept for my first script. AND... I have two more script ideas that are currently in the eaves, waiting for research & development (well... of the 'written variety', NOT bought/sold and BEING PRODUCED variety... YET!).
ReplyDeleteI'm hooked!
Best Regards,
Devin