Nicholl 2015...

[stainjm]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

I'm confused - does this apply to our entries from last year, or do you pay when you enter the contest (so 2015 on)?

[LauriD]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

A tad early to say the least, but right now reader comments are about 1/5 of entries.

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?

[P-jay]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

The Nicholl comments posted can be found here:

http://theblackboard.blcklst.com/for...ip-notes-2014/

[JoeBanks]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Greg:

Let's cut to the chase. How much would it cost to disqualify everyone who writes better than me?

If you have to ask the price . . .

[AE35-Unit]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Greg:

Let's cut to the chase. How much would it cost to disqualify everyone who writes better than me?

I could go $830 and throw in (maybe) a Craftsman lawn tractor if you're interested. I swear to God I won't say anything. Just think about it. -- K?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to winning.

[gregbeal]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Yes, always hard to know what will happen when you try something new. I think the principle of making the entry fees cover the reading costs is a fair one, so I would have raised the entry fees enough to do this, then added an additional amount to cover the development/admin cost of providing the notes.

People who didn't want notes could then have checked a box to opt out of them and get a small discount on the total fee. I think this would have resulted in a very hight take up rate, but who knows?

We didn't want to add $20 to each entry fee level, which is probably what it would have been. We decided that the default should be the competition, with reader comments as an extra.

We'd rather entrants be pro-active to select reader comments rather than to select opt-out. Plus comments can easily be added later, whereas returning comments fees later would have meant individual credit card processing per late opt-out. Or wouldn't have been allowed, which would result in some disgruntled entrants ("But I didn't seen the opt-out choice").

No matter what, this is a trial year - and things could change in the future.

[stainjm]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Sounds like a good deal to me... Now if only I could make QF in Nicholl. Always get the 2 positive read thing, but not the next step.

[justin]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Yes, always hard to know what will happen when you try something new. I think the principle of making the entry fees cover the reading costs is a fair one, so I would have raised the entry fees enough to do this, then added an additional amount to cover the development/admin cost of providing the notes.

People who didn't want notes could then have checked a box to opt out of them and get a small discount on the total fee. I think this would have resulted in a very hight take up rate, but who knows?

[gregbeal]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

I was surprised at the $40 charge for the notes as I'd understood the charge was to cover admin costs. If everyone bought the notes it would raise over $300,000 - which would buy a heck of a lot of admin.

Presumably, since Nichol is not for profit, the money raised will go into the pot to allow entry fees to be kept down - though I notice that these have actually increased over last year. Was the assumption in setting the $40 charge that most people wouldn't opt to receive notes, meaning that the admin charge had to be spread over fewer people? If so, will it be reviewed in the light of this year's experience?

My guess is, even at $40, over half the entrants will buy the notes; but I'll spend the money on getting coverage on my scripts before I enter them.

(This was posted before the posting from Greg Beal directly above had appeared)

Yes, it will be reviewed (and I actually argued for a lower fee, but after we crunched all the numbers with estimated comment purchases, we ended up at 40).

A tad early to say the least, but right now reader comments are about 1/5 of entries. That would cover reader costs but not sure that it would cover the database/application development costs.

[UpandComing]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Being a non-profit, we're not much good at monetizing. Last year, entry fees averaged just under $53 per submission. Per entry direct reader costs alone averaged more than that. We're hoping to break even on reader costs, plus cover the database enhancement expense that allows us to share the comments with entrants.

While it's true that comments will not be shared for free with quarter/semi/finalists, it is possible to add comments at any time (probably until December 30). If an entrant were to reach the quarters and know that five-to-six comments were available, she could pay the $40 comment fee at that point.

Noted. And good to know about the lengthy timeframe for adding comments - thanks!

[justin]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

I was surprised at the $40 charge for the notes as I'd understood the charge was to cover admin costs. If everyone bought the notes it would raise over $300,000 - which would buy a heck of a lot of admin.

Presumably, since Nichol is not for profit, the money raised will go into the pot to allow entry fees to be kept down - though I notice that these have actually increased over last year. Was the assumption in setting the $40 charge that most people wouldn't opt to receive notes, meaning that the admin charge had to be spread over fewer people? If so, will it be reviewed in the light of this year's experience?

My guess is, even at $40, over half the entrants will buy the notes; but I'll spend the money on getting coverage on my scripts before I enter them.

(This was posted before the posting from Greg Beal directly above had appeared)

[gregbeal]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Hey Greg, thanks for sharing this information. I think it's smart for you guys to monetize this service given the amount of time and effort involved.

One question -- does this mean that people who make it to the Quarters/Semis/Finals will no longer automatically get reader comments? So, if I opt not to pay the $40, and I make it to the Quarters, tough luck?

Being a non-profit, we're not much good at monetizing. Last year, entry fees averaged just under $53 per submission. Per entry direct reader costs alone averaged more than that. We're hoping to break even on reader costs, plus cover the database enhancement expense that allows us to share the comments with entrants.

While it's true that comments will not be shared for free with quarter/semi/finalists, it is possible to add comments at any time (probably until December 30). If an entrant were to reach the quarters and know that five-to-six comments were available, she could pay the $40 comment fee at that point.

[Furious Anjel]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

I believe a number of Done Dealers posted their reader comments last year (perhaps in 2013 as well). The 2015 reader comments will resemble those.

Wasn't there a Nicholl reader comments vs. Black List notes challenge somewhere? - perhaps posted on Go Into The Story or The Black Board. That would offer another opportunity to see what some 2014 Nicholl reader comments looked like.

As stated every day, the posts on the Nicholl Facebook page were excerpts drawn from complete reader comments.

At some point in the future, we'll probably post some sample reader comments, most likely drawn from 2014 submissions.

Ah... my mistake. Thanks for clearing it up.

[UpandComing]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

Hey Greg, thanks for sharing this information. I think it's smart for you guys to monetize this service given the amount of time and effort involved.

One question -- does this mean that people who make it to the Quarters/Semis/Finals will no longer automatically get reader comments? So, if I opt not to pay the $40, and I make it to the Quarters, tough luck?

[gregbeal]

Re: Nicholl 2015...

One more reader comment item:

Every entrant who selects to see reader comments will receive at least two. Some entrants will be able see from three to six comments, depending upon their advancement.