Launch Pad Feature Competition
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About
Benefits
Development Prize with American High
Jury
Alex Pelham
Literary Manager
831 Entertainment
Alex is a literary and talent manager at 831 Entertainment who represents a diverse group of writers, directors and actors based in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Canada. His clients have staffed on Stephen Colbert's TOONING OUT THE NEWS on Paramount+ and SOFT FOCUS WITH JENNA FRIEDMAN on Adult Swim, while his talent clients have appeared in Amazon Prime's WITH LOVE, NBC's YOUNG ROCK and CW's WALKER. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Radio/Television/Film.
Brittany Pratt
Development Assistant
Davis Entertainment
Brittany is an LA-based writer and producer from upstate New York. She graduated with her MA in Television, Radio & Film from Syracuse University and began her career at Verve Talent & Literary Agency shortly after. She currently serves as the executive assistant to the President of Film & Television at Davis Entertainment. She prides herself on telling stories with complex characters, moral ambiguity, and works to bring a feminist edge to genres that have historically “fridged” women out.
Megan Morey
Manager
Black Box
Megan has been part of the team at Black Box Management since 2022. Black Box is a talent management and production company based out of Los Angeles. Megan has previously worked at The Jim Henson Company, 20th Century Fox, and Sony Pictures Animation.
Amy Roach
Producer / Manager's Assistant
Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Amy is a Producer / Manager's Assistant at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, a talent and literary management firm and production company with credits on THE SOPRANOS, HAPPY GILMORE and GHOSTBUSTERS. She earned her BFA in Creative Writing. She went on to train as a screenwriter at USC's School of Cinematic Arts, and there learned that she writes stories of unlikely bonds. She mingles with themes of forgiveness, entrapment, and kindness.
Brandon Gale
Coordinator
Speck + Gordon
Brandon is a writer/producer, who serves as Script Coordinator on MARVEL’S HIT MONKEY for Hulu, 20th Animation, and Marvel Studios. He received his Master’s in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Brandon has worked in development with Jason Cahill, Atomic Monster, and Hivemind Entertainment. He returned to production as the Directors’ Assistant to Will Speck & Josh Gordon LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE at Sony, and continues development work on their slate of ongoing projects.
Tina Ziobro
Artists First
Tina is the coordinator in the office of Tucker Voorhees at Artist First. She primarily works with Features in the comedy and action space. They currently have blackish, The Last O.G., grownish, The Gong Show and Hot Date on the air and have produced features Including Central Intelligence, A Futile & Stupid Gesture, Keanu, Bullethead and others.
Dan Vallancourt
Coordinator, Development
MarVista
Dan Vallancourt is a development professional at the Fox-owned MarVista Entertainment, a production company responsible for producing or distributing over a hundred films since 2010.
Ella Wahlestedt
Founder & CEO
Quarterlife Pictures
Ella Wahlestedt is the founder of Quarterlife Pictures, a Los Angeles-based independent entertainment development and production company. While at Buffalo 8, she released 150+ titles and directly established outputs with VOD platforms, streamers, and exhibitors.
Nicholas Bogner
Literary Manager, Producer
Affirmative Entertainment
Nicholas Bogner is a Literary Manager + Producer with Affirmative Entertainment. He has sold features and pilots to the likes of Paramount, Amblin, Sony, Blumhouse, Intrepid, Walden Media and pilots to ABC, FX, USA, MTV, CW, E!, Fox Studios, Fox 21, TWC, Relativity, Sy-Fy, Eone and NBC.
Camila Rios
Executive Assistant to Walter Hamada
18Hz Productions
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Camila began her career as a Development Assistant to Carlos Aguirre, the VP of Development at Paramount Television Studios. At PTVS, she worked on several shows including “Spiderwick Chronicles” which is now streaming on Roku. Camila is now at 18Hz, a new horror-focused production company led by veteran film executive Walter Hamada (THE CONJURING, IT). Camila works directly under Walter to produce feature films within the horror genre for Paramount Pictures.
Christina Sibul
Producer
Christina Sibul is an independent producer as well as being a highly regarded Development and Production Consultant within the film industry. Recent releases include MONICA, released by IFC Films in 2023, and BUTTER, released by Blue Fox Entertainment in 2022. MONICA premiered in competition to rave reviews at 2022’s Venice International Film Festival, was nominated for 2 Spirit Awards and won a GLAAD Media Award in 2024.
