Submitting To A Screenplay Competition, The Big Mistake Screenwriters Make - Gordy Hoffman
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- In this Film Courage video interview, Bluecat Screenplay Founder and Judge talks about submitting to a screenplay competition, the big mistake screenwriters make.
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I submitted my very first screenplay to bluecat and not only was it not ready - it was never going to be ready. That thing was terrible, but I was so hyped to have finally written a feature that I was convinced it would set the world on fire. The feedback I got didn’t quite see it that way. But there were a couple of minor discrepancies in the details of the feedback so I submitted a complaint and Gordy himself got back to me and he was so cool about the whole thing. He agreed on the discrepancy issue and got me another reader, but he also cautioned me against dismissing the criticisms in the notes and encouraged me to be open to them and the new ones that were coming my way.
Honestly, he really helped open my eyes to the reality of where I was at with my writing and the opportunities I still had to improve. I’ve written four features and a pilot for a tv series since then and I really owe Gordy a debt of gratitude for the moment of self reflection he gave me. I really needed that, but he certainly did not have to do that for me. I think this may be the year I’m finally actually ready to submit again!
Great story and insight Darcy, thank you for sharing. And best of luck with your upcoming scripts!
I rushed my screenplays in the past. Now I have learnt my lesson. Spent 3 years on this current screenplay and intend to submit next year to Nicholls Fellowship but first I will submit for coverage and feedback. He's right you have to love your screenplay. It's like a relationship.
Whoever reads this I wish you luck and fortune in your future dreams and schemes and screenplays!
I hope your work gets accepted!
Nicholls has over 1000+ submissions and they choose less than a handful. Keep that in mind, IT! IS! TOUGH!!; REALLY! TOUGH!,,,,,,, So have multiple STRATEGIES in place, if the submission does not go the way one feels it should. One biggie is read the rules for this program (or any program)!,,,,, I think peeps forget to do that; particularly with this program.
Hope you working on 3-4 scripts at the same time. Don’t just focus on one
What is this coverage that playwrights talk about?
I think the interviewer should be noted, because she's terrific.
Same thoughts exactly.
She needs to get over her camera shyness. This Voice of God style here is awkward...
@@user-yb8vr2ip2tI think the intent is to keep the focus on the guest. Its a style, i wouldn’t jump to chalking it up to shyness. I personally like this style.
Sometimes, you’re just not sure whether your screenplay is ready or not and that’s why you submit so someone else can tell you.
Can be hard to accept that quality takes time. Plenty of time.
But action as well.
I have to say, I think he's talking about a very small percentage of new writers. Most new writers don't know if their story is ready, and have probably had many people they know say that it's good (which it may be, but it's not what the industry is looking for). Before you submit to a contest, contact a script supervisor. They will be a much better litmus test for your script's readiness, and they'll be able to give you pointers on what to work on. Honestly, I think contests are a waste of time and money for beginning writers, since the time between submission and feedback is too great to be useful. Write, get feedback, learn, write better, repeat...
Or you can also join a writers group. There are even some on Facebook with skilled writers willing to swap or just read. And there's also Meetup, but not all are advanced I'm either place, so try to get to know your source.
You mean script doctor, not script supervisor.
Def use script coverage svcs before you even think about submitting to contests.
@@kinimediagroup That's fine, but script doctors can charge MEGA-BUCKS and not help you that much. If they were any good, they would have scripts out there. I spent $1,000 on script doctors and when I submitted the final script was DISTROYED and didn't get past first read..
Excellent tips. Thank you!!!
The issue with feedback is it's perspective. One person likes it, another person hates it, while another person is in-between. So you attempt to write to fit the feed back and you end up either changing everything or not enough and it has evolved or devolved from what your initial vision, ending again with some like it some don't. I say write to what YOU like, take the feed back as a grain of salt. I also feel that writers can get so desperate to get their scripts optioned that they'd sell their mother's soul to the devil to get it done. I would rather be true to myself as a writer and never get optioned than bend the knee. Last thought, Because cooperate America wont' accept unsolicited material and you are not part of the screen writers guild/union, you have better odds of winning the lottery than you do getting optioned in this profession without representation and representation doesn't care about the little person. I've got a drawer full of rejections, countless unanswered emails and phone calls that never get picked up. The dog can only get kicked so much.
I can see you Film Courage ;) Great video as usual.
I always think I’m writing award winning material; and then I get the feedback🥺☹️😫
Same. My one friend was like “ dude your a fucking genius and then I showed someone else and they was like “ wtf is this?” 😂
Great advice! Be prepared. It takes as long as it takes.
I sent my screenplay way before it was ready, the exact mistake Gordy talks about. I could see the movie in my mind so I thought the script was ready. Going to Re-read and Rewrite my next one for sure before I send it out there, if I ever finish it that is...
me and my brothers went through 5 rough drafts before our final and it took us 3 years to finally love what we wrote! ( what was a cartoon tv show 30 eps, to now a 3D animation movie)
I’ll rather work on 10 projects at once snd have people cover it .
I wrote a screenplay in one mnth just to submit to a competition. I work best under time constraints. Agree to disagree
This about the stock / real estate broker was soooo good! :) And so true.
25 years writing, re-writing, studying - now I just entered my first screenwriting competition in 2023 (two scripts) to Austin Film Festival. Let's see what happens.
did you copyright your scripts?
