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Launch Pad
Launch Pad Pilot Competition
2023
Reads in Coverfly
Active Since 2014
Featuring a jury of industry professionals from top companies. The Launch Pad Pilot competition has led to dozens of writers staffed on hit shows for Netflix, CBS, NBC and more.
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About

The Launch Pad Competitions have led to more signings, success stories and careers than any other screenwriting competition. With nearly a decade of experience in promoting up-and-coming writers, The Launch Pad Competition has firmly established itself as the premier hub for Hollywood to discover fresh voices and new ideas.  We advocate for all of our Top 100 finalists, working with them to share their work with the right industry members to advance their career. 


This year's jury features 25 industry professionals from top companies that include - HBO Max, Apatow Productions, Circle of Confusion, Lit Entertainment, Heroes and Villains, ACE Content, 3Pas Studios, and many more.


To celebrate our 10th annual competition we've doubled-down on our add-on prize partners. We are excited to welcome two Guaranteed Signing Prize partners and two Guaranteed Development prize partners! Our Mentorship Program Prize includes mentors Bisha K. Ali writer, executive producer (LOKI, SEX EDUCATION and creator of the hit series MS. MARVEL),  Corey Moore, writer (ALL RISE, NCIS NEW ORLEANS, KINGDOM BUSINESS), and Elaine Loh (writer on GOSSIP GIRL and DYNASTY).


What the industry is saying:


“Writers are an integral part of my team and without them I would not be able to do my job, so to be able to work with Launch Pad and provide a new and innovative way for them to get their work out in the world is truly exciting.”


- Ridley Scott, RAISED BY WOLVES, THE MARTIAN, GLADIATOR

Benefits

JURY
ZACK ZUCKER
Literary Manager, Bellevue Productions

RACHEL SKLAR
Executive, Everywhere Studios

CASEY HODGKINSON
Creative Executive,  Apatow Productions

ANDREW KERSEY
Manager & Founder, Kersey Management

CHRIS COGGINS
Manager, Heroes and Villains Entertainment

GEORGINA GONZALEZ
Director, International Programming, HBO Max

GISELLE CONTRERAS
Manager of TV, 3Pas Studios

JASMINE JOHNSON
EVP of Development, Crypt TV

JAY GLAZER
Manager, Producer, Neon Kite

JOE WIGGINS
Head of Development, Intrigue

KRISTINA SUTTON
Executive Director, Focused Artists

LINDSEY WALKO
Research and Development Asst., Citizen Skull

MAHAK JIWANI
Scripted Executive, Jigsaw Productions

MJ GROGAN
Director of Development, ACE Content

SHELBY EGGERS
Coordinator, Lit Entertainment Group

WES AMBRECHT
Head of Studio Partnerships, Titan1Studios

WILLIAM DEASEY
Director of Development, Zero Gravity Management

JEFF BRODY
Lit Department, Authentic Talent + Literary Management

ANDY COHEN
President, Grade A Entertainment

BETH BRUCKNER O'BRIEN
Independent Producer

ANDREA DIMITY
Independent Literary Manager

JAMIE WAGER
Principal, Capital Creations

NAVID MCILHARGEY
Executive, Vandal Entertainment

BRAXTON RICKERT
Manager, Lee Stobby Entertainment

JOSH DOVE
Manager, Circle of Confusion

SAMANTHA SHEAR
VP of Development, Zoic Studios

DEREK BEAMER
Creative Executive, Cannonball Productions

PRIZES

Grand Prize | Top 3 Winners
Everything the Top 10 receive, plus…
- Each of the competition winners will be invited to an exclusive yearly virtual event where they will get the chance to meet with and pitch industry professionals from management companies, agencies and production companies in a 1:1 setting. Past participants included MGM, Scott Free, Verve, Bellevue, Lit Entertainment, WME, and more.

Top 10
Everything the Top 50 receive, plus…
- Your work will be read, reviewed and voted on by each of our esteemed Jury.
- One free entry to any future Launch Pad Competition of your choosing.

Top 50
Everything the Top 100 receive, plus…
- One year free membership to the Tracking Board.

Top 100
- Your project and writer profile will be shared and marketed to our extensive industry networks.

Guaranteed Signing Prize | 2 Winners
- A Minimum of 1 writer will be selected for representation by each of our exclusive signing partners, one by Writers Management and one by Tobias Literary Management. 
- To qualify for this prize, entrants must have selected the “Guaranteed Signing” add-on or make it to the Top 10 of the competition to be considered for this prize opportunity.

Guaranteed Development Prize | 2 Winners
- A Minimum of 1 project will be selected by each of our Development Prize partners. AlteredLA and Traction will each select one project from the Launch Pad Pilot competition to develop with the writer(s).
- To qualify for this prize, entrants must have selected the “Guaranteed Development” add-on or make it to the Top 10 of the competition to be considered for this prize opportunity.

Mentorship Program Selection | 3 Winners
- A Minimum of 3 writers (1 per mentor) will be selected by our mentors to enter our Launch Pad Pilot Mentorship Program.
- To qualify for this prize, entrants must have selected the “Mentorship Program” add-on or make it to the Top 10 of the competition to be considered for this prize opportunity.

Writer Success

2024 Winner on Coverfly

See Other Placements

Announcements

Jun 23rd
Top 100s
Jul 7th
Top 50s
Jul 21st
Top 10s
Aug 11th
Guaranteed Development Selections
Aug 11th
Guaranteed Signing Selections
Aug 11th
Top Dramas
Aug 11th
Top Comedies
Aug 11th
Mentorship Selections
Aug 11th
Winners

Rules

At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.

  1. All scripts MUST BE submitted as a PDF.
  2. All pilot scripts must be under 70 pages (any script with more than 70 pages will be charged an additional $1 per page) 
  3. Do not submit any form of pitch document with your pilot script.
  4. 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. 
  5. 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).
  6. 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.
  7. Pilots 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Launch Pad uses Coverfly to manage our submissions and reads. Updated drafts accepted through the Coverfly website only.
  10. The Launch Pad and all judges/readers will utilize whatever criteria they deem appropriate in deciding a winner.
  11. All scripts will remain the property of the writer(s) throughout the contest (at no point will anyone from the judge’s panel, or Launch Pad ever attach themselves to your work without your consent).
  12. 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.
  13. Entrants are under no obligation to sell their work or otherwise attach themselves to representation in any form – this includes the guaranteed option and guaranteed signing add ons
  14. General script entries will not receive feedback, however, you can opt to upgrade and receive feedback on your script submission.
  15. 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.
  16. The Launch Pad reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to change or modify these terms at any time without notice.
  17. 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.
  18. All entrants understand and agree to allow Launch Pad to post details on their script (title, writers 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.
  19. 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.
  20. All purchases and submissions are final. No refunds will be issued.
  21. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.