So I’ve been wrestling with this thought and wanted to put it to the people here.

I recently completed a script and was given advice from several people not to post it because I was putting it in for contest.

Not just one or two people said this but several.

So I pulled my script.

But I have to ask…

Is it because I’m putting it in for contest that I shouldn’t have it open for review?

I mean, will having it posted hurt my chances of advancing in the competitions?

Do the judges come here?

Or is it better to play it safe and not have it out there for others to simply change the title and use in contest themselves?

After all, in most cases, we never actually see the script that wins…

Only the title.

Paranoid?

Perhaps…

But again, how many people here post a script into contest and still put it up here?

Myself, up until recently, have posted all my work here that I’ve submitted for contest.

Just a thought…

Shawn…..><

Hey Shawn,

Tough call.

I don't see why you can't do both though - this site is a great way to get good advice to help improve the script, whilst putting it out there for a producer to possibly read it, all the while waiting for the contest results.

Even if judges of certain contests do check out this site (be nice if they did) i find it difficult to believe it would have an influence on their judging.  End of the day they are judging what they believe to be the best script in that particular competition and not what they've seen elsewhere.

As far as script theft goes everyone who posts any script online is opening themselves up to someone nabbing their hardwork, but if we didn't put it out there it would be just another file on our cpu.

Just my opinion, good luck with your decision.

Michael

I am weary of posting my stuff on here for fear of being ripped off by someone, that is all.

Do the terms and conditions state you shouldnt have the material you are submitting be elsewhere?
If not, don't worry.

It's primarily up to you. It's your work.

Post it!  You may get some tips that'll improve the script for future competitions.

There's no reason not to post it.


Phil

I wouldn't worry about theft, nor would I worry about a competition. Unless the competition is run in order for a big studio to hopefully find new material. They might not like to spend money on films if  the scripts are are already out there...

Quoted from Ledbetter I...was given advice from several people not to post it because I was putting it in for contest. Not just one or two people said this but several.

Why are you asking us, then?  Ask them.

I would also wonder why they gave you this advice.

I can't really see any reason why a script shouldn't be posted on the basis of it being in competition.

The only time I think it's worth contemplating if a piece of work should be put in a public forum is if the concept is so mind blowingly fresh and marketable that it may be open to 'theft'. Not the script itself, but more so the ideas shown in a killer logline, which could then be spun by another writer.  

Needles in a haystack, granted.

Quoted from bert Why are you asking us, then?  Ask them.

In a way, I am asking them as well as other’s opinions.

Quoted from bert I would also wonder why they gave you this advice.

A couple of them said that due to the originality of the script, it would be better to not have it on a public forum during the contest.

Quoted from Scoob Do the terms and conditions state you shouldn’t have the material you are submitting be elsewhere? If not, don't worry.

  

Hey Scoob
That’s always been my line of thought as well. It wasn’t until recently that it was suggested.

That said; I have seen other writers do this. Baltis for instance has a script he uses for contest that (as far as I know) hasn’t been posted here.

Quoted from dogglebe Post it!  You may get some tips that'll improve the script for future competitions. There's no reason not to post it. Phil

I would like to get some solid feedback on where the weak spots are on it to do just that.

Quoted from Grandma Bear I wouldn't worry about theft, nor would I worry about a competition. Unless the competition is run in order for a big studio to hopefully find new material. They might not like to spend money on films if  the scripts are are already out there...

I have it in three contest right now…

The Nicholl, Page Awards and Write Movie…

The Write Movie does promise to put it in front of some production companies as part of the winner’s package.

Quoted from B.C.   The only time I think it's worth contemplating if a piece of work should be put in a public forum is if the concept is so mind blowingly fresh and marketable that it may be open to 'theft'

Well it’s definitely not mind blowingly fresh but it is pretty original…  

I think I might as well post it. I’ve always trusted the advise everyone here has given.

Shawn…..><  

Well, I decided to post my script and Don had it up 5 minutes after I submitted it.

Thanks Don!

Shawn.....><