Nicholl 2015...

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  • lache
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by gregbeal View Post
    Sorry to be slow to respond. Been a little crazy over the past few days.

    "Total earnings" is the key phrase. The rule applies to an entrant's lifetime earnings.

    When writers enter the Academy Nicholl competition, they agree that they have complied with the rules and the terms and conditions:

    "That I am (we are) eligible for the competition, and that I (we) will notify the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting if I (we) become ineligible prior to the conclusion of the competition.

    "That providing false or misleading information on this application, or failing in any other way to comply with the rules of the competition, will subject me (us) to disqualification, forfeiture of prize money and/or other penalties."

    Thanks.

    Leave a comment:


  • gregbeal
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Sorry to be slow to respond. Been a little crazy over the past few days.

    "Total earnings" is the key phrase. The rule applies to an entrant's lifetime earnings.

    When writers enter the Academy Nicholl competition, they agree that they have complied with the rules and the terms and conditions:

    "That I am (we are) eligible for the competition, and that I (we) will notify the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting if I (we) become ineligible prior to the conclusion of the competition.

    "That providing false or misleading information on this application, or failing in any other way to comply with the rules of the competition, will subject me (us) to disqualification, forfeiture of prize money and/or other penalties."

    Leave a comment:


  • nativeson
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Do we get paid for making 'comments' in this thread

    Leave a comment:


  • Mintclub
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Hey Greg, I've always wondered how folks at the Nicholl would even know if a writer made more money than the contest allows. I mean sure if it's a studio writer then there's a strong chance their name's gonna be kicking around but what about the ones whose deals haven't made the trades? Just curious is all.

    Leave a comment:


  • jsay
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    nice try though!

    Leave a comment:


  • lache
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by ducky1288 View Post
    I'm pretty sure it's all years combined.
    Got it. THANKS.

    Leave a comment:


  • ducky1288
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    I'm pretty sure it's all years combined.

    Leave a comment:


  • lache
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Hi guys,

    Could someone please help me with this:

    Does this rule apply to all years? or basically the year the writer is applying with? So If I made over 25,000 last year in writing, I could still apply for it in 2015?


    An entrant's total earnings for motion picture and television writing may not exceed US$25,000 before the end of the competition. This limit applies to compensation for motion picture and television writing services as well as for the sale of (or sale of an option on) screenplays, teleplays, stage plays, books, treatments, stories, premises and any other source material. In most instances, fellowship and competition prize money is not counted as earnings unless it includes a "first look" clause, an option or any other quid pro quo involving the writer's work. Entrants must be 18 or older at the time of entry.

    Leave a comment:


  • gregbeal
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by LateNightWriter View Post
    I received comments sent to me by the Nicholl Administration on my Semifinalist screenplays last year and the year before. These were comments, not "notes." The comments were less about offering critical advice than about expressing what kind of impression the screenplays made on the reader.

    For me, this was fascinating. As writers, we all want to know how readers (especially contest readers) respond to our writing. To have contest readers say they were brought to tears, or that they found a screenplay to be a terrific read -- that's valuable. It's also valuable to know that a another reader found the writing a little too precious. These are honest responses. These are the notes behind the "notes." Critical notes try to couch impressions in more formal, didactic terms. You won't get the "it made me cry" or "I couldn't put it down."

    I don't know how writers paying for comments is going to affect the spontaneous or off-the-cuff nature of those comments going forward. Perhaps the readers will feel they need to offer more formal responses?

    Late Night Writer
    We anticipate that personal reactions will still be an element in the comments. Along with scores, those reactions are what let us know the degree of affection a reader has for any script.

    We're simply going to direct the readers to add a little more detail, a tad more content overall. Many readers have been doing exactly this for years. For some readers, it will simply mean writing an extra sentence or two and/or being more comprehensive in a discussion of a script's strengths and weaknesses.

    Leave a comment:


  • gregbeal
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by justin View Post
    I'm assuming, since comments can be purchased after scripts have been read and marked, that the extra detail will appear in the comments on all scripts whether comments have been purchased at the time of entry or not. Is this the case?
    Yes, that's true. Scripts will be treated as equally as possible throughout the competition - and will not be identified at any time to the readers as receiving or not receiving comments.

