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ScreenCraft
ScreenCraft Podcast Competition
2020 - 2021
Coverfly-exclusive
Reads in Coverfly
Active Since 2020
ScreenCraft is celebrating great Podcast writing, focusing on fiction & nonfiction podcast scripts and pitches with Hollywood adaptation potential!
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About

ScreenCraft is celebrating great Podcast writing, focusing on podcast scripts and pitches with Hollywood adaptation potential! 


The ScreenCraft Podcast Writing Competition is open to  produced and un-produced Podcast scripts and pitches in both Fiction and Nonfiction. Do you have the pilot script for what could be the most engrossing new fictional audio series?   Do you have a treatment for a dynamic new nonfiction podcast, with a host and a concept that’s sure to grab listeners?  Submit to the ScreenCraft Podcast Writing Competition for a chance at mentorship from leaders in the podcasting field. The top fiction or nonfiction podcast submissions will win guaranteed development deals with top Production Companies that specialize in producing podcasts and licensing them for film and television.

Benefits

JUDGES

Erin Kyan

Writer and Creator, Love and Luck Podcast 

Erin Kyan is a disabled, queer and trans writer, performer, and podcast producer based in Melbourne. He is the writer and creator of the award-nominated LOVE AND LUCK podcast, Australia’s first LGBT audio drama podcast with more than 500,00 downloads. 

Zack Akers

Podcast Creator & Writer (LIMETOWN, 36 QUESTIONS, THE WILDERNESS)

Zack Akers cofounded Two-Up with Skip Bronkie, which has gone on to produce the widely regarded podcast LIMETOWN. The audio drama has received over 20 million listens, was an iTunes Best of 2015, and was covered by international publications like the New York Times, the Guardian, New York Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Vox and more. LIMETOWN went on to become a television show with Jessica Biel and Stanley Tucci, which Zack wrote and produced. Additionally, Zack has also produced, with Skip, the popular podcasts, 36 QUESTIONS and THE WILDERNESS under the Two-Up banner. 

Stephen Perlstein
Vice President of Podcasts, Studio 71

Stephen Perlstein is the Vice President of Podcasts at Studio71, where he helped bring to life shows from MKBHD, Amanda Cerny, LaurDIY, Donut Media, and more. Perlstein is the creative EP of WILD WILD TECH and has written for television including NEW LOONEY TUNES and DANCE MOMS.

David Devries

Director of Development, Studio 71

David Devries is the Director of Development at Studio 71

As an experienced Film & TV Executive, David has developed and produced a wide range of projects in nearly every format for many platforms including ABC, Freeform, NBC, and more. Podcasts include the upcoming YA series SHADOW DIARIES, starring RIVERDALE’s Madelaine Petsch and MOONRISE KINGDOM’s Kara Hayward.

Abbie Ruzicka

Executive Producer, Gimlet Media and Head of Projects, Gimlet Studios
Abbie Ruzicka is an Exec. Producer and the Head of Gimlet Projects, a team that develops new shows for Spotify Studios and is a division of the lauded Gimlet Media (Homecoming, Crimetown, Science Vs and more) She was also a podcast and radio producer with WGBH News and later as a producer for the nationally-syndicated NPR show "On Point."


GRAND PRIZE WINNER:

The overall Grand Prize winner in each category (Fiction or Nonfiction) will receive a guaranteed offer of an option and development deal with an established podcast and film/television production company. As well, the Grand Prize winner in each category will be welcomed to the ScreenCraft Development Program for personalized mentorship and introductions to top Hollywood literary managers, producers and more.

Complimentary Badge for the 2021 ScreenCraft Summit + Travel Stipend

FICTION WINNER:

Receives a $500 cash award as well as 50% off discount to the 2021 ScreenCraft Summit.

NONFICTION WINNER: 

Receives a $500 cash award as well as 50% off discount to the 2021 ScreenCraft Summit.




2020 - 2021 Winners on Coverfly

See Other Placements

Announcements

Jan 27th
Semifinalists
Feb 17th
Finalists
Mar 17th
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.