Josh Marks
Literary Manager
Runyon Media
Josh Marks is a manager/producer at Runyon Media. Prior to founding Runyon Media, Josh was a literary manager with Untitled Entertainment and with Entertainment 360 (LADY BIRD, THE TERROR, THE FALL GUY, BRUISED) before that. He began his career as an agent trainee at UTA (United Talent Agency). In 2023, Josh left Untitled to launch Runyon Media, a new entity dedicated to financing, production and literary management. His clients have showrun and/or written for premium series on major networks and streamers in addition to writing and directing features for major theatrical and streaming studios. Client credits include: SUITS, SNOWPIERCER, ANIMAL KINGDOM, BORAT, THE OTHER TWO, PALM TREES AND POWER LINES, DEPARTURE and more.
Mentorship Program
Jeff Wadlow
Writer and Director
Jeff Wadlow is a DGA Award-nominated writer and director behind major projects such as Kick-Ass 2, Truth or Dare, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, and the recently-released Blumhouse horror, Imaginary. He has also written and produced on major TV series Bates Motel and The Strain.
Michael Brandt
Screenwriter
Michael Brandt is the screenwriter behind the newly released film Arthur the King, in addition to the films 3:10 to Yuma, Wanted, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Catch That Kid. He is also the co-creator of NBC’s Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice, serving as showrunner on Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. for multiple seasons.
Writer Success
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.
- All scripts MUST BE submitted as a PDF.
- All feature scripts must be under 120 pages (any script with more than 120 pages will be charged an additional $1 per page)
- Do not submit any form of pitch document with your feature script.
- Do not include any identifying information (name, address, etc) on any page of your submission EXCEPT for the Title Page, which will be removed before sharing with readers to preserve anonymity. As such, the Title Page can include any information you would like.
- Scripts with multiple writers are allowed (however, all entry fees must be paid under one account and all prizes to be shared among writing partners).
- All submissions must be the sole property of the writer(s). Any submissions of existing characters and or stories not in the public domain, as well as any intellectual property that the writer does not own will be disqualified.
- Features with a prior option are allowed, but at the time of submission and for the duration of the contest, must remain exclusively the writer’s property.
- The only scripts not allowed to be entered are those which have already sold, been produced, have previously earned our “TB Recommends” or “Launch Pad Recommends” honors, or received a top 50 placement in a previous Launch Pad competition, regardless of format.
- The Launch Pad uses Coverfly to manage our submissions and reads. Updated drafts accepted through the Coverfly website only.
- The Launch Pad and all judges/readers will utilize whatever criteria they deem appropriate in deciding a winner.
- All scripts will remain the property of the writer(s) throughout the contest (at no point will anyone from the judges panel, or Launch Pad ever attach themselves to your work without your consent).
- Entrants may be contacted as a result of the contest by Launch Pad, its partners, the judging panel or other industry professionals in regards to representation, production, sale and/or option of the entered work.
- Entrants are under no obligation to sell their work or otherwise attach themselves to representation in any form – this includes the guaranteed development and guaranteed signing add ons.
- General script entries will not receive feedback, however, you can opt to upgrade and receive feedback on your script submission.
- The contest is open to entrants who will be 18 or older at the time of the winners announcement. It is an international contest and open to entrants worldwide.
- The Launch Pad reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to change or modify these terms at any time without notice.
- By entering this competition, you agree to receive periodic emails from The Launch Pad and The Tracking Board. You may unsubscribe to these at any time.
- All entrants understand and agree to allow Launch Pad to post details on their script (title, writer’s name, logline, genre, and competition details) as well as regarding the writer (biography, picture) to their site, or sister site to help promote the entrants’ work.
- By entering the competition, entrants are acknowledging their eligibility for the competition. The vast majority of entrants enter in good faith, and validating everyone at the entry stage would be inefficient and take away from efforts reading and finding the best scripts. Therefore, we check eligibility at the Top 100 Finalist stage, which allows us to confirm eligibility prior to winner selection. If an issue comes to our attention earlier, we will address eligibility issues in earlier rounds on a case-by-case basis.
- All purchases and submissions are final. No refunds will be issued.
- VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
- Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to LaunchPad and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of a entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
- You agree to release and hold harmless LaunchPad, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, prize contributors, judges, readers, sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising, or promoting the competition, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s entry, participation in the competition and/or acceptance or use or misuse of prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the LaunchPad and its sponsors, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the competition and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Prize.