Screenplay Competition Rules, Release

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1. All submissions must be postmarked by deadline. The Competition reserves the right to extend the deadline.
2. By submitting, you agree to the Release Form (copied below) and to abide by all the Contest Rules.
3. Submitted screenplays must be the unproduced, unoptioned, and wholly original work of the writer(s). There must be no dispute about the ownership of submitted screenplays or the writers’ right to submit screenplay. Submitted teleplays will adhere to the industry “spec script” practice of being a derivative work based on a pre-existing television series, however submitted teleplays must contain original story and dialogue. For teleplays, any characters created by the writer(s) must be wholly original work. Pilots for unproduced television shows or episodes of an unproduced series will not be accepted.
4. Scripts by more than one writer are eligible, but only one prize will be given and it will be the writers’ responsibility to distribute the prize. If writers of a script are unable to agree on the distribution of a prize, their script will be disqualified.
5. All writers of submitted scripts must be at least 18 years of age.
6. Writers of submitted scripts must not have earned more than $25,000 (in cash or other consideration) for writing services for film or television in the three years prior to the opening date of the contest. Furthermore writers must not have won a fellowship or writing contest that includes a “first look” clause in the three years prior to the opening date of the contest.
7. Online submissions must be in either Movie Magic, Final Draft, or Adobe PDF format. Rich Text Format (RTF) and Microsoft Word (.doc) and other word processor formats are specifically forbidden.* THE FILE MUST HAVE A TITLE PAGE. In PDF format, it must be the first page of the file. Printed scripts must be in English, printed single- or double-sided on 3-hole white paper with the pages numbered and with the title (for TV specs include name of show), name of writer(s) and contact information on the title page. Font must be 12-point Courier, Courier New or Courier Final Draft. Feature screenplays must be between 85 and 140 pages and in standard spec screenplay format, fastened with 2-3 brads with (optional) blank cardstock covers. Teleplays for hour-long series must be between 50-70 pages. Teleplays for half-hour shows must be between 25 and 55 page (more than 40 only if double-spaced dialogue).
8. Hard-copy submissions must contain eligible scripts(s), a signed, initialed and completed application, entry fee (check, money order or credit card information), and, if you want notification that we have received your materials, a self- addressed, stamped postcard with the name(s) of your script(s). Hard-copy submissions must be sent (USPS, UPS, Federal Express, etc…) via a delivery method that does not require a signature. If paying by check, make your check payable to "Creative Screenwriting." Online submissions must contain eligible script (as a Movie Magic, PDF, or Final Draft file), valid credit card information and a valid email address. Confirmation of receipt of online submissions will be done only via automated email at the time of submission. It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to ensure that emails from "@creativescreenwriting.com" can pass through your spam filter.
9. Employees, occasional or regular or long-term contractors, or immediate family members of principals of Creative Screenwriting, The Screenwriting Expo, and Inside Information Group, Ltd. may not submit screenplays. Writers who and scripts which have won a cash prize from any previous Expo Screenwriting Contest are ineligible. An individual who has performed or is contemplating performing one brief, temporary contract (such as working only at the Screenwriting Expo) may, upon request, be approved to submit at the sole discretion of contest management.