    Leave a comment:


  • LateNightWriter
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    I received comments sent to me by the Nicholl Administration on my Semifinalist screenplays last year and the year before. These were comments, not "notes." The comments were less about offering critical advice than about expressing what kind of impression the screenplays made on the reader.

    For me, this was fascinating. As writers, we all want to know how readers (especially contest readers) respond to our writing. To have contest readers say they were brought to tears, or that they found a screenplay to be a terrific read -- that's valuable. It's also valuable to know that a another reader found the writing a little too precious. These are honest responses. These are the notes behind the "notes." Critical notes try to couch impressions in more formal, didactic terms. You won't get the "it made me cry" or "I couldn't put it down."

    I don't know how writers paying for comments is going to affect the spontaneous or off-the-cuff nature of those comments going forward. Perhaps the readers will feel they need to offer more formal responses?

    Late Night Writer

    Leave a comment:


  • justin
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by gregbeal View Post
    Exactly - regarding reader comments rather than exhaustive notes.

    One difference for this year is that you would have received two additional reader comments (since your script was triple-read last year). And advancing to the quarterfinals means five-to-six reader comments.

    Plus, given the comment fee, we're going to require our readers to provide a little more detail in their comments.
    I'm assuming, since comments can be purchased after scripts have been read and marked, that the extra detail will appear in the comments on all scripts whether comments have been purchased at the time of entry or not. Is this the case?

    Just got some notes back on a script I thought was a sure thing for one of this year's Nicholl Fellowships - an emphatic PASS. Still, on the bright side, it's saved me wasting $40 and has given me another chance to get it right before the deadline. So, although I probably will end up buying at least one set of Nicholl comments, I still think notes prior to entry are a better investment if my tight budget means I have to choose one or other. (And before someone makes the comment that $40 is less than they leave as a tip in Starbucks, I will make the comment that $40 is more than I spend on food in a week - and, no, I don't live in the US!)

    Leave a comment:


  • gregbeal
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by justin View Post
    As Greg as pointed out, you do not get notes for the $40, only comments. I was fortunate enough to get one set of comments on a script that made the top 15% but didn't make the QFs. The reader clearly liked my script, and that was good to know, but the comments were of no practical help, since they were entirely positive. The comments from the readers who didn't like my script might have been useful (can't tell as I didn't receive them), but I think there's a danger entrants will feel let down if they are expecting notes rather than a few paragraphs of observations.
    Exactly - regarding reader comments rather than exhaustive notes.

    One difference for this year is that you would have received two additional reader comments (since your script was triple-read last year). And advancing to the quarterfinals means five-to-six reader comments.

    Plus, given the comment fee, we're going to require our readers to provide a little more detail in their comments.

    Leave a comment:


  • justin
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by LauriD View Post
    I'm astounded it's only 1/5. Only $40 for notes from at least two pro readers -- for the contest that matters most? That's a damn good deal.

    Do 80% of newbie screenwriters think they have nothing to learn from pro feedback, or are they just cheap?
    As Greg as pointed out, you do not get notes for the $40, only comments. I was fortunate enough to get one set of comments on a script that made the top 15% but didn't make the QFs. The reader clearly liked my script, and that was good to know, but the comments were of no practical help, since they were entirely positive. The comments from the readers who didn't like my script might have been useful (can't tell as I didn't receive them), but I think there's a danger entrants will feel let down if they are expecting notes rather than a few paragraphs of observations.

    Someone on this board was offering notes for $30 with a quick turn around time, but I've never used their service so can't say how good they are. Screenplayreaders will give good and quite lengthy notes for $80

    Leave a comment:


  • gregbeal
    replied
    Re: Nicholl 2015...

    Originally posted by stainjm View Post
    I'm confused - does this apply to our entries from last year, or do you pay when you enter the contest (so 2015 on)?
    From earlier in the thread:
    Originally posted by gregbeal View Post
    As noted in the earlier posts, one major change for 2015 is that the Nicholl competition is offering reader comments to all entrants. Selecting reader comments costs $40 per entry, is optional and will not affect an entry during the competition in any way.
    So, no, it doesn't apply to last year.

    Leave a comment:

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