Nicholl raises income limit

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  • Nicholl raises income limit

    "Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

    On the Academy Nicholl competition Rules front, a change for 2013:

    The Academy Nicholl Committee voted to raise the lifetime screen and television writing earnings limit for eligible entrants to $25,000.

    Previously, the limit had been $5,000. In 2013, writers who have earned no more than a lifetime total of $25,000 for screen and television writing are eligible to enter the competition."

    I'm baaa-aacck... but getting close to the new limit as well.
    "People who work in Hollywood are the ones who didn't quit." -- Lawrence Kasdan

    Please visit my website and blog: www.lauridonahue.com.

  • #2
    Re: Nicholl raises income limit

    if you pay your reps commission, is that amount included in your earnings or no?

    So, say you make $26k but pay 5.2K in commissions? what have you earned according to the Nicholls?

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    • #3
      Re: Nicholl raises income limit

      Originally posted by jsay View Post
      if you pay your reps commission, is that amount included in your earnings or no?

      So, say you make $26k but pay 5.2K in commissions? what have you earned according to the Nicholls?

      You should ask this on the nicholl facebook page. It's an interesting question.
      Twitter @CameronAlxander

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      • #4
        Re: Nicholl raises income limit

        Woohoo! That means I'm in again too. (I think - that rep question is a good one.)
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        • #5
          Re: Nicholl raises income limit

          Guess they weren't happy with 7000+ entries.

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          • #6
            Re: Nicholl raises income limit

            This is an extraordinary increase. I understand the desire to allow more writers to raise the limit, but I worry this changes from an amateur contest to a semi-pro/ beginning pro contest now. Shame.

            EJ

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            • #7
              Re: Nicholl raises income limit

              Austin has no rules like that-- anyone can enter, from what I remember?

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              • #8
                Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                PAGE is also $25,000. I wonder if it is a general attempt to increase the quality of the winning scripts in relation to some of the other top contests (or even The Blacklist) and keep their place as the contest where the industry can find the best unknown writers. Competition is fierce these days.

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                • #9
                  Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                  Originally posted by Bruce Rose View Post
                  PAGE is also $25,000. I wonder if it is a general attempt to increase the quality of the winning scripts in relation to some of the other top contests (or even The Blacklist) and keep their place as the contest where the industry can find the best unknown writers. Competition is fierce these days.
                  I doubt that quality has anything to do with it. And no other contest even comes close in terms of quality and recognition.

                  Here's what was was posted on the Nicholl FB wall:

                  "Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
                  The change was made in recognition of the fact that garnering an option here and a low-budget rewrite job there over a number of years hardly transformed that writer into a working professional."

                  In any case, I'm happy to be a (hopefully temporary) beneficiary of the change.
                  "People who work in Hollywood are the ones who didn't quit." -- Lawrence Kasdan

                  Please visit my website and blog: www.lauridonahue.com.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                    Personally, I think this is a great change. Under $25,000 lifetime earnings might technically mean "professional screenwriter" but in practice it's a long way from having a writing career. I think this is a much-needed correction that allows the Nicholl Fellowship to help launch careers for a wider and more inclusive group of aspiring writers.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                      This is certainly a welcome change. As for those who feel that it's opening the door to "professionals" to enter the contest, well ...

                      1) If "professionalism" means you've earned 5 taxable grand via the movie world, or are a WGA member, then it really doesn't mean much (compared with the professionalism of, say, an attorney or doctor).

                      2) We "amateurs" are always comparing our product favorably with what ends up on the screen. If we're really that good, why be afraid of competition from those who are, in our opinion, not writing very well to begin with?

                      Beyond that: Thanks for the info, Lauri.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                        Originally posted by LauriD View Post
                        And no other contest even comes close in terms of quality and recognition.
                        I agree with this. This could be construed as an action that insures that remains the case. It favors protecting their brand over finding talented amateur screenwriters that don't have an opportunity to get read otherwise. The reality, though, is that all scripts have to eventually swim in the same pool and lifetime $25,000 isn't a career.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                          I'd be surprised if it causes more than a blip in the number of entrants, which are going up every year in any case. I guess we'll see...
                          "People who work in Hollywood are the ones who didn't quit." -- Lawrence Kasdan

                          Please visit my website and blog: www.lauridonahue.com.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                            they should add a floor while they're at it

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                            • #15
                              Re: Nicholl raises income limit

                              Originally posted by jsay View Post
                              if you pay your reps commission, is that amount included in your earnings or no?

                              So, say you make $26k but pay 5.2K in commissions? what have you earned according to the Nicholl?
                              Not sure if you're joking, but the Academy Nicholl earnings limit pertains to gross income. Commissions and other expenses would not affect the gross.

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