Common Screenplay Competition Mistakes

Screenplay are a great way to see where you stand as a writer. You might think that your screenplay is rather lame when it is cloistered in your room with only your eyes for company. However, when you expose your screenplay to judges , who hve experience in the industry, you might come out with a different opinion. Testing your screenplay against your peers , in competition, can be an important way for writers to see what they are liking.

However, a lot of writers entering a screenplay competition will commit horrendous mistakes that will stop a judge from even reading your screenplay. If you don't commit these common screenplay mistakes you will not have to worry about being disqualified.

Genre Specific

Don't think that your screenplay fits inside a ton of ridiculous genres. The categories and restrictions apply to everyone, and no matter how loving your buddy picture is it does not mean that it is a romantic comedy.

Stick To Your Story

Screenplay writers will sometimes try to do something unique with a 'choose your own ending' type of screenplay. Organizers do not want to have to flip to page 52 to read their ending. Tell the story you want to tell.

No special covers

Screenplay competition entrees have to make a unique impression on the competition judges. However, having special binders and glossy covers is not the way to do it. It is more of an annoyance to the judges then a wow factor. Stick to one or two brass brads to keep your script together and leave the special covers for kindergarten.

Page count

Screenplay competitions will almost always have a page limit for you to work with. Don't bother entering your screenplay if it is one to two pages over the limit. The fact is that judges are looking for any possible reason to disqualify your script so you are better off entering another screenplay competition if your screenplay doesn't fall with in the designated limits.

Format

Screenplays have a very rigorous format for you to follow. A lot of writers have a hard time getting the hang of it and end up submitting a work in the wrong format to the screenplay competition, in the hopes that someone there will fix it up for them. This will never happen and you will be disqualified.

Entering a screenplay contest can be fun and enjoyable for people looking to strike it big in the film industry. At best you will win a ton of cash and have your screenplay read by well connected people. At worst you will have an accurate judge of your writing.

Source

http://www.online-communicator.com/mistakes.html , Craig Franck