I noticed this posting on the Crossroads thread by a very "modest" Shawn (Ledbetter) the other day.

Quoted Text The polished version Of CROSSROADS  just made it into the quarter finals of the PAGE INTERNATIONAL SCREEN WRITING AWARDS CONTEST. Beat out 3000 other scripts. I honestly think that is about as far as it will go seeing all of the mistakes I made on it, but it sure was fun getting that email.

Congratulations Shawn!

Thanks Libby.

The next round of finalist will be posted on there website July 1st. If I make it to that round, it would be a miricle. But I din't think I would have made it to this round based on the reviews.

How many people on SS enters into these types of competitions and how well do you do? I'm just curious if any of these contest have ever helped anyone other than bragging rights.

The Page international writing cpmpetition has a grand prize of $25,000.00

Shawn......><

Congrats Led!

I enter the competitions whenever I can and, while winning gives you mostly bragging rights, it's something you can put on your writer's resume.  Hollywood would be more willing to read your scripts if you've placed in competitions rather than if you wrote 500+ scripts.

One script that I wrote is in the final stages of post production.  Being produced was the grand prize of one competition.


Phil

Hey Shawn,

First off congratulations ,

but it is the Quarter-finalists that will be posted on July 1st.

The next round, the top 10 % will be announced on August 1st.

So you have another month to wait, then you'll know if your script has advanced.

I entered my script, "A Song In My Heart" after doing a rewrite, and it is also a quarter-finalist.

Anyone else?

Then you qualified for the primary quarter finals. On July 1st, The second level of quarter finalist are announced. You are right. But isn't it great to beat out 3000 other scripts to get to the quarter finals?  I want to read your script.

Have you ever entered contest and if so, have you gotten to the quarter finals before?

I really think my script will not go beyong this level, but it helps give me the confidence to complete the re-write.

I will be looking for your name on the top 10 list. Good Luck.
Shawn.....><

So they are going to knock another 15% of the scripts out?
I'm glad I don't have their job. Whoa...

As to your question about making it to the quarter-finals before, well, way back I did. It was back in 2005 or 2006, but not this contest and not this script.

Since then I have been writing shorts. I won Hellfire's Short Horror contest, am a finalist with various short scripts at Gimme Credit, and the sixth place winner at American Gem.

I wrote this script a couple years ago, and decided to do a rewrite on it.

I'll be looking for your name on the list, too.

Fingers crossed for both of us.

Wow, Thats impressive to have done so well on your scripts.

I hope to be able to say that when I write some more scripts and submit them.

Of your scripts, which is your favorite?

Shawn.....><

(dogglebe wrote)

I enter the competitions whenever I can and, while winning gives you mostly bragging rights, it's something you can put on your writer's resume.  Hollywood would be more willing to read your scripts if you've placed in competitions rather than if you wrote 500+ scripts.


So you can add final and wins and it helps. Thanks for the input.


(dogglebe wrote)
One script that I wrote is in the final stages of post production.  Being produced was the grand prize of one competition.

I could not began to believe how excited and proud you must feel seeing your work come to life. That is fantastic. I'm sure a dream come true. Comgrats.
When is it due out? Will it be on the big screen or on a circuit?

WOW, I don't know how I would react to get a call like that. Too cool.

Let me know when it is due out.

Shawn.....><

A lot of people here have had scripts produced and not just shorts either...

Also, a lot of people have placed or won comps as well...

Me,

I am not quite sure in what spirit you are making your comments.

Do you wish to add your accomplishments? I am sure it is extensive...

Shawn.....><

Just saying is all. I meant nothing bad, nothing overly excited either. There are tons of comps out there.

Personally, most of my contacts from producers come from here or MP.

Quoted from Ledbetter I could not began to believe how excited and proud you must feel seeing your work come to life. That is fantastic. I'm sure a dream come true. Comgrats. When is it due out? Will it be on the big screen or on a circuit?

It should be completed very soon and will hit the festival circuit.  I don't expect wide release as it's only a five minute short.


Phil

Phil,
That still has to be cool. From your head to paper. From paper to screen for everyone to see.

I mean....isn't that what all of this is about. Seeing your thoughts come to life. Even if it is 5 minutes. It's your 5 minutes.
Shawn.....><

Me,
I was asking not to be difficult, only because I was not quite sure how to read what you said. But I would truly like to know your experience in competitions. Have you done any? If so, was it a good experience for you?

Shawn.....><

I've had other things produced.  Some good.  Some bad.  I've learned a lot about getting produced.  Either way, it's all something to put on the resume.  And the more on it, the easier it will be to get read.

And, yes, it is quite cool.


Phil

I've never written a resume. Somehow, people seem to find me anyway.

Like I said, SS and MP have been the most effective for me.

