a dumb question about contests

[English Dave]

Re: a dumb question about contests

Totally agree with Purple. A spec I wrote about ten years ago has directly or indirectly got me just about every job I've had since. It's still unsold.

[gregbeal]

Re: a dumb question about contests

I realize that it's far easier to post off the top of one's head rather than to do a little research prior to posting. As Purple Curtain notes, this very subject is discussed with some regularity. Most recently, I posted about it on this board on January 26. Here is a portion of that post:

13 of 91 Nicholl-winning scripts have been produced. The most recent of those -- AKEELAH AND THE BEE and LAND OF THE BLIND -- are currently premiering at festivals and are slated to be released theatrically later this year. [AKEELAH on April 28, to be more exact; you may have noticed a little promotion for it in your local Starbucks.]

At least 28 (and perhaps a few more) of the remaining 78 Nicholl-winning scripts have been sold or optioned. Several of those scripts are currently in active development. Thus, at least 41 of 91 Nicholl-winning scripts have been produced, sold or optioned.

Several writers who did not sell or option their Nicholl-winning scripts (so far as I know) have done fairly well since then, including Susannah Grant, Andrew Marlowe and Allison Anders.

A number of Nicholl-winning writers have been hired on assignment without the benefit of a spec sale.

Nicholl Fellows have provided the story for, written, co-written and/or directed 51 feature films, which have earned over $2.7 billion in worldwide box office. (Unless release schedules change, the 52nd film will be CHARLOTTE'S WEB.) This does not include films written or co-written by fellows who did not receive credit on those films. [It also does not include 'TIS AUTUMN: THE SEARCH FOR JACKIE PARIS, a feature doc directed by Raymond de Felitta that premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.]

Nicholl Fellows have also written a number of produced and unproduced cable and television movies and have served on TV series writing staffs.

For a number of other writers, advancing in the Nicholl competition served as an indication that they were ready to make the leap into a professional writing career. Included in this group of past Nicholl quarter/semi/finalists are such film and television writers as Vince Gilligan, Gavin Hood, Wayne Kramer, Damon Lindelof, Greg Poirier, Scott Rosenberg, Frank Spotnitz, Meredith Stiehm and Marianne Wibberley, to name only a few. [To update, Gavin Hood's TSOTSI won an Academy Award as Best Foreign Film; his top 30 Nicholl script was A REASONABLE MAN, which was also produced. Jason Smilovic's LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN placed among the top 30 Nicholl scripts in 2001.]

[writer0825]

Re: a dumb question about contests

"It's a big mistake to assume that specs are only worth something if they become the object of a bidding war."

I wasn't assuming anything, I was just asking an innocent question.

[English Dave]

Re: a dumb question about contests

"It's a big mistake to assume that specs are only worth something if they become the object of a bidding war."

I wasn't assuming anything, I was just asking an innocent question.

I hope the answer is to your satisfaction.

[BROUGHCUT]

Re: a dumb question about contests

repost:

Quick check of winners 2002-2004.

Some may be pocketed etc, the following winners have reps/credits listed on studio system:

2004 winners

Sean Mahoney - Gotham (Lindsay Williams)
Whit Rummel - Gotham (Lindsay Williams)


2003 winners

Andrea R. Herman - Agency Group

Tejal K. Desai and Brian C. Wray - Paradigm (Trevor Astbury) / Nine Yards (Steve Crawford)

Bragi Schut Jr.

Agent Brant Rose / Brant Rose Agency
Attorney Robert Szymanski / Eclipse Law Corporation
Manager Brian Spink / Benderspink


FEATURE FILM
Writer
THE SUB-MARINER (Feature Film / 2006 / In Development) Screenplay (rewrite)
CRIMINAL MACABRE (Feature Film / In Development) Screenplay (rewrite)
THE LAST VOYAGE OF DEMETER (Feature Film / In Development) Screenplay
SEASON OF THE WITCH (Feature Film / In Development) as Bragi F. Schut Jr Screenplay (spec) **NICHOLL SCRIPT** MGM bought the spec script by Bragi Schut Jr. for a reported mid-against high-six figures
PATHFINDER (PHOENIX PICTURES) (Feature Film / 2006 / Wrapped) Screenplay (production polish)

James N. Mottern - CAA (Brian Kend)

FEATURE FILM
Writer
BOOMERANG (BONA FIDE) (Feature Film / In Development) Screenplay **August 2005**

2002 Winners:

John Ciarlo - Sean Marks (atty)
Matt Harris - CAA (Jay Baker) / Kustom (mgr)
Kurt Kuenne - UTA (Tony Babst)/ Kaplan Perrone

I originally went back pre-2000 but it hacked up and got lost when I tried to post.

seems to be a healthy picture overall for representation. Greg said 45% of winning scripts have been opitions/sold? Well, options can be free, and I don't think anywhere near that proportion enter active development. That's not the fault of Nicholl, or course, their results are hugely impressive, everything considered.

[English Dave]

Re: a dumb question about contests

Guys, it depends on your definition of success. Most assignments are not listed. 'Heat' can't be calculated. It appears to me [never having entered a competition] that if you choose the right competition, and do well, it may open doors for you. More than if you just rely on throwing out log lines and queries to a blanket audience.

Choose wisely. There are many worthless competitions and a few good ones.