With the help of a director, producer, and the writing team, the pilot of the web series will be shot in Portland, Oregon. In the end, the winner of the competition will have a produced film to their name, and everyone in the Writer’s Room will walk away with an IMDB credit, and an experience they will never forget. 

General Guidelines

Judging: Scripts will be judged on their creativity and writing, as well as their ability to be successfully produced for FiLMLaBtv, as provided by the Production Guidelines below.

Submissions: All submissions should be written in English, typed in 12-pt Courier, or similar font, and in industry-standard screenplay format. Maximum of 7 pages (as normally formatted on standard 8.5x11 paper). Scripts should be converted to and exported as PDF files. Submissions over 7 pages will be rejected without refund.

Story: Scripts will be judged as self-contained stories, with a beginning, middle and end, but they should also hold the promise of the season to come. All genres accepted. The ideal script will reflect FiLMLaB’s “experimental” nature, and the web series medium. Scripts should be aimed at a general audience. No pornography or graphic violence. FiLMLaB and the Contest judges may disqualify a script from consideration if the subject matter or content of the script is, at the judges’ sole discretion, not suitable for screening at the FiLMLaBtv event at the Willamette Writers Conference.

Production Guidelines

Location: Script must take place predominantly in one, normally available indoor location accessible from within the Portland metro area. Consider that specific, public locations (libraries, schools, etc.) may need to be reproduced or substituted, depending on the availability and cost of required permits. Beware that additional or exotic locations are not disqualifying, but may be negatively considered by FiLMLaBtv and the Contest Judges.

Cast: Maximum of 4 main characters. Additional minor characters or “extras” are acceptable, but beware that scenes requiring a “crowd” may be un-producible.

Effects: Hey, Spielberg, we don’t have access to George Lucas’ studio, so consider that any special effects or makeup designs will be done with cardboard and Maybelline, if at all. Extensive wardrobe requirements may also be a detriment.

Travel: Finalists and winners are responsible for their own travel and accommodations.

Eligibility: Members and immediate family of the Willamette Writers Board, Committees, Staff, Program Chairs, Chapter Chairs, and FiLMLaBtv judges and personnel are not eligible to participate. Previous FiLMLaB Grand Prize winners are not eligible to participate.

Legal Information

By entering the FiLMLaBtv Competition, entrants affirm that the submitted script is their own work, and that the entrants have not previously sold, assigned or licensed any rights to the script. Entrants understand their submitted work will be distributed and viewed my multiple judges and FiLMLaBtv production personnel. Scripts will not be returned. Entrants agree to hold Willamette Writers Inc. (a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization), the Willamette Writers Conference, and FiLMLaBtv production team harmless with respect to any claims (including, but not limited to, claims related to intellectual property, defamation, or any other tortuous acts) arising from the acts of any individuals not acting within the scope of their duties to Willamette Writers and its programming.

Legal Information for the Winning Script

Editorial Control: The Entrant agrees that, if entrant’s script is produced into a film or series, the resulting film or series may vary in form or content from the submitted script, owing to artistic choices by the director or to production needs and limitations. Entrant understands and agrees that Willamette Writers, through its production team, will have final artistic and editorial control over the resulting film or web series.

Ownership: In exchange for the expense and effort expended by Willamette Writers, Inc. and the production team in producing the film or web series based on the Entrant’s script, Entrant agrees to fully assign and transfer Entrant’s ownership and copyright interest in the winning script to Willamette Writers, who shall be the owner of the completed film or web series. Entrant understands Willamette Writers may exhibit and promote this Film or web series on an ongoing basis, at film festivals, Willamette Writers events, and the Film may be available for viewing online.