PAGE Screenwriting Contest

[nic.h]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

I don't want anyone to get anybody mad or anything, but I ran a Goggle map check on the PAGE office address and it's a mail drop:

7510 Sunset Blvd. #610, Hollywood, CA 90046

http://blackbards.com/page.jpg

What's up with that?

Just email them, OK? They're very accessible and quick to reply. Lots of people have entered Page, with mixed results. It's up to you whether you think the contest is a good fit for your script.

I don't think worrying how they collect their mail is relevant or indicative of anything more than ... how they collect their mail. Contests aren't for everyone, but at least Page does what it says it will do, as much as any contest can.

[lordmanji]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

It's not just that they seemingly have a physical office, it's that they seemingly have no physicality at all -- no office, no names, no photos. The only name connected to the operation is someone named "Jennifer Berg, Administrative Director."

I mean, these folks are collecting upwards to $200,000 a year in contest fees. Is it wrong to want to know who they are?

Page is a reputable contest as any search on this board will show you. Other more established posters have tried to elucidate you but your position has been argumentative, condescending and snipy despite having a grand total of 27 posts to your name. Hearing all your "just questions" is like nails on a chalkboard.

[nic.h]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

Page is legitimate. As Lord says, plenty of people have entered the contest and got exactly what they paid for.

I've had direct correspondence from Jennifer many times - as have plenty of people here. She's real and exists. She's also very professional and prompt in her dealings.

I'm not a fan of these contests, generally, despite having finaled in this very one. But Page is legitimate, in that they do what they say they're going to do.

My point is, asking these questions would be better directed at the Page people - they'll happily provide all the information you need.

[huxsster]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

It's not just that they don't appear to have an office; it's that they seemingly have no physicality at all -- no office, no names, no photos. The only name connected to the operation is someone named "Jennifer Berg, Administrative Director."

I mean, these folks are collecting upwards to $200,000 a year in contest fees. Is it wrong to want to know who they are?

What exactly is your beef with PAGE? Their location? They follow their stated rules. They meet every deadline. They pay their winners. They do their best to connect their winners with opportunities.

[TheConnorNoden]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

Could you please stop being so obsessive and just email them. Don't like the competition? Don't enter. Simple. Just enter everything else including Nicholl because everything you have said so far suggests you're bound to win every competition, good for you, you're confident. And as far as the art arguement goes, I became a writer to tell a story, the tiny chance of becoming rich is an added bonus, if you want money play the lottery because you'll never get anywhere without passion for what you're doing.

[NikeeGoddess]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

wow dood! you're like rain man obsessive. spend some time searching through these contest pages. it may take you a couple of days but you'll get most of your answers right here.

but no one gets why you just don't email them. many have done that in the past and got immediate answers... and they post them on the boards for all to see but you got to look for them.

keep in mind that (and i say your mind b/c you have a paranoid type personality) they can search around and find who you are too. you might be secretly blackballed from the contest and not even know it. karma

[Richmond Weems]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

I think you're on to something. Maybe you should investigate further, maybe a year or so, then come back and tell us what you found out. And because anything you say here could get back to "Jennifer", my suggestion would be to initiate radio silence immediately until you do find out exactly what's what. I also happen to think that "Jennifer" was the second gunman on the grassy knoll, but can't prove anything (yet!) so if you find anything out about that let me know.

HH

[NikeeGoddess]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

there's a map to their location on their facebook page. why don't you stop by and ask them in person?
http://www.facebook.com/pageawards?ref=ts
leave the gun at home.

[ihavebiglips]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

I get the sense I'm about to be banned for asking questions about Page so I'll get these next observations in quickly.

1. Has anyone here read any of the Grand Winner scripts?

2. Is anyone here a "Grand Winner?

3. Has anyone here ever met a Grand Winner?


Yesterday I emailed two of the grand winners asking each whether he actually received $25,000. As yet, I haven't received an answer.

In other words, the only explanation of the astronomical gap between the $25,000 prize and the other prizes I can think of is that no one actually gets the $25,000 prize.

Earlier someone mentioned there's a reasonable explanation for the prize gap but he wasn't at liberty to share it with us. This makes no sense to me. Why wouldn't he be at liberty to share it?

