The British Feature Screenplay Competition

[Amit]

Anyone hear about the British Feature Screenplay competition?

I read about it on filmstew - they're promising to produce the winning screenplay with a budget of $2 million. It makes it the richest competition on the planet.

It's being run by Kaos Films they have some big names attached like Kenneth Branagh, Sir Alan Parker, Nik Powell and Natascha Wharton.

The winner will also get repped by United Agents.

I'm not their agent or anything I'm interested in entering it and wanted to know if anyone here got any views.

Their website for those interested www.kaosfilms.co.uk If you are interested the early deadline is September 12th.

[doubler83]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Just reading their FAQ section. This caught my attention...

Q: Will the winning writer get any monetary benefit?

The winning writer will be required to sign an assignment (writers agreement) which will offer the writer a purchase price (rights fee) of not less than 1% of the budget with a floor of 15,000 US Dollars and a ceiling of 40,000 US Dollars less any sums paid - payable on the first day of principal photography of the film. This fee will be pro-rated downwards if a credit were to be shared with any other writer.

In the case of the work originating from multiple writers the writers agreement will treat the multiple writers as one entity.

The writer shall also be entitled to sums equal to one percent (1.0%) of Kaos Films' share of profits of The Film produced.

In the event that Kaos Films has to commission other writer or writers such that he/she receives a shared credit with the original writer/s this percentage shall be reduced to one-half percent (0.5%).

[Fox Bronte]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

The entry fee is, what... £85 from what I remember. Which is about 170$.

Can someone explain the above post to me???
This legal ****, is like a foreign language to me.

[Mac H.]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

It is pretty simple:

1. You will get a payment of between $15k & $40k USD paid on first day of filming
2. How much depends on the budget .. it will be 1% of the budget (very low)
3. This includes any option fees paid previously

However all of that only applies if you don't share writing credit.
If they decide to get someone else to work on the writing AND if that person gets (say) 50% writing credit, then they will also get 50% of your fee. It doesn't say how they will decide if someone else gets writing credit. For example, if they get three other writers on it but none end up sharing writing credits, then (theoretically) you keep the entire fee.

If you are a writing team, you'll be considered one person for the sake of the calculation.

There is also a profit share that won't apply, so it doesn't really matter.

Mac

[Fox Bronte]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Ahh, thanks alot! As soon as numbers are mentioned
I go into some alien mode where I cannot understand anything.

[Amit]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

FYI the early entry fee is 65 Pounds Sterling. Early deadline September 12th.

Amit

[Amit]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Not getting much of an opinion from any one here I decided to contact Kaos Films who runs this comp.

I wanted to ask how real is the promise to produce the winner.

This is the reply I got -

No matter what we say there will be people out there being cynical about it and nothing we do is ever going to change their minds.


Allow me to point you to our judges namely - Kenneth Branagh, Michael Grade, Michael Kuhn, Sir Alan Parker, Nik Powell, Natascha Wharton and Stephen Woolley just to name a few. If we didn't keep our promises would these good people get involved with us?

Now look at our sponsors - Avid, ilab, Kodak, Panavision, Pinewood Studios and Working Title Films. If we were not genuine would these people have anything to do with us?

If we didn't deliver do you really think that our judges and sponsors would continue to support us? The British Short Screenplay Competition is now in its eighth year and for eight years we have enjoyed fantastic support from the industry. People who doubt our credibility and promise should ask themselves why have we enjoyed such support and trust from the giants of the industry?

I do hope you will enter the British Feature Screenplay Competition. It really is offering a chance of a life time unlike any other competition on the planet. Not only to have your screenplay produced but also get representation from one of the top UK talent and literary agency!

Kind regards

Olivia

[-XL-]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

It's no doubt legit but, seriously, £65-£85 entry is fvcking insane. Especially when they're low-balling the script fees and only paying out 1% of the budget for the winner (and that's assuming they get sole credit). Plus, the lack of announcement on other prizes (runners up etc) elicits little more than a frown.

Their short screenplay competition was little different. An impressive list of judges, guaranteed production, but huge entry fees.

As for the UA representation, if you're good enough to win a competition like this you're probably good enough to get read, and probably repped, at the likes of UA/Independent/Casarotto/Curtis Brown on your own.

If you've got it to spend then by all means submit away. Me, I'd go for something more useful: a stack of novels; a decent set of script notes; half a dozen Nicholl entries; taking the hot intern for dinner...