Be productive. Have a large collection of scripts. I have 40  or so shorts online and I get contacted at least once every week. I gt asked to write features too, but I suck at those, but I'm getting better.  

I am currently working on my THIRD script. I dont know if I will ever get to forty. You must have been writing for some time to have that many.

One question...Is it better to have a large potfolio of shorts or full lengths? Or does it matter?

Shawn....><

I guess features can potentially make you more money if they're sold but on the other hand, shorts are usually easier to produce. That, in turn, could lead to a writing asignment and down the line some real money. As long as the script is really good I don't think it really matters that much.

Sniper,

Did you enter the Page Awards contest this time?
Just curious to see if anyone else from here has entered.

Cindy

No, not this time, Cindy, I didn't feel like I had a strong enough script (feature) to enter but I'll give it a shot next year. What about yourself?

Quoted from Ledbetter Is it better to have a large potfolio of shorts or full lengths? Or does it matter?

All things being equal, you stand a better chance of having someone shooting a short that you wrote than a feature. Most filmmakers who come here, looking for scripts, are film students who can't afford to shoot a feature.

Once you get a couple of shorts produced, you can concentrate on getting features produced.



Phil

Dogglebe,
Has anyone ever had a full length go to the big screen here?

Also, should the shorts be varied or should a writer show a strong point such as comedy ot horror?
shawn......><

Quoted from sniper No, not this time, Cindy, I didn't feel like I had a strong enough script (feature) to enter but I'll give it a shot next year. What about yourself?

Yes, I entered with my script "A Song In My Heart."
It's not posted here.

So I guess it is only me and Shawn from simplyscripts who have entered this time. ???

He entered with "Crossroads."

Well the second round results for the quarter finals are in. I was not chosen. I really didn't expect to be but this has given me a renewed optimisim towards my script. Now back to the re-write.
Shawn.....><

COMMING SOON...
A SHORT - To have or to hold.

Quoted from Ledbetter Dogglebe, Has anyone ever had a full length go to the big screen here? Also, should the shorts be varied or should a writer show a strong point such as comedy ot horror? shawn......><

A few people, here, have had their scripts optioned. And I think one person sold one.

While shorts in a variety of genres is always good to have, don't write comedy if you can't write comedy.  The same applies to all other genres.


Phil

Congratulations, Led.

It's always really nice to see others do well. Bad luck about not progressing re: your message of today, but it is with renewed optimism that you can progress.

Well done, mate.

Andrew

dogglebe,

To your knowledge, has anyone written a romantic comedy horror? Just curious because after I am done with "To have or to hold", I am giving it a try. It's a sick little love story.

I started To have or to hold  last night. Should be done by this weekend.

Also have they ever had team writing series? Two people writing together against a group of teams?

Shawn......><

Mr. Andrew,
It's good to hear from you again. How is the writing going? Thanks for the words of encouragement. I hope all is doing very well on your side of the globe brother.

I was floored to have even made it past the first round. The first draft was crap but there must be something in there for me to refine and make a decent script out of.

Are you working on something right now?

Shawn.....><

Pretty good, ta. Yourself?

I would love to be working on some writing, but work has just taken over these last few weeks, which is a pain.

Which script did you enter? If it's not posted on here, then I would love to give it a read at some point.

Andrew

Believe it or not, I entered CROSSROADS.

The script that was given honest but sometime rough reviews here by most everyone but a few who looked beyond the obvious flaws. And there were many.

I can tell you, it is because of the feedback I recieved here, I now have a much clearer objective on how to hone my script to something that has more appeal.

As work goes, I am in your camp. Very, very busy. Cany wait for fall. Things slow down for my line of work when it cools off.

As to reading the script, let me refine it first. The first draft really is rough.

Take care.
Shawn......><

Quoted from Ledbetter To your knowledge, has anyone written a romantic comedy horror?

I don't know if anyone's written one here, but there have been movies made with this triple genre.  'Haunted Honeymon' is one such movie.

Quoted from Ledbetter Also have they ever had team writing series? Two people writing together against a group of teams?

One of our one week challenges dealt with groups of two writers.  THat's all I can think of off hand.


Phil

One more question Phil...

Why arn't you a moderator?

Shawn.....><

Quoted from CindyLKeller So they are going to knock another 15% of the scripts out? I'm glad I don't have their job. Whoa...

You said it! When you get down to it, it's really hard to have to choose because they all have their strengths and weaknesses. In the stretch, I think it just comes down to what feels right to you, the selectOR, if you're so fortunate, or unfortunate, depending upon how you look at it.

My fingers are crossed for our Simply crew.

Sandra

Sandra,

Cindy is right and so are you. This year they had a quarter final and then a second quarter final to narrow it to 10%. In such a short amount of time, that had to be tough.

As to the selection process, yea... what feels right i would suppose rules over perfection.

