Rules

  • This contest is open to anyone except all employees, directors, associates, and immediate families of the TABLE READ MY SCREENPLAY - Screenplay Contest.
  • Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and entry fee.
  • • Once material has been entered, no substitutions of new drafts or corrections will be considered past 24 hours from original submission time and date. You may submit a revised logline or screenplay as a new submission as many times as you like, but you must fill in an entry form and pay the appropriate entry fee.
  • Adaptations from other works are permissible provided you have the writer's written permission to adapt the work.
  • Adaptations of works in the public domain are permissible.
  • Collaborative work is eligible; the writers are responsible for the distribution of the contest prize(s).
  • Writers under the age of 18 years old must have parent’s permission to participate.
  • Contest applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the judges.
  • The work or submitted material must not have been previously produced for profit.
  • Writer understands and accepts without reservation that he/she is an independent contractor and that the contest administrators are not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments to any government agency, at any level, be it state, local or federal.
  • Writer understands that it is his/her sole responsibility to register material with the U.S. Copyright Office and/or with the Writers Guild of America West or the appropriate agency in his/her country.
  • You must retain at least one copy of the submitted material, and you understand that all material we receive cannot and will not be returned under any circumstances.
  • Recommended length of your work:
    Feature - (70 -140 pages), Shorts – (1 - 40 pages), TV Pilots – 60 pages
  • All entries must be received by Final Deadline. TRMS reserves the right to extend the contest deadline up to 90 days.
  • During the first round of judging, only the first 15-20 pages of the submitted script will be judged to determine the top 100 screenplays.
  • TRMS is not responsible for late or lost submissions.
  • Contestants may submit their screenplay to any other person, contest, producer, agent, publisher, and/or organization.
  • • If a screenplay is submitted for feedback and is over 140 pages, an additional fee of $2 per page will apply and the contestant will be contacted and billed separately for the extra, or only the first 140 pages will be read.
  • Contestants retain all rights to their screenplay, subject to the terms and agreements contained herein.
  • TRMS will only accept your submission if you assure us that to the best of your knowledge you are the sole originator of the idea and that you have the legal right to submit it for judging to TRMS.
  • You understand that your logline and or screenplay will be reviewed by our employees and/or our panel of Industry Judges for evaluation. You also understand that any one of these employees or judges may have been or may be exploring ideas similar to yours and you hereby waive any claim that TRMS, its employees or judges may have misappropriated any ideas or portions of your submission logline or script.
  • No agreement for compensation, other than the TRMS prizes, has been implied.
  • TRMS agrees that your work is protected and we have no intention of distributing it for our own benefit. We do, however intend to submit the TOP 100 to respected producers with your permission, which will be granted upon clicking the 'I have Read and Understand the Contest Rules' button. You can withdraw from this process at any time.
  • When your screenplay, application, and payment have all been received, you will be notified by E-mail only. Please provide an appropriate email address. If your email address changes, it is your responsibility to let us know.
  • By entering this contest and in the event you are declared a TOP 100 finalist, you understand and accept that we will be free to use your name and likeness for advertising or promotional purposes without additional consideration.
  • If you are the GRAND PRIZE Winner, 2nd or 3rd Place overall winner, you agree to give TRMS permission to post your video or audio 'Table Read' on its web site.
  • All contest participants understand and agree with the following:
  • TRMS reserves the right to award a cash prize, at its discretion. A Grand Prize Winner is under no obligation to accept the associated prizes but will not be awarded or owed a cash replacement upon electing not to move forward with prizes offered.
  • Some TRMS contests award prizes in the SHORTS category but SHORTS do not always qualify for the Grand Prize.
  • TRMS may develop a series or documentary style program based on the inner workings of the contest and the production resulting there from. TRMS reserves the right to contact contestants with offers to participate in any such production. Contestants are under no obligation to participate therein.
  • TRMS has the right to change the prizes at any time, without notice, and/or substitute prizes of equal or lesser value.
  • There are NO REFUNDS on any entries or feedback for any reason.

FAQ's

Q: Why should I enter this contest?
A: Because your incredible talent will win you a trip to the AUSTIN