@@hrth1783 Of course. Learned to protect materials 25+ years ago - reminded in every pages of every screenwriting book LOL Not paranoid at all - it comes with the maturity of writing. If the writing is that good, it can't be replicated...anyways, it's cheaper to buy you out at 1% of the production budget than to invest millions into a stolen property ;)
@@JJSeattle great buddy. Thx for answering. I writing my very first script in life, so I try to learn from others. Good luck on Austin
@@hrth1783 Thanks. I recommend all screenwriters read "How to Write a Damn Good Novel" - first several chapters apply to screenwriting - it will show you what story is. Also, I created a "hack" for writing: just ask two questions. What is the problem? What is the resolution? Answer those, then get to writing ;) Here is a 3 min video I created regarding that: ruclips.net/video/j84rDuXwxP0/видео.html
@@JJSeattle Awesome, thank u a lot
I, like many I know, use contests as a goal to get stuff written. And we use the feedback to improve our scripts. I know people who kept submitting the same script, applying the notes, and submitting again, and placing in the finals of top contests.
Of course, if to go that route do be aware you probably won't win, and do make sure you can afford to do that and research contests first, reliable and what's best for your genre etc. And even then, get it the best you can ahead of time.
If you need a writing group, check online. There are many in Facebook and through Meetup. And though regular writing groups aren't always savvy to scripts and can't help you much there, many of them do understand story.
For an online writing group, I'd highly recommend Screenwriter's Network on Discord: www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/cmitvo/hi_im_smish_and_i_run_the_screenwriters_network/
So sincere
Oh come on. Everywhere in writing competitions its the same: Getting chosen depends a lot on luck. I won or was elected for the finals in prose- & poetry-competitions sometimes with works I really appreciated, but also with stuff I just sent in because the subject of the competition fitted the text. You have something ready? It fits? Submit it.
(Except for competitions were they might remember your name and that might harm later, maybe better works)
But in most writing, winning is just as much about playing the lottery than about actually being good. The second one might help. But not even always.
If I am resubmitting with Corrections made after a first review, is it better to elect to have the same reader, or a new reader?
What are some of his writing credits?
Where can I find a good screenplay editor?
Ok, you really wanna know how to be a good writer? Live, live life in all its ups/downs, and when you get out of hell/heaven(or you could be still in it) you’ll write something pure/only from you (when I say hell, it could be eg a divorce/getting fired, catching cv, heaven eg finding the love of your life, having your first born
Fucking right brother!!!!!!!!!!! Your preaching the gospel. If you lived it, it cannot be fiction.
I can see the interviewer
in the windows reflection 🤫
I've spent almost eleven months just for writing, proofreading and changing some stuff in my 117 pages of my screenplay.
I’ll do one or two proof read. Then have two other people proof read and then read.
its tough but you gotta see your script to the end you want it to have rather than getting trigger crazy about submitting it,
I’ve been working on a musical for 8 years now and I finally believe it’s time to pitch it. I just need to know some competitions. Any suggestions?
Maybe google Musical Comps. 8 years a long time. Good endurance.👏
Look up different competitions and what they specialize in and submit. If it's a strong story, you can do the big ones, like Austin and Nichol, also Bluecat and Script Pipeline, etc., But it gets expensive! So only submit if you're ready, like have it vetted by screenwriters, and since into your next one...if you're serious about writing scripts though, because though I admire your devotion, 8 years on one script is a long time. And this is, not completely but in some ways, a numbers game.
7 months late but hope it went well. Congrats.
Cinema Sense+ Is there a specific format when writing a musical? How on earth can anyone judge a musical if they can't hear the songs? I wish I understood how to go about it. Appreciate any feedback thanks and good luck with yours.
I need a script pal group 📖
Maybe Idk when I write I just try to make things make sense...in other words I stay in my story's world whatever that might be. It's a criminal drama I'm doing now..so it don't have to be a big world just a believable world. Then again this my first script 😂..
umm yea but how do you know when you're ready
Should I send a SPEC script or Shooting script when submitting to script contests?
SPEC
Will this woman interviewer with such a beautiful voice ever show herself?
I googled her. She is gorgeous 💒
Her name is Karen. You can thank me later. ruclips.net/video/vLgiCVKfkV8/видео.html
You can barely see her in the window reflection, but I suspect she would rather you focused on the information in the interview.
@@lonjohnson5161 possibly, but I'm also guessing she won't object to being called gorgeous and told she's got an amazing voice. We tend to like compliments.
@@BigWood21 Thank you!!!!!!! Smart and sexy. And that voice....did some one say objectivication?
I read a screenplay by this guy. 😐 Mind F'n blown..
What is it called?
@@ocubex He wrote a film called Love Liza, starring Kathy Bates and his younger brother, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
What are the Secrets to a great story.
Start with a bad story and make it better.
A lot of time and effort.
Make it a story you want to watch/read
Keep watching these things and read and write. There's also John Truby's 22 steps, lots of other books, and lots of vloggers on her with lots of knowledge. Check out writers digest as well. Do an internet search with that question.
Where’s the best place to read scripts?
Online, unless you're in California and can go to a studios library to read ones that sold.
paying to submit a screenplay for me, is just a business, a screenplay competiton should be open and ALL the money should be paid in prizes
Not to mention the $$$ you have to shell out for submitting your screenplay!
Ok, he said it in the first 20 seconds, and then he said it again for another 7 minutes... WTF?
I made ALL the mistakes he was talking about!
Back to the drawingboard
It's just not possible to really see your script for what it is. This fantasy that you can work on it for years and make it great is fake as hell. The crap that shows up in Hollywood is really proof that many produced movies are not 'real'. Fifty percent of a script is changed by the director anyway. It's by far who you know, being in the social-click, and almost no one is really interested in others who are out of the loop of established writers. The best advice is: It's a crap shoot, so go ahead and submit, get some feedback, but know your chance is 1 out of 1,000 that anything is ever going to happen. I agree that you should not submit a crap script, but how do you know it's crap unless you try. Script doctors can charge MEGA-BUCKS and not help you that much. If they were any good, they would have scripts out there. I spent $1,000 on script doctors and when I submitted, the final script was DISTROYED and didn't get past first read..