ScreenCraft Virtual Pitch
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About
The ScreenCraft Virtual Pitch Competition follows the successful pattern of past years, allowing writers to submit their pitch of up to two (2) minutes in length (or no more than 350 words). Initial submissions will be in written form (see below) and semi-finalists will be asked to submit a self-filmed pitch via private video link. The finalists, selected from this round, will then be invited to pitch, live and in front of a virtual audience, to a panel of A-list industry professionals (Managers, executives, showrunners, etc).
Every year, the Pitch Finals of the ScreenCraft Summit were the highlight of the event: a celebratory chance to turn the spotlight on great emerging writers. This opportunity will now be open to all writers worldwide. Anyone can submit a pitch for their feature film, or series.
At a Virtual Event open to the public, finalists will pitch directly to the A-list jury of Industry Insiders and get live feedback. The winner will become part of ScreenCraft’s Development Program, and get bragging rights as “ScreenCraft’s Best Pitch!”
As an added bonus, the Competition will open with a virtual panel streamed for free online, featuring the Pitch Competition Judges as they break-down and share examples of what makes a great pitch. Join us to practice your pitching, see how your pitch stands up against the rest, and celebrate great pitches!
Benefits
THE JUDGES
Pitch in front of Hollywood judges who are looking to celebrate great talent!
ERIC HEISSERER
Oscar-nominated Screenwriter
Writer of iconic and mind-bending films such as BIRD BOX, LIGHTS OUT and ARRIVAL, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, Eric Heisserer is now Exec. Producer and Showrunner for upcoming Netflix fantasy series SHADOW & BONE.
WENDY CALHOUN
Peabody-award winning TV Writer and Showrunner
Peabody-award winning TV Writer, Exec Producer and Showrunner Wendy Calhoun’s work includes Fox’s PRODIGAL SON, EMPIRE, ABC’s STATION 19, NASHVILLE, REVENGE, and FX’s JUSTIFIED, as well as over forty hours of unscripted television including MONSTER HOUSE and HELL'S KITCHEN.
BEN CORY JONES
TV Writer and Showrunner
Writer, Producer and Actor Ben Cory Jones produced the Netflix film STEP SISTERS, for HBO's INSECURE, and was showrunner/co-creator of the BET series, BOOMERANG with Lena Waithe. Previously he wrote on shows including ABC Family’s CHASING LIFE, Amazon’s HAND OF GOD, and the critically-acclaimed UNDERGROUND. In 2020 he launched a TV Writing Workshop for underrepresented writers of color and LGBTQ+ storytellers, receiving over 1,300 applications.
TOVAH SILBERMANN
Literary Manager, Mosiac Media Group
Tovah Silbermann is a talent & literary manager at Mosaic Media Group with a focus on comedy. Tovah started at the Gersh agency and then moved to Mosaic to become their first-ever NY based manager. Clients have written for include SNL, BIG MOUTH, THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, THE TONIGHT SHOW, and more.
THE PRIZES
In addition to pitching to this incredible jury, the winner will receive prizes and industry outreach. Dozens of ScreenCraft winners have signed with managers, sold their scripts, option projects, been staffed, or been hired for open writing assignments. Check out some of the success stories here.
The finalists of the ScreenCraft Virtual Pitch Competition will have the exclusive opportunity to pitch live, over Zoom, to a panel of entertainment industry leaders (Agents, Managers, TV Showrunners, etc).
The overall Grand Prize winner will receive a $1000 prize, and will be welcomed into the ScreenCraft Development Program and receive personal introductions and phone calls with one or more top Hollywood literary managers who are looking for talented emerging TV screenwriters.
The top winners’ project info and log lines will be circulated and recommended to our network of over 60 Hollywood managers, agents, producers, and development executives.
ScreenCraft has a proven track record for getting writers signed with representation, and staffed in writing rooms. Past ScreenCraft winners have signed with reps at CAA, WME, 3 Arts, Anonymous Content, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and United Talent Agency.
Writer Success
Announcements
Rules
- 350-word pitch submissions are accepted via electronic submission only, between December 16, 2020 and February 12 2021.
- Entry fee for each submission (whether TV pilot or feature film) is $29.50 until the regular deadline on January 15, 2021,and then $39.50 until the final deadline on February 12, 2021.
- There is no optional feedback option from a professional reader applicable to this competition.
- All participants must first submit a written, typed pitch of no more than 350 words. Your written pitch can include a brief description of characters, plot, themes, tone, writer background, comparable projects, etc. Any submission of more than 350 words will be disqualified from the competition.
- Pitches should be for feature films and episodic series. Please do not pitch a short film.
- There is no limit to the number of projects you may submit.
- All semi-finalists will be required to submit a filmed video pitch of themselves, via a private link.
- Instructions for submission of video pitch will be sent only to Semifinalists. Only submissions with a filmed video pitch will be eligible to advance to the finals.
- Only 100 Semifinalists will be selected from the written submissions.
- Video submission guidelines: Video can be hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or any public-access video hosting platform. Video may be up to 3 minutes in length, given time to start/stop recording, but the pitch may be no more than 2 minutes in length. There is no judging criteria based on video quality other than the clear ability to see/hear the writer(s). Self-filmed pitches via your smartphone are fine. No additional props, guests or support materials may be in the video, only the writer(s). Writers should – and the judges will – consider this video pitch a rehearsal for pitching live.
- The finalists will be invited to pitch live to the Panel of Judges, over Zoom.
- Finalists must be available for the Pitch Finals online event. Finalists who are not available for the event will be disqualified.
- Winners will be selected and announced at the Finals Event .
- 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 written document.
- If a writing team is chosen as a winner, both members of the writing team must be available to live-pitch at the Finals event.
- Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entered material will be allowed for free within the first 12 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 (but not required) that original material be registered with the WGA or The Library of Congress US Copyright Office before submitting to any competition.
- Contact info may be included on the cover page of the screenplay, 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).