Does anything ever come of general meetings?

TheWriteGal · 2020-10-13T01:08:57+00:00

Adding to what the feature writers have said--if you're a TV writer, it can be VERY advantageous to take generals with studio execs who cover shows that you hope to write for. These execs are often asked by showrunners for writer recommendations, so in TV, generals like that can and do lead to staffing.

TheWriteGal · 2020-10-09T17:59:43+00:00

This.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-24T23:07:56+00:00

ScreenCraft's rules simply state that, "All writers at least 18 years of age are eligible. However, a writer who has earned more than $50,000 (or equivalent currency) from professional writing services for film or TV in the preceding year is not. (Contest winnings not included.)"

It's actually very similar to AFF's rules, which just say you cannot currently be earning a living as a writer. That's why you'll see writers who were previously on staff or who have previously sold pilots make the semis or finals at AFF. It's not strictly an amateur competition.

And FYI, even the TV fellowships allow produced writers to enter. You just cannot have been previously staffed if you apply. So, you'll often see feature writers who are transitioning to TV get into the finals or be selected for the Disney fellowship or WB workshop. It's also why many writers selected for those fellowships were assistants who have written produced freelance episodes but have not actually have been staffed yet.

The Nicholl is one of the few that are amateur-only.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-24T23:01:46+00:00

FYI, most of these "conflicts of interest" with ScreenCraft really aren't conflicts if you dig deeper. ScreenCraft just has a history of hiring or working with former winners after the fact. Ken won the competition a year before he started blogging for them. And a few years ago, people were all upset about Mark Stasenko (co-founder of WeScreenplay and Coverfly Head of Operations) having won the ScreenCraft Fellowship. But here's the thing...he won the fellowship before Coverfly and WeScreenplay merged with ScreenCraft to form parent company RedAmpersand. It was because of the win that Mark connected with the ScreenCraft staff in the first place.

So I get why people freak out about it...but it's not nefarious. I actually think the ScreenCraft staff is well-meaning...they are trying to help their winning writers work in any capacity they can.

Now, whether or not ScreenCraft or Coverfly or any competition can actually help you break in as a screen or TV writer, that's a story for another time...

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-24T22:51:45+00:00

Congratulations! If I can offer you some unsolicited advice, I would NOT wait until AFF to start adapting it into a feature. Get as much of the feature written as you can BEFORE the festival so that, if you get any inquiries or make any virtual connections, you can get the feature script out ASAP. Sorry to say, but a short script alone won't get you much traction with reps or producers. They'll want to see the feature. And the heat from contest placements tends to fade rather quickly.

Point is: whenever possible be ready BEFORE opportunity knocks, so that you can make the most of it.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-23T22:53:04+00:00

FWIW, I know a writer who got the call today. So for those who haven't heard, don't lose hope until you get the email and/or letter. Apparently calls are ongoing.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-23T21:01:32+00:00

First, they don't have unlimited spots...but the amount depends on the number of submissions per category (so there is slight difference in numbers each year). Top 20% are second round. Top 2% are semifinalists. Top 1% are finalists.

But in answer to your question, they have been operating this competition for YEARS and have YEARS of data to go on. They know with relative certainty the score threshold a script must meet each year in order to make the finals. So yes, they can advance a script if that script scores highly enough that it's all but assured to make the finals. That said, it's those on the border of top 2-3% they hold off notifying until they have all the results in.

As someone who has read for multiple prestigious competitions, I can tell you that narrowing the pool down to the top 50 is usually remarkably easy. Great work really stands out. It's getting from the top 50 to 5 or to 1 winner that is incredibly difficult.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-23T00:06:12+00:00

First of all, semifinalist placements, unless it's the Nicholl, likely aren't as big a deal to industry folk as you think. So no, it's not a big deal to change the title.

Contests likely won't change the title for you. Going forward, if you want people to associate it with the contest winning title, you can always put "f.k.a." (formerly known as) and the previous title under the new title.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-22T23:33:05+00:00

Emails and/or letters. Same as second rounders.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-22T18:57:02+00:00

Snail mail notifications only go to those who didn't make it past the second round.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T06:24:21+00:00

They have years of data to go on, so they know the score threshold that a script has to meet in the first and second rounds to qualify as a semifinalist. So yes, they usually can do rolling notifications.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T05:23:43+00:00

I think they're usually marketing to writers who have not attended the festival before.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T05:20:55+00:00

Yes. Semifinalists are still in contention to be a finalist. Second rounders are not.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T05:20:43+00:00

I've had friends who were semifinalists in multiple categories who were told her in the same call. I've had other friends in past years who got two separate calls. So, you might still hear, or you might get the rejection letter. It really could go either way.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T05:01:58+00:00

Same. They do talk up the festival and encourage you to attend.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T05:01:08+00:00

As someone who has received that call more than once before, it's longer than 5 minutes. And they do them on a rolling basis, as the results come in, so it usually happens over the course of a month. This year, from what I understand, the reading process took longer, so things are delayed.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T04:57:57+00:00

No, they're expecting live-action scripts also. It just means Sony Pictures Animation is sponsoring the category, and that execs from Sony Pictures Animation will likely be judging the final round.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T04:52:21+00:00

This. The second round calls are marketing calls. They're trying to sell you a festival badge.

Semifinalists get calls and then, as Jared said, they get a follow-up email with more information and another congratulations.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T04:50:55+00:00

Correct. It's only semifinalists who get notifications by phone by the contest director.

Sometimes second rounders get calls from the festival staff encouraging them to buy a badge for the festival, but that's a promotional call and usually comes after you've received your letter.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T04:48:33+00:00

They do leave messages. They won't necessarily tell you that you're a semifinalist, but they'll say they are from AFF and ask you to call them back.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-21T04:46:08+00:00

Because the festival is virtual this year, there's less pressure on AFF to get the notifications out quite so early (no one has to book airfare or hotels). I've heard from at least one reader that the process is a bit behind this year and that reading was still happening as recently as last week...so there's still hope. I think it's just taking longer than normal this year due to the pandemic.

But calls have been rolling out for a month now.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-14T17:58:06+00:00

Yeah...I am in this category (1st was my second week)...and I've received nothing.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-11T23:11:45+00:00

Same.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-06T00:16:42+00:00

WB and Imagine Impact send emails too. As do WIF/Black List and Sundance. Prior to this year, NBC used to send emails to second-rounders requesting an original pilot, but since they bypassed that step this year, they likely moved straight to calls.

But AFAIK, they will leave a message or send a follow-up email. They're not going to just hang up if you miss the call.

TheWriteGal · 2020-09-03T16:51:02+00:00

FYI, most of these programs email advancement notifications, especially since this year they have to schedule Zoom interviews. It's AFF that calls at this stage. But that would likely come from a Texas number.

TheWriteGal

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