Since 1999, dozens of our participants have found representation through taking part in our contest and many more have had their projects optioned.

If a studio production company wishes to option the winner script, we will fly the winner to Los Angeles from wherever they live in the world and pay for their accommodation.

We will only accept 1,000 entries!

Who has been the highest paid actor/producer in Hollywood for the last few years?
Not Tom Cruise, not Harrison Ford, but Jerry Seinfeld.

Who are some of the highest paid writer/producers in the industry?
David E. Kelley, Chris Carter and Steven Bochco.

There are a dozen screenwriters who command over a million dollars for their screenplays every few years, but dozens of TV writers who regularly make more each year. Show runners with material in syndication make millions.

Why are some of the bigger Hollywood names getting into television? Not just because of the money, but also because of the quality of amazing shows like THE SOPRANOS, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, LOST, THE OFFICE, etc. Ten years ago it was all about five people of varying ethnicities cracking jokes around a sofa, now, it's a totally different world for writers.

TV writing is known for it's consistency and the networks and various production companies are always looking for new writers. The turnover is high, but so is the likelihood of landing a freelance job starting at $5,000 a week! And once you become a staff writer, the sky is not the limit. Also, TV is more satisfying than film. More is made, projects are realized more quickly, you get paid faster, and the residuals can be unbelievable.

TalentScout is looking for the next David E. Kelley! He (or she) is out there, probably unable to get an agent to read his projects and being turned down by production companies who do not want to look at "unsolicited" material. That's where we come in with the TalentScout TV Writing Contest.

Two Contest Winning Scripts Produced in 2005! 

Jon Rosten's script, The Edge of Nowhere (renamed Valley of Angels), the Grand Prize Winner of the Spring 2004 Contest, has just wrapped principal photography in Dec '05. The gritty L.A. drug story was directed by Jon Rosten. The film stars Danny Trejo (Con Air, Heat, Spy Kids) as the antagonist ‘Hector,’ George Katt as the lead, ‘Zeus’ and Caroline Macey (American Dreams) as ‘Lisa.’  More on the project at http://www.levelblue.com.

Marcus Folmar, another WriteMovies.com winner, had his script I'mPerfect shot in June. It stars Wayne Brady, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Brad Dourif, Illeana Douglas and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The film is currently in post-production and receiving strong interest from both agencies & distributors. Check out article in Variety.

INFO DIRECTORY
WHAT WE OFFER	ENTRY GUIDELINES
WINNERS HAVE BEEN READ BY...	SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
FEES & DEADLINES	RULES & FAQS
DISCOUNTS	SPONSORS
ANNOUNCEMENT DATES	TESTIMONIALS

WHAT WE OFFER

Grand Prize: $3,000 in cash and guaranteed representation. Up to $1 Million in option monies from the A-List producers we work with. If a studio production company wishes to option the winning script, we will fly the winner to Los Angeles and pay (up to $4,000) for their accommodation, so that he/she can meet with producers, agents, directors, managers, etc. We will submit the top five projects to relevant production companies (such as Neal Moritz Productions, Bruckheimer Films, Scott Rudin Prods.) networks (FOX, ABC, CBS, etc.) & studios (Paramount, Warner Bros, NBC Universal, etc.). You keep ALL the option/sales money. The Grand Prize winner is also submitted to several literary agencies and management companies as well as non-US companies to increase the chances of a sale. The names of the top five winners and their projects are mentioned in press releases and on the web. The Grand Prize winner will receive $1,000 in free script consulting to develop the winning script. Courtesy of Final Draft, the top five winners will receive their award-winning screenwriting software. Courtesy of Filmstew, the Grand Prize winner will also receive 1 year free access to Filmstew's new service, Project Tracker. The four runners up will also receive 1 month free access. Courtesy of Click&Copyright, the top three winners will receive a free Complete Copyright Package, that will enable them to protect their winning project or a future project of their choosing. Also courtesy of Click&Copyright, the top three winners will receive their choice of any 3 of the following e-books: The Fine Print - Analyses and rankings of the contracts and services of the top self publishing companies Screenwriters Wanted Volumes I and II - Source of 447 agents and producers who accept screenplays from new writers. New Authors Wanted:  687 Literary Agents Who Want Work Form New and Unpublished Writers. Fresh Voices Wanted:  1,027 Book Publishers Who Want Work from New and Unpublished Authors. Book Marketing Turbo Charged:  96 Free Places to Announce your Book Online.