*shrug*

[Amit]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

It's no doubt legit but, seriously, £65-£85 entry is fvcking insane. Especially when they're low-balling the script fees and only paying out 1% of the budget for the winner (and that's assuming they get sole credit). Plus, the lack of announcement on other prizes (runners up etc) elicits little more than a frown.

Their short screenplay competition was little different. An impressive list of judges, guaranteed production, but huge entry fees.

As for the UA representation, if you're good enough to win a competition like this you're probably good enough to get read, and probably repped, at the likes of UA/Independent/Casarotto/Curtis Brown on your own.

If you've got it to spend then by all means submit away. Me, I'd go for something more useful: a stack of novels; a decent set of script notes; half a dozen Nicholl entries; taking the hot intern for dinner...

*shrug*

I think you're missing the point my friend. The PRIZE is the production of the screenplay! The writers fee is a bonus.

You probably have production credits already so you're okay but there are a lot of writers including this one who would give away their screenplay for free to get a credit. And give it away to a bunch of no hopers who'd produce a crap movie for 30k that never sees the light of a projector. Kaos is offering to make it for two million!

AND you're getting Kenneth Branagh and Alan Parker reading your script! I can't speak for anyone else but I'd pay the 85 Sterling just to have one of these guys read my script.

Good luck with the intern!

[Mac H.]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Kaos is offering to make it for two million AND you're getting Kenneth Branagh and Alan Parker reading your script! I can't speak for anyone else but I'd pay the 85 Sterling just to have one of these guys read my script.

Amit,

You do realise that the people paying £85 aren't actually getting Kenneth Branagh and Alan Parker reading the script ... don't you?

The judges won't be reading every script that is submitted.. in fact they are very clear on that.

BTW, the budget for the film is Kaos is offering is up to two million, not a guaranteed $2 mil.

I wouldn't complain about that, mind you, but you can't let your enthusiasm get in the way of the facts!

Mac

[jillybob]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Plus there's the fact that getting your screenplay produced doesn't necessarily mean getting it produced well, or getting it produced in line with your vision. I understand the allure of a credit, but know that in a situation like this there may not be any guarantee that you'll have creative input into production. At least with a standard sale, you can negotiate for rewrites, opportunity to be on set, etc. You might not get those things, but you at least have a crack at trying. In this case it seems that, once your screenplay is selected, you would be completely at the mercy of others.

Not saying that you can't weigh all that and still decide this is a worthwhile endeavor, but just saying that getting a produced credit isn't the be-all, end-all, if you have no input beyond your original script as to what that final film looks like.

I haven't actually read the rules, though, so perhaps there is something in there about rewrites, consultation, etc. once production kicks in. In which case ... never mind.

[Fox Bronte]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Amits comments on here suggest that he is a new writer.
If so, how would he know that it is (and i quote from amit) "the richest
contest in the world..?"

I've had 2 PMs from people on here, I agree with both,
who suggest that Amit is from one of the co-ordinators
of this contest.

Re-read his posts, and it comes pretty clear.

[Amit]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Amits comments on here suggest that he is a new writer.
If so, how would he know that it is (and i quote from amit) "the richest
contest in the world..?"

I've had 2 PMs from people on here, I agree with both,
who suggest that Amit is from one of the co-ordinators
of this contest.

Re-read his posts, and it comes pretty clear.

Wait a minute, just hold on. I know we're writers here an' all and have vivid imaginations!

I don't say it's the richest contest in the world Fox, filmstew calls it and I quote "the richest screenplay competition yet" and I could list a whole bunch of other websites that are saying the same thing.

And yes, I'm new - on this site sure!

But Fox, I'm a writer and I don't do anything without doing my research.

[Mac H.]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

If so, how would he know that it is (and i quote from amit) "the richest
contest in the world..?"

Err .. .because maybe he's quoting from their publicity?

I've had 2 PMs from people on here, I agree with both,
who suggest that Amit is from one of the co-ordinators
of this contest.

Nahh .. not necessarily.

Some people are just enthusiastic. Do you think all of the fanboys drooling over the iPhone worked for Apple ? Do you think that all the people who thought the Mac Air was the 'thinnest laptop in the world' would only know that because they had some insider info?

Sadly, I'm not an enthusiastic person by nature. I wish I was.

Mac

[Amit]

Re: The British Feature Screenplay Competition

Thanks Mac. I was beginning to feel like a marked man.

Amit