Austin: who's in?

[ewbet]

Re: Austin: who's in?

I'm in with a couple of dramas and a spec sitcom pilot.

I think I'm starting to lose my marbles because I swear I submitted a pilot last year but the FAQ's say this is the first year they're accepting them!?

Either way, good luck everyone.

[JoJo]

Re: Austin: who's in?

So you're fine with an actual policy to not read more pages? I think most entrants would prefer the opposite.

Well, you hope you've done your job and they want to read to the end but regardless of the rules, you can't police any reader who's told they have to read to the end.... just because they have to doesn't mean they will.

[JoJo]

Re: Austin: who's in?

I'm in with a couple of dramas and a spec sitcom pilot.

I think I'm starting to lose my marbles because I swear I submitted a pilot last year but the FAQ's say this is the first year they're accepting them!?

Either way, good luck everyone.

Good luck! You've certainly increased your chances with that many entries... I use a notepad to keep track of my entries and I know others use excel spreadsheets to keep track.

[JoJo]

Re: Austin: who's in?

Just decided I'm going to send in a spec script as well. I'm excited!

When I entered all these contests months back, the quarterfinal announcement dates seemed so far away, but here we are in summer and the announcements are starting and will come every couple of weeks since I've entered so many.... so I'm excited to!

[NikeeGoddess]

Re: Austin: who's in?

i've never entered the Austin and just looked at the prizes/awards. so, only 1 grand winner and one per category receive money, but do the semi and finalists get anything other than a discount on the pass to the festival? and is it true that you don't even know if you won until you get to the festival? what if you can't afford to go? will they call you and give you a nudge... b/c maybe you did win? just wondering.

[JoeBanks]

Re: Austin: who's in?

it's not really about the money, although that's nice work if you can get it. AFF is schmooze camp for writers. they don't announce category winners until the festival, but you get reimbursed for your costs if you do win. semis and finalists are offered discounts beforehand, when those announcements are made in September. the way i look at it, if you already plan on going for the festival experience, possibly getting things comped as a category winner is just gravy. the doors that winning (or even finaling) could possibly open would be worth risking the costs of attending.

[JoJo]

Re: Austin: who's in?

i've never entered the Austin and just looked at the prizes/awards. so, only 1 grand winner and one per category receive money, but do the semi and finalists get anything other than a discount on the pass to the festival? and is it true that you don't even know if you won until you get to the festival? what if you can't afford to go? will they call you and give you a nudge... b/c maybe you did win? just wondering.

From their website:

The rewards are endless. 
AFF awards are career-starters, but just entering your script insures other profound returns. Advancing writers and their scripts enjoy one-of-a-kind industry attention, networking opportunities and dream workshops. At the semifinalist level and beyond, judges include professional writers and representatives from major studios and production companies actively seeking scripts and talent. In past years, judges have included representatives from Warner Bros., Nickelodeon Movies, ABC Studios, Fortis Films, Pixar Animation Studios, Escape Artists at Sony, Oasis Media, United Talent Agency and many others. The hands your pages will pass through may alter the direction of your career.

The Festival discounts registration for all entrants, and gives even greater discounts for those whose scripts advance. Second-round entrants sit at exclusive roundtables and get readers' notes on their scripts at no additional charge, while semifinalists and finalists attend private and invaluable panels with agents, producers, and guest speakers. All semifinalist and finalist scripts receive special mention in the 2012 Producers Book, which the Festival distributes to more than 300 agents, managers, producers, and other industry professionals.

[NikeeGoddess]

Re: Austin: who's in?

i know what they say. all contests say great things about themselves. and i've only heard good things about AFF, but talk is cheap esp in the written form.

i can plan on going b/c i'm broke, but i might beg, borrow, and steal the money to go if i thought something would really come of it. schmoozing is a necessary part of networking, but it's expensive if you don't live there. and i'll NEVER move to texas... NEVER!

[JoJo]

Re: Austin: who's in?

i know what they say. all contests say great things about themselves. and i've only heard good things about AFF, but talk is cheap esp in the written form.

i can plan on going b/c i'm broke, but i might beg, borrow, and steal the money to go if i thought something would really come of it. schmoozing is a necessary part of networking, but it's expensive if you don't live there. and i'll NEVER move to texas... NEVER!

Nikee, if you're a second rounder or higher, they should let you know just how much of a discount you'll get and you can make the decision about attending then.

[UnequalProductions]

Re: Austin: who's in?

i've never entered the Austin and just looked at the prizes/awards. so, only 1 grand winner and one per category receive money, but do the semi and finalists get anything other than a discount on the pass to the festival? and is it true that you don't even know if you won until you get to the festival? what if you can't afford to go? will they call you and give you a nudge... b/c maybe you did win? just wondering.

They don't know if you've won or not. The final judges (professionals from the industry) turn in their ratings the day of the award ceremony. You get a trophey, but the plate with your name on it comes in the mail later.

[lostfootage]

Re: Austin: who's in?

Nikee - I was a finalist in 2010 for the comedy category of the screenplay contest. (I did not end up winning.) I found out on September 30th. They comped my producer badge. I used miles for my plane ticket. There was a lot of free food. I only really paid for my hotel. I like to sleep alone, so I didn't share with anyone, but I could have cut the cost of the hotel in half by sharing.

I got a manager out of the conference, who got me an agent and a lot of meetings. I'm in the gray zone of having a lot of interest but no sales. Still, hell of a lot closer to my goal via Austin then if I hadn't attended the conference. I encourage you to attend if you find out at the end of September that you are a finalist. The connections are priceless. And, Austin is a fun city.

[lache]

Re: Austin: who's in?

When does Austin announce first rounders?

[JoeBanks]

Re: Austin: who's in?

First round, second round, and semifinalists are all notified at the same time, usually around Labor Day. If you get a letter you either didn't advance past the first or second rounds. If you are a semifinalist, you get a phone call.

[Richmond Weems]

Re: Austin: who's in?

Or, in my case, you get a restraining order demanding you never enter the contest again.

HH

[JoJo]

Re: Austin: who's in?

When does Austin announce first rounders?

From the FAQ on their website:

When will we hear about results?

Letters will be sent by late August for those in the First Round and also to those that advance to the Second Round (top 10%). Semifinalists will receive a phone call by late August as well. Finalists are notified by mid to late September. The winners will be announced at the Awards Luncheon at the Conference.