All I know is the fact I was selected to the quarter finals even though I have been disqualified in the second rounds tells me one thing, I love this whole writing scripts thing.

I have also learned one very important thing as well. Structure, dicton, form (all of which are very important) - take a back seat to what you are trying to say.

Shawn.....><

Quoted from Ledbetter I am currently working on my THIRD script. I dont know if I will ever get to forty. You must have been writing for some time to have that many. One question...Is it better to have a large potfolio of shorts or full lengths? Or does it matter? Shawn....><

I know this question was directed for Pia, but IMHO, I'd like to answer because I think it's important.

If one is really interested in the craft, or even if they just want to be recognized as serious about their work, they'll want to have a portfolio. I remember reading a post here, (but I wish I could remember who posted it) and they were at a pitch fest and someone was genuinely interested, (more so in the writer I think) and they said, "What else 'ave ya got?" Man!!!! Sucks ta be you! The jaw obviously dropped. What a chance! The opportunity of a lifetime! And the individual didn't have on hand anything else to show!

I think we owe it to ourselves and to those we work for, or hope to work for, to supply and adequate showcase.

It may be that one is just writing that "big one in a million story", but that's an exception I think.

Sandra

Quoted from Ledbetter One more question Phil... Why arn't you a moderator?

Don's afraid of me.  

Actually, I've never been asked.  Might have something to do with the fact that I can be a royal pain in the ass at times.


Phil

With the advice you give on this site...

You ought to be, Pain in the a$$ or not...

Hear that Don, get this man on board.

Shawn.....><

Sandra,
Isn't any script that makes it to the big screen, that one in a million?

Regardless of the portfolio, I see your point. My comment to Pia was to encourage her and her efforts. Again, WOW forty scripts....

How many have you in your portfolio? Please don't say a hundred. I have had a hard day
Shawn.....><

Quoted from Ledbetter I have also learned one very important thing as well. Structure, dicton, form (all of which are very important) - take a back seat to what you are trying to say. Shawn.....><

My dear Shawn,

You have spoken very great words of wisdom here. Seriously. I will now think of you as Sage Ledbetter. Maybe it seems that I jest, but I hold tight to the very depth of what you stated in your post.

Whenever I read or write, it's always "the something deeper" that I get from the words that makes me go "Wow!" and feel inspired. At those times, I'm very willing to wave off on format or diction or anything else that is less than perfect. And THAT, means something to me because format, diction and general workings with style can mean a lot to me. But isn't it something? It doesn't amount to beans if there's no connection with the sincerity of the writer behind the words.

I can honestly say that I've read some scripts that weren't that swift stylistically. They were rather crude in fact and I don't mean that they had bad language. They were just very rough. But man! They were well written! How? There was story there. And there was truth inside the fiction. That's solid work when you can get that. I admire writers that supply that to us. And some of them hardly even blink as they do. Now that's talent.

Sandra

Like Shawn I was a quarter-finalist until they had the second elimination.
Oh well. Maybe next time.

I did recognize a couple names that made it to the Quarter-Finals at Story Pros though.  

James T. Frazier  
and
James Schlicker

Congrats to both of you.

Cindy

Sandra,
Please accept my thanks for you input and I hope to be able to talk with you more in the future.


(Sandra wrote)
You have spoken very great words of wisdom here. Seriously. I will now think of you as Sage Ledbetter. Maybe it seems that I jest, but I hold tight to the very depth of what you stated in your post.

Thank you so very much. I am really not quite sure how to respond to such kind and thoughtful words. Again, Thank you.


(Sandra wrote)
Whenever I read or write, it's always "the something deeper" that I get from the words that makes me go "Wow!" and feel inspired. At those times, I'm very willing to wave off on format or diction or anything else that is less than perfect. And THAT, means something to me because format, diction and general workings with style can mean a lot to me. But isn't it something? It doesn't amount to beans if there's no connection with the sincerity of the writer behind the words.


Sandra, I feel your heart on this. I really don't have a clue about the "craft", I honestly know that what I write is far beneath the sculpted work done by many of the fine people here. But when I am writing and I start hitting on all cylinders, what a fine feeling.


(Sandra wrote)
I can honestly say that I've read some scripts that weren't that swift stylistically. They were rather crude in fact and I don't mean that they had bad language. They were just very rough. But man! They were well written! How? There was story there. And there was truth inside the fiction. That's solid work when you can get that. I admire writers that supply that to us. And some of them hardly even blink as they do. Now that's talent.

Again, you have a real feel for what is important. To be honest with you untill I started on this site, I had never finished a book in my life, not to mention writing one. My spelling will verify that. Sandra, your words ring of someone who feels the sun rise before you ever see it. Thanks for the inspiring look into your world.

Shawn....><