Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
View Latest Season
About
Winner Receives:
$20,000 | industry circulation | long-term script development
The 17th Script Pipeline TV Writing Competition is searching for extraordinary television writers with traditional pilots or indie series scripts for exposure to production companies, managers, and agencies. Together with the Screenwriting Competition, we focus specifically on finding writers representation, supporting diverse voices, championing ambitious storytelling, helping finance independent projects, and pushing original projects into production.
The company’s unique process—consisting of long-term, 1-on-1 development, extensive promotion, and circulation of material—gives our selected writers proper guidance to advance their careers.
Over $8 million in screenplays and pilots have been sold by Script Pipeline writers as well as numerous scripts produced since 1999, a notable list that includes studio films Stuber by Tripper Clancy and Snow White and the Huntsman by Evan Daugherty. Pipeline Screenwriting finalist Bring Me Back by Crosby Selander sold to Legendary in 2020 for seven figures—one of the all-time biggest spec sales by an unproduced writer. Helen Gaughran's winning script Visitation was produced in 2023, starring Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon) and Isla Johnston (The Queen’s Gambit). Several Pipeline writers have made The Black List recently, such as Elad Ziv's Court 17, Cauliflower by Daniel Jackson, and Pure by Catherine Schetina, the latter two securing the #1 spot. And writers have signed with multiple top managers and agents over the years, landing with reps at Bellevue, UTA, Kaplan/Perrone, Alibi Management, and more following Script Pipeline development and introductions.
Script Pipeline selects five finalists and, from that group, one winner to receive:
- - $20,000 to winner; $1,000 to each finalist
- - Introductions to managers, producers, agents, directors, and other execs searching for TV writers
- - Development assistance from Script Pipeline's team
- - Additional script reviews and consideration of other material
- - Long-term script circulation to industry and continual guidance connecting with companies
- - Invitations to private events and Symposium panels hosted by Pipeline
Plus: all Quarterfinalists and Semifinalists receive general feedback on their work from Script Pipeline's development execs and consideration for industry circulation post-contest.
Benefits
There are four rounds of selections: Quarterfinalists, Semifinalists, Finalists, and from the top 5 Finalists, one Grand Prize Winner.
- Monetary Awards -
Grand Prize Winner - $20,000
Finalists (remaining 4) - $1,000 each
- Announcement Dates -
Quarterfinalists (up to top 70): July 10th, 2024
Semifinalists (up to top 30): July 20th, 2024
Finalists (5): August 1st, 2024
Grand Prize Winner: August 10th, 2024
General feedback is provided for Quarterfinalists and Semifinalists following the end of the season, plus consideration for industry circulation and longer-term assistance from Pipeline.
The Grand Prize Winner and four remaining Finalists also receive the following:
- - Introductions to managers, producers, agents, directors, and other execs searching for TV writers
- - Development assistance from Script Pipeline's team
- - Additional script reviews and consideration of other material
- - Long-term script circulation to industry and continual guidance connecting with companies
- - Invitations to private events and Symposium panels hosted by Pipeline
Writer Success
Announcements
Rules
Judging is based primarily on the overall quality of the script, including storytelling ability and fundamental components (e.g. dialogue, plot, structure, and character). Concept marketability/producibility, originality, and writing style are also weighed to various degrees.
Our best piece of advice is to submit material that highlights your distinct voice—what separates your script from the norm? Although we're strict on judging and only work with a select group of writers annually, all types of genres and styles are fair game. In the past, finalist and winning scripts have ranged from microbudget indies, to true stories, big-budget sci-fi, straight genre pieces, low-concept, high-concept, and everything in-between.
Being selected as a Quarterfinalist or higher means that we feel the script has potential, the writing is above average, and it's a project we're confident in helping further develop and promote to industry.
All contest judges are comprised of our in-house Script Pipeline development execs and senior-level staff. We do not, it should be noted, use unpaid interns or volunteers, or seasonal readers ...
Basic guidelines:
- - The cover page should include the title, but can remove any contact information (name, email address, etc.). Your entry won't be disqualified if you submit a cover page that includes contact info. Logline and genre on the cover page is preferred for us, but not required.
- - Co-writers are allowed.
- - PDF strongly preferred. All software should have a convert to PDF function, including Final Draft, Celtx, and others.
- - Script should be an original TV pilot. All genres are allowed, and there are no maximum length requirements.
- - Script Pipeline Screenwriting or TV Writing winners, runners-up, and finalists since 2020 are not eligible.
- - No limit on the number of entries. Each entry is a separate fee.
- - All rights to the material remain with the entrant, whether they place as a finalist or not.
- - The script entered must not have been produced in its full form. Produced short films based on the script are a-ok.
- - Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at time of entry.