Submission Guidelines
FICTION
  • Scripts should be submitted as a single PDF, consisting of 1 - 3 scripted episodes, no longer than 45 pages total. 
  • Scripts should be submitted in standard screenplay format and include standard scene format  elements - Scene Heading, Character, Parenthetical, Dialogue, and Action that conveys sound or movement. Visual Transitions and descriptions are not necessary. 
  • All genres are acceptable for submission. 
  • Later in the competition, Finalists have the option to submit supporting material such as a treatment, multi-episode season outline or audio material that expresses their vision for the fiction podcast series. 
NONFICTION
  • To enter the nonfiction podcast writing competition, please submit a  Treatment of upto 10 pages, that include: 
    • Concept Synopsis: A summary of the topic, world or issues that will be addressed in the Podcast. Include character details and any references for style and tone.
    • Category and Target Audience. Include the details for category and target audience for the podcast. For example: True Crime, Wellness, Family, etc. 
    • Host: If the host(s) is separate from the writer(s) or person(s) submitting, please share your recommendations for the host(s) and the rationale for why the host(s) is the best choice for your podcast.
    • Tone: Describe the tone and audio cues for the podcast, that share your vision for your listening experience for the audience. Additionally, please reference 2-3 existing podcasts that are comparable and discuss how this concept is similar and/or unique. 
    • Themes: Central theme for the podcast.
    • Segments: Structure and use of recurring segments in the podcast. Elaborate on what are the segments and your choice for including them in the structure of your podcast. 
    • Season: Episodic or serial arc for the season. 
    • Episodes: 1-2 paragraph synopsis of at least 3 episodes in the series. 
Rules
  • Submissions are accepted via electronic submission only, between September 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020.
  • Entry fee for each submission (regardless of the page count) is $39 until the early deadline on September 30, 2020, then $49 until the regular deadline on October 31, 2020, and then $59 until the final deadline on November 30, 2020.
  • Submissions are open to both produced and un-produced Podcast scripts and pitches in both Fiction and Nonfiction. All rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s) and all submitted material must be original.
  • Pilot scripts for Fiction podcasts must be no longer than 45 pages. Any submission longer than 45 pages will incur a $1 per page overage fee for each page over 45.
  • There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
  • All files should be in PDF format.
  • Entries must be received on or before the deadline dates by 11:59PM Pacific Time, and submission fee payment must be made in full at time of the submission. All entry fees are non-refundable.
  • All submitted material must be original, and all rights must be wholly owned by the writer(s).
  • Material must be submitted by the writer. Material written by writing teams must be submitted by one of the writers, with consent of the other(s). All writers must be credited on the title page or document.
  • If a writing team is chosen as a winner, prizes will be given to the person who submits the project. Each team is responsible for dividing or sharing the prize money.]
  • Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for free within the first 24 hours, and for a $5 re-entry fee through our submission management platform Coverfly at any time until the finalists are announced. Please proofread your script carefully before submitting.
  • It is recommended that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress US Copyright Office before submitting to any competition, however we do not require WGA or Copyright registration.
  • Contact info may be included on the document, however it is not required.
  • ScreenCraft claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remain with the original rights holder(s).
Eligibility
  • All writers at least 18 years of age are eligible. However, a writer who has earned more than $50,000 (or equivalent currency) from professional writing services for film or TV in the preceding year is not. (Contest winnings not included.)
  • All persons from anywhere in the world are eligible; however the material submitted must be in English (occasional dialogue in other languages is acceptable, if subtitle translation is provided).
  • All material submitted to other competitions or contests are eligible for this contest.
  • There are no requirements as to when the material was written.
  • Work and intellectual property must be wholly owned and submitted by the writer(s).For nonfiction podcasts, the individual submitting must hold any rights and access to proprietary stories intended for broadcast, that are not already in the public domain.
  • Material should be submitted with standard font, spacing and margin (Times New Roman is preferred font, but not required). 
  • Title pages are optional, we have no preferences regarding title page content. Title and name of writer would suffice.
  • Entries for this competition are managed on the submission platform Coverfly.
  • Adaptations are ineligible unless the underlying rights are owned by the writer or the work is in the public domain.
  • All material must be submitted electronically as a PDF or it will not be eligible.

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2020 - 2021