1st TV WRITING CONTEST

RULES AND GUIDELINES

1ST TV WRITING COMPETITION RULES AND GUIDELINES
This document (hereinafter "The Rules" or "Rules"), equally and severely. is legally binding upon the parties thereto.

The Rules apply to any writer or writers, representative of or representing a writer or writers, and/or parent or guardian to a writer or writers (hereinafter "I" or "We" or "He" or "She" or "Submitter" or "Applicant" or "Applicants"), who submit a teleplay or teleplays, teleplay or teleplays (hereinafter "Submission" or "Material" or "Work" or "Works" or "Literary Material" or "Literary Materials") for consideration into the 1St TV Writing Competition (hereinafter "Competition" or "The Contest" or "Filmmakers.com" or screenplaycontest.net or "You" or "Yours") for an entry fee (hereinafter "fee").

This contest is open to anyone (world wide) except all employees, directors, associates and, the immediate families of: FilmMakers.com, 1St TV Writing Competition, ScreenplayContest.Net, American Gem Literary Festival, The Radmin Company, Write Brothers, contest judges, all the affiliates and sponsors.

I have supplied truthful and accurate information in my entry form.

I represent and warrant that the material that I have submitted is mine, I own full copyright. Furthermore, I own individually, or together with those other persons executing this agreement, this work, that the material is free of all claims or encumbrances, and that I have the exclusive right and authority to offer the material to you for your competition, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, and none of the rights granted herein will libel or defame any third party or otherwise violate the rights of any third party, whether under copyright or otherwise. Furthermore:

Writers under the age of 18 years old must have a parent or guardian fill the entry form read and accept all the terms and conditions of the competition.

Contest applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the jurors.

Writer understands that it is his/her sole responsibility to register Material with the U.S. Copyright Office and/or with the Writer’s Guild of America or equivalent in his/her country.

Writer has retained at least one copy of the submitted material, and understands that all material we receive cannot and will not be returned under any circumstances.

Applicant understands that FilmMakers.com and its affiliates are exposed to many stories, ideas, concepts and other literary materials, through the contest, coverage service and via other means. Furthermore Writer understands that many stories, ideas, and concepts are similar or identical, and that different stories, ideas, and concepts frequently relate to one or more common underlying themes and may closely resemble other works.

Applicant understand and agree that he/she will not be entitled to any compensation or other consideration because of the use of such similar or identical material, stories, ideas, and/or concepts that may have come to FilmMakers.com or their affiliates. Writer hereby release FilmMakers.com and its affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities and demands that may be made by said writer asserting that FilmMakers.com or the affiliates have used or appropriated The Submission, or any portion thereof.

All submissions must contain a title page which must include the title, writer's (or writers') name(s), and the email address and physical mailing address of writer; telephone number is requested but not required.

Submitted teleplays will adhere to the industry “spec script” format.

Spec script can be an episode of an existing television show or an original piece of work.

Pilots for unproduced television shows or episodes of an unproduced series are accepted.

If spec script is of an existing TV show you must include the name of the show on title page.

1 HOUR New Show or 1 Hour Existing Show.

1/2 hour New Show or Existing Show

OTHER can be: 1)Realty Show; 2)Talk Show; 3)Game Show; 4)Extreme Show; 5)Variety show, 6) MOW, 7) Teleplay, 8) Miniseries, 9) Digital series, 10) Webisodes, etc.

All Work must be submitted online by the Final Deadline and the appropriate fee paid and settled by due date.

1st TV Writing Competition / FilmMakers.com is not responsible for late or lost submissions.

Multiple entries are permissible with entry form and entry fee each.

Once a script has been entered, an applicant may submit a revised draft of the work as a NEW SUBMISSION (different title) or REVISED/RE-SUBMISSION with new RE-SUBMISSION FORM and PAY THE APPROPRIATE FEE.

Adaptations of works in the public domain are permissible (should be noted on the title page).

If the material is based on a true story, historical or contemporary, that should be noted on the title page.

Collaborative work is eligible. The writers are responsible for the distribution of the contest prize (s).

Adaptations from other works are permissible (should be noted on the title page), provided the writer's written permission to adapt the work is secured and available upon request.

The material must not have been previously sold, or produced.

Applicant must not have received consideration in excess of $24,000 USD as a prize in a previous competition for the work being submitted; or won a top prize; that may include: contest grand prize, an option, a "first look" clause or any quid pro involving same.

An applicant’s single year total earnings for motion picture and TV writing may not exceed $24,000 USD. This limit applies to compensation for motion picture and TV writing services, including the sale of, or sale of an option to, Screenplays, teleplays and/or any literary material source.

Writer understands and accepts without reservation that he/she/ is an independent contractor and FilmMakers.com is not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments to any government agency, at any level, be it state/provincial, local or federal in any country.

If writer is a finalist or semifinalist he/she/they agree to give FilmMakers.com the permission to post on any of its web sites, the script's logline, synopsis, excerpts, photo or video, writer's bio and interview (Q & A).

Writer may submit his/her/their material to any other person, contest, producer, agent, and/or organization.

Entering this contest will not limit writer's copyright in any way. Writer retains all rights (100%) to his/her/their property.

It is writer's responsibility to provide and check and keep personal contact information up to date, including a required valid e-mail address, current mailing address, phone number, etc, that writer provided to the contest during the sign-up process. FilmMakers.com has no responsibility for communications that are misdirected as a result of writer(s) failure to provide FilmMakers.com with updated contact information.

