LA Screenwriter

Screenwriting competitions are a dime a dozen – or at least writers wish that was how much they cost. The fact of the matter is that there are hundreds of screenwriting contests out there, each promising to launch the winner to ‘professional screenwriter’ status, and each with a hefty entry fee.

But which contests can really deliver? And which ones are worth the (often substantial) cost of entry? How do writers separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to this potential avenue to screenwriting success?

I recently spoke with David Outram, Head of Administration at the Shoreline Scripts Screenwriting Competition, a UK-based contest with the goal of getting the best screenplays into the hands of the producers and production companies that have the means to get them made.

Looking over the Shoreline Scripts website, it quickly became apparent to me that Shoreline is a different kind of screenwriting competition – even before the competition is completed, the contest promises to pass along the best scripts to people who can get them made (after obtaining the writer’s consent).

Here’s what David had to say about choosing screenwriting competitions that can actually deliver on their promises.

LA Screenwriter (LA): With so many screenwriting contests out there for writers to choose from, how can writers determine whether a contest is everything it claims to be?

David Outram (DO): A writer should look at not only the monetary prizes offered but the people and companies involved in the process. A good set of producers, industry judges, and production companies connected with a contest will really help a writer get his or her work out there. These connections should be the main reason for entering a competition. If you have questions about the contest or concerns about its legitimacy, you should always contact the contest before entering. If your query goes unanswered for more than a week, that’s probably not a good sign.