All submissions must be postmarked by 12am, July 1st, 2008

Early Bird Deadline, 12am May 1st, 2008 - $45
First Deadline, 12am June 1st, 2008 - $50
Final Deadline, 12am July 3rd, 2008 - $55

Q: When will the winners be notified?

Finalists will be notified on August 30th, 2008 and the Grand Prize Winner will be announced on September 10th, 2008.

Q: How do I find out who the winners are?

We will post the results on our website on September 10th, 2008.

Q: I have received notes from the Script Department on the script I plan to submit. Am I eligible?

Yes.

Q: If Script Department clients are eligible for this competition and you sponsor it, how do I know you won’t be biased?

Readers will not be assigned to scripts they have previously read for TSD and further, title pages with name and contact information will be removed before scripts are assigned.

Q: Do you provide notes on the scripts?

Notes will not be given as part of the competition; we have chosen to put our resources into the prizes. Our goal is to find and celebrate the best scripts and writers with the public acknowledgment, cash, prizes and meetings they deserve and to thank those who didn't make it this year for trying.

Q: Which 3 managers will meet with me if I win? Will they have read my script? What can I expect from the meeting?

We will choose 3 managers from the group of industry professionals who work with us at TSD based on the genre of your script and what makes a good match between writer and manager. Each manager will have read your script prior to your meeting. The meeting is a “meet-n-greet” with no guarantee of representation, but rather, a chance for you to make a connection, talk about your work and best of all – pitch your next script to see if you can get a read.

Q: Can I submit more than one script?

Yes. Each script should include a separate application form and appropriate fee.

Q: Should my contact information be on the title page?

Either way is fine.

Q: How do I submit to the Silver Screenwriting Competition?

Click on “submit” on the home page of our website and you will be taken to Without A Box. There you will be asked to agree to a release form, fill out an application and submit your script digitally along with payment.

Q: Once I have submitted my script, should I contact you for confirmation?

No. But if you feel compelled, send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The Script Department, 6404 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1577, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Q: What if I live in Southern California – do I still get round trip airfare?

Southern California residents who live within 200 miles of Los Angeles do not receive air fare.

Q: What if I live in Europe, Asia or South America – do I still get round trip airfare?

You will receive air fare limited to $750. You will have to cover the remainder.

Q: Is it okay to submit the same script to multiple competitions?

It sure is.

Q: Why do you need my email address?

We will be notifying semi-finalists and finalists via email. We would also like to add you to our newsletter. Opting out is a click away if you decide you’d rather not receive it.

Q: Should I register my script with the WGA before sending?

It’s a good idea, always.

Q: Can I submit a screenplay that is an adaptation of previously written work?

Adaptations of previously written work are not acceptable. The only exception to this rule would be if the writer had adapted his/her own unpublished work. Material adapted from a previously published source to which the author has secured the rights, such as a novel, short story, or play, is ineligible.

Q: Who reads your scripts? Will I receive notes?

Qualified industry readers will be evaluating your script. We do not provide notes.

Q: Who will be judging the finalists?

Jim Mercurio and Julie Gray.

Q: I don’t live in the US, can I still submit?

The Silver Screenwriting Competition is open and available to all writers, everywhere.

Q: What if I option or sell my script before I find out how I placed?

You will not be qualified to place in the Silver Screenwriting Competition in this instance – but then, you won’t need to. Congratulations!

Q: What do you mean by saying you are a “green” competition?

That means we accept digital submissions only – fd, pdf or rich text are all fine. Submit through Without a Box. Paper scripts waste massive amounts of paper and postage. Digital submissions will soon be the norm.

Q: Who are you?

The Silver Screenwriting Competition is a joint venture between The Script Department and Jim Mercurio. We share a philosophy that aspiring writers can benefit from the deadlines that competitions impose but more than that, by the prizes, access, exposure and experiences available to the winner. Hollywood is all about relationships and we’d like to help aspiring writers get a firm foothold in what can be a slippery business.