I have read and understand the Contest Rules and the FilmMakers.com Terms of Use of the Website ( http:/www./FilmMakers.com/index-2.html ) as well as comply and agree full with all the contest Rules and the website Terms of Use. By adding my name to the online entry form, knowing that this is a legal document, and submitting my material signifies that I have completely read and agree in full with all the above terms as well as the website Terms and Conditions. I am taking full responsibility and liability for any and all my actions. Furthermore, I indemnify 1st TV Writing Contest, FilmMakers Magazine, all the affiliates, FilmMakers.com, Media Pro Tech Inc., FilmMakers Global, sponsors, agents, consultants, judges of and from any and all claims (direct or indirect) or third parties, loss or liability, whether or not groundless, that may be asserted against you or incurred by you or any of your associates, at any time in connection with said material.

 

In addition to the above Rules, if I choose to add the optional Coverage/Feedback to my Submission I will abide by the following: 

COVERAGE SUBMISSION RELEASE FORM

I am submitting to FilmMakers.com (hereinafter "you" or "Filmmakers.com" or www.ScreenplayContest.Net or "Greenlight Script Coverage" or "affiliates") written material(s):

This material, consisting of motion picture or television script(s) (or portions thereof), ideas, logline(s), stories, formats, suggestions, synopses and the like (collectively, the "Material" or "Screenplay Material" or "The Submission") is being submitted for analysis/coverage.

I hereby acknowledge and agree that it is in my best interest to have the Material, (or portions thereof) and any comments or notes you may have thereto reviewed by you and that such potential consideration and your analysis are good and valuable consideration for me to enter into this submission release agreement ("Agreement"). I recognize that you have adopted a policy of refusing to accept or consider for inclusion in the Service or otherwise review any Material unless the person submitting such Material and all other authors of the Material, if any, have accepted this Agreement acknowledging that he or she understands the nature of the Service and the limitations on your liability in connection with it.

In consideration of the foregoing, I hereby irrevocably warrant, represent and acknowledge the following:

I understand that FilmMakers.com will not review any work without the acceptance of this Release Form/document.

I hereby grant FilmMakers.com and its affiliates the right to read and evaluate the accompanying screenplay material (The Submission). I acknowledge that the submission was written by me (us). I also acknowledge that I (we) am (are) the sole owner(s) of this work and its copyright.

I understand that FilmMakers.com and its affiliates are exposed to many stories, ideas, concepts and other literary materials, through this service and via other means. I also understand that many stories, ideas, and concepts are similar or identical, and that different stories, ideas, and concepts frequently relate to one or more common underlying themes and may closely resemble other works.

I understand and agree that I will not be entitled to any compensation or other consideration because of the use of such similar or identical material, stories, ideas, and/or concepts that may have come to you or your affiliates. I hereby release FilmMakers.com and its affiliate from any and all claims, liabilities and demands that may be made by me asserting that you have used or appropriated The Submission, or any portion thereof.

I acknowledge that FilmMakers.com recommends that I copyright my screenplay submission with the United States Copyright Office and/or register my screenplay submission with the Writer's Guild of America or the equivalent in my country. I also acknowledge that it is my responsibility to copyright or register the submission prior to submitting it to FilmMakers.com and hereby release FilmMakers.com from any claims that arise from my failure to do so.

I understand that Literary Evaluation/Coverage is a subjective process, allowing for reasonable disagreement as to the relative merits of the submission. I also understand that the evaluation may or may not be complimentary or positive in its judgment, and that the evaluation fee is non-refundable.

FilmMakers.com in no way guarantees or makes any representation that this service with the corrections and/or improvements made to materials submitted herein will in anyway assure the marketability of my material.

I also attest that no confidential relationship is established by submitting this material to you. I understand that FilmMakers.com and its affiliates are under no obligation other than to provide Literary Evaluation.

I understand that FilmMakers.com may retain or destroy the submission, and I acknowledge that I possess additional copies of same.

Submitting my material signifies that I/We have completely read and agree with all the above Rules.

Entry Fees

If Submitted by

Early Deadline: February 28th

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour/sitcom from 35 pages or less is $35 (in USD)

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour / sitcom from 36 pages or more is $37

• Entry fee per 1 hour 59 pages or less is $39

• Entry fee per 1 hour 60 pages or more is $41

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 20 pages or less is  $35

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 21 to 59 pages is  $37

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 60 pages or more is  $41

Regular Deadline: April 30th

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour/sitcom from 35 pages or less is $37 (in USD)

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour / sitcom from 36 pages or more is $39

• Entry fee per 1 hour 59 pages or less is $42

• Entry fee per 1 hour 60 pages or more is $44

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 20 pages or less is  $37

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 21 to 59 pages is  $39

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 60 pages or more is  $44

Late Deadline: June 30th

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour/sitcom from 35 pages or less is $39 (in USD)

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour / sitcom from 36 pages or more is $41

• Entry fee per 1 hour 59 pages or less is $44

• Entry fee per 1 hour 60 pages or more is $46

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 20 pages or less is  $39

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 21 to 59 pages is  $41

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 60 pages or more is  $46

Final Deadline: July 31st

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour/sitcom from 35 pages or less is $41 (in USD)

• Entry fee per 1/2 hour / sitcom from 36 pages or more is $43

• Entry fee per 1 hour 59 pages or less is $46

• Entry fee per 1 hour 60 pages or more is $49

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 20 pages or less is  $41

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 21 to 59 pages is  $43

• Entry fee per Other (all else) 60 pages or more is  $49

Notification: October 1st, (qualifying round)