I also have a theory on how the lower tier winners are selected. I think they are people who either have deals working already or have some name recognition, however slight.

Who are the people behind Page and what are their backgrounds? Who's "Zoe" and "Jen"?

And what about readers?

Readers cost money. Paying enough readers to read 4000 scripts might cost as much as $150,000. How can Page do this, payout $50,000 in prize money and still pay its bills?

Nicholl has an endowment; it spends $200,000+ of its own money each year.

And that running list of "judges" posted on the site, how current is it? Is it a list of the names of this year's contest or just a boilerplate list kept on the site year after year?

Has anyone been in contact with any of these supposed judges?

Bottom line, why doesn't Page have the transparency Nicholl has?

Hahaha, love it! This should your next script, dude. A CHINATOWN meets BORED TO DEATH meets PAYBACK neo-noir in which a pissed off "Gold Prize" winner believes he was defrauded out of his $25,000 "Grand Prize" - he sets off to get to the bottom of the mystery and get what's his.

The big reveal at the end? He never even entered the contest! He's just a crazy dude with the same name as the Gold Winner in the "Historical Romance" category.

It's worth at least a placement in next year's Page.

[ihavebiglips]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

(That said, a healthy dose of paranoia can come in handy when navigating the contest circuit.)

[TheConnorNoden]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you-
-- Kurt Cobain

I'm confused do you feel like PAGE is hunting you down or do you just really like Territorial Pissings? Either way my brain has been melted by conspiracy.

[huxsster]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

I get the sense I'm about to be banned for asking questions about Page so I'll get these next observations in quickly.

1. Has anyone here read any of the Grand Winner scripts?

2. Is anyone here a "Grand Winner?

3. Has anyone here ever met a Grand Winner?


Yesterday I emailed two of the grand winners asking each whether he actually received $25,000. As yet, I haven't received an answer.

In other words, the only explanation of the astronomical gap between the $25,000 prize and the other prizes I can think of is that no one actually gets the $25,000 prize.

Earlier someone mentioned there's a reasonable explanation for the prize gap but he wasn't at liberty to share it with us. This makes no sense to me. Why wouldn't he be at liberty to share it?

I also have a theory on how the lower tier winners are selected. I think they are people who either have deals working already or have some name recognition, however slight.

Who are the people behind Page and what are their backgrounds? Who's "Zoe" and "Jen"?

And what about readers?

Readers cost money. Paying enough readers to read 4000 scripts might cost as much as $150,000. How can Page do this, payout $50,000 in prize money and still pay its bills?

Nicholl has an endowment; it spends $200,000+ of its own money each year.

And that running list of "judges" posted on the site, how current is it? Is it a list of the names of this year's contest or just a boilerplate list kept on the site year after year?

Has anyone been in contact with any of these supposed judges?

Bottom line, why doesn't Page have the transparency Nicholl has?

Hi there. My name is Scott Shields. I won the 2010 PAGE grand prize. I also placed with a bronze in the 2009 PAGE. I didn't get anywhere in the 2008 PAGE.

I've corresponded with Zoe and Jen many many times but I've never met them. My confidence is extremely high that they exist at this point.

I received my awards packages exactly as advertised in 2009 and 2010. That includes a check for $25,000. It's real. I also received a congratulations email from the 2009 winner. He's real, too. I can't vouch for anyone earlier than that, but I think you see where this is going.

I understand the suspicion of contests. I really do. I've entered several that left me wondering if they really read the scripts or not. PAGE is not a contest that takes their mission lightly. They're real. They can be trusted. Enter if you want. Or don't. But please don't lose any sleep over this issue.

[NikeeGoddess]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

Lock Thread!

[lordmanji]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

Congratulations, Scott!

Say, any chance of you posting an excerpt of your winning script?

Why should he? So you can twist and subvert it like all your other "innocent" questions? And post later how it doesn't compare to your "perfect" script?

[NikeeGoddess]

Re: PAGE Screenwriting Contest

it is helpful to read prize-winning scripts but people don't throw them around esp if there might be some interest from a producer or it's in development or for whatever reason. but if you spent a little more time just perusing these boards (instead of asking people to serve you things on a silver platter) you might find little gems of information... like this: http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl...thscripts.html