WHO HAVE REQUESTED TO READ OUR WINNERS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS:
Metropolitan Literary Agency Paradigm, A Talent & Literary Agency Stone Manners Talent & Literary Agency The Artists Agency Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency Original Artists The Gage Group Diverse Talent Group The Radmin Company Davis Entertainment Scott Rudin Productions Bruckheimer Films Samuel Goldwyn Hearst Entertainment Tiara Blu Films Manifest Films Dreyfuss James Productions WWE Films	BBC Films The Syndicate Ascendant Pictures Industry Entertainment The Hal Lieberman Company ABC ABC Daytime HBO NBC Universal CBS Television Pariah (Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm) Imagine Entertainment (24, Malcolm in the Middle, Arrested Development) Apostle (Rescue Me) Tollin / Robbins (One Tree Hill, Smallville, What I Like About You)

ENTRY FEES & DEADLINES: Early entry (on or before Dec. 15): $29 Standard entry (on or before Jan.12): $39 Late entry (after Jan. 12 and before Feb22): $49 Flat fee for books: $54 Flat fee for short stories (10,000 words max): $25 DISCOUNTS: Additional entry: $5 off for any additional entry beyond the first. Feedback bonus: $5 off for any entry you submit that has received coverage/consulting by WriteMovies prior to this contest. (Only one discount applies per entry) If paying by credit card, use the last BUY NOW button. Please be sure to add/subtract properly.

ANNOUNCEMENT DATES: Names will be continuously added to the list as they make it to the next round. Results for each round will be complete by the following dates: Contest closes: Feb.22nd 2007 Semi-Finalists: April.19, 2007 Finalists: May 17, 2007 Winners: Jun.13, 2007

ENTRY GUIDELINES:

For all projects (excluding any self-published projects), please include a title page with names of all the authors including the contact details for the primary contest applicant. Screenplays Please follow industry standards. Use Courier 12 point font. Three-hole punched with brads / brass fasteners in the first and third holes. Use washers if available. Standard margins. (Example from the Nicholl Fellowship) Stock covers are nice but not necessary. Please consult this page for in-depth formatting details: http://www.simplyscripts.com/format.html Novels & Short Stories: Projects with 10,000 words or less are considered short stories. Any more are considered novels. Maximum of 1 inch margins on all sides. Use a legible font like Times, Times New Roman or Courier of at least 12 points. Double-space if desired. Plays Use a legible font like Times, Times New Roman or Courier of at least 12 points. Please consult this page for layout details: http://www.playwriting101.com/chapter06 Television - Sitcoms & Dramas: For sitcom and drama specs (samples), use industry standards. If possible, acquire a copy of the existing show's script and mimic the style. You do not need to include scene numbers, list the sets or characters. Drama sample: THE DEAD ZONE - EP. 401 (Click Here) (Visit the Dead Zone homepage for scripts from any episode) Sitcom sample: THAT 70's SHOW: (Click Here) Pilot submissions must consist of a "presentation" or "prospectus" containing the following elements: A summary of the basic idea behind the show, including the setting, theme, profession, etc. A summary of the main continuing characters, their background, appearance, personalities, and their interaction. A statement of the kinds of situation in which the characters will be placed, including what the basic structure of those situations will be, what effect these situations will have on the characters, and what effect the characters will have on them. A short list of possible episodes with enough different stories to show that the series will be viable week to week. A pilot script of the first episode of the show. Sample series presentation: (Click Here)

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Each submission must include the following: 1. Project: Your project sent by email to author@writemovies.com as an attachment Please use PDF, RTF (rich text format), Microsoft Word Doc, or Final Draft formats 2.Application: A completed and signed copy of the application form for each project. 3. Payment: Please visit this payment page. Multiple submissions are welcome!

CONTACT US:

WriteMovies.com FAX: 206.203.1256 author@writemovies.com

RULES & FAQS:

RULES: Under no circumstances will substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts be accepted once you've submitted your entry. Submitted material will not be returned. Applicants may not submit material that has already been bought or optioned (unless the option has expired) or work which they do not own the underlying rights from (example: an adaptation of a book, video game or play without permission from the original author). Co-written projects are accepted as long as all the authors sign the application form. Members and employees of WriteMovies.com and their immediate families are not eligible, nor are any competition judges and their immediate families. Entry fees will not be returned under any circumstances. F.A.Q. Are multiple entries allowed? Yes. However, you need to submit a separate application form and fee for each entry. Is there a specific screenplay format that I must follow? If you are sending a script it must be in the standard, American screenplay format (12pt Courier New). Click here for an example. Why do you need three months to get the winning projects to the studios etc.? That's how long they can take to read material. Are children's stories admissible? Absolutely. How long can a short story be? Short stories must be 10,000 characters or less. Anything longer is considered a book. If I'm younger than 18, can I still participate? Yes, of course. However, you must have at least one parent (or legal guardian) sign the application form in addition to your own signature. How will I know if the 1,000 entry limit has been reached? We will post a very clear notice on all the relevant pages indicating that the contest limit has been reached. We leave sufficient leeway in order for projects to still be eligible if they arrive after the closing announcement. PRIVACY POLICY: WriteMovies.com and it's affiliates will not, under any circumstance, sell, exchange or make available the email addresses of those who contact us! We strongly oppose any such violations of privacy.

CONTEST SPONSORS: