Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest
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Stage 32 is proud to present the 9th Annual Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest!
Open to Features and Television Pilots!
The winner will meet with an incredible panel of judges
including Darren Lynn Bousman, director of the SAW franchise!
This contest is accepting submissions of features and pilots from NOW until July 27th, 2022.
Ready to be frightened? We are! Scare us senseless with your horror scripts in this year's Search For New Blood Screenwriting Contest! Horror films are always popular, and in recent years we've seen a huge uptick of interest in horror with a deeper meaning, in films like GET OUT, IT FOLLOWS and MIDSOMMAR. Low-budget horror isn't going anywhere either; they're the easiest films to make with the biggest rewards. And we can't forget that streaming services love a good fright. Hits like FRESH on Hulu and THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE on Netflix are carrying horror into the 21st century. So how can you join the fray?
Stage 32 offers access to some of the biggest names in horror, including our Industry Mentor, Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW II, SAW III, SAW IV). Our judges are well versed in the horror genre and excited to read your scripts. This year, the judging panel also includes executives from ArtWork Entertainment, Netflix, Circle of Confusion and more with credits like THE WALKING DEAD, LIGHTS OUT, and MALIGNANT to name a few! These gatekeepers of the industry can help you break in and start scaring the masses today!
What Types Of Scripts Can I Enter?
We are looking for spooky horror scripts of all subjects and tones. Whether your story is about real life monsters, high concept, campy or filled with vampires, werewolves and ghosts, our judges want to read them! This contest is open to Features and Television Pilots for Limited and Recurring Series. If you write Horror this contest could launch your career!
Features and Television Pilots:
This contest is open to Features and Television Pilots for Limited Series and Recurring Series.
Judges' Credits & Company Credits Include:
This option is good for a one-time use and is non-refundable/non-transferable if you do not enter an updated draft. See full terms in the Rules Section.
Benefits
The Grand Prize Winner Will be Flown to Los Angeles to meet with:
Darren Lynn Bousman, Director (SAW II, SAW III, SAW IV)
David Chien, Manager, ArtWork Entertainment (LIGHTS OUT, MALIGNANT)
Jonathan Barkan, Director, Mutiny Pictures (MENTAL HEALTH AND HORROR: A DOCUMENTARY)
Shirit Bradley, Producer, Netflix (KRAMPUS, GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS)
Antonio D'Intino, Manager, Circle of Confusion (THE WALKING DEAD, SATANIC)
Cahleb Cartier, Office of the President, TCA Management (BLACK LEATHER JACKET)
Adam Horner, CEO/Producer, Ignite Pictures (COVEN, #CAPTURED)
Jenna Payne, Producer & Director, Disaster Capital Productions (BLOOD JUNKIES, ZOMBIE VIXENS FROM PLUTO!)
If you reach the Finals, you still get massive exposure to decision makers!
ALL FINALISTS will receive a FREE MONTH OF THE MEMBER'S ONLY STAGE 32 WRITERS' ROOM and will be in a Stage 32 Look Book which includes their script title, logline & bio mailed to over 500 industry executives including, managers, agents, producers, development executives, and financiers! Stage 32 Look Books are some of the most sought after talent resources for the industry and have helped secure meetings with places like Verve, Good Fear, 3 Arts, APA, Echo Lake, Amazon, UTA, CAA, WME, First Friday, Pathfinder, The Cartel, Art/Work and many, many more.
Announcements
Rules
At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.
ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Void where prohibited by law.
This Stage 32 Contest is an international contest. Must be 18 years or older to submit.
Entrant agrees to Stage32.com terms and conditions.
This Stage 32 Contest is not a game of chance. All material is read and reviewed by industry professionals.
All quarterfinalists, semi-finalists, finalists and winners are subjectively determined by our judges.
There is no limit to the number of screenplays an Entrant can enter. The same screenplay cannot be submitted multiple times under different names. If so, you will be disqualified.
Entrant must not be an immediate family member or friend of any of the judges or their respective companies.
Entrant acknowledges that because of the judges' and mentors' position in the entertainment industry they receive numerous submissions of ideas, formats, stories, suggestions and the like and that many such submissions heretofore or hereafter received by them are similar to or identical to those developed by them or their employees or, if an agent, are otherwise available to them.
Entrant acknowledges that they will not be entitled to any compensation because of the use by judges or mentors of any such similar material.
Entrant acknowledges that no fiduciary or confidential relationship now exists between Entrant and judges or mentors, and Entrant further acknowledges that no such relationships are established between Entrant and judges or mentors by reason of this contest entry.
Entrants must submit screenplays and payment online.
Entrants must upload their submission within 72 hours of entry purchase.
Entry fees will not be returned or adjusted.
No waivers are available for this contest.
SCREENPLAY TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Screenplays should be written in English and in standard industry format.
The rights to the Entrant’s screenplay should not have been previously optioned or sold.
The Entrant retains the rights to his or her screenplay at all times.
Entrant’s screenplay must not have been produced.
The screenplay can be submitted with or without a title page and/or contact information.
After a screenplay is entered, no new drafts or corrected pages can be made by the Entrant unless it is confirmed in our records that the Entrant has paid for the "Resubmission" option.
Screenplay must be submitted as a PDF document.
Screenplay must be the original work of the Entrant and may not be based whole or in part on any fictional or non-fictional material, published or unpublished, produced or unproduced for which the Entrant does not have rights. Neither Stage 32 nor its judges investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you are acknowledging that you have secured all necessary rights.
Using our new Feedback & Resubmission Option you will get 3-5 pages of coverage/notes back in 5-days with a guaranteed option to resubmit one (1) revised draft of your script up to 10 days after the Final Deadline! See what elements of your script are working and what still needs to be developed. You can position yourself for the best chance of success - all for an additional fee of only $99.
This option is good for a one-time use and is non-refundable/non-transferable if you do not enter an updated draft. Updated drafts will need to be sent to writerhelp@stage32.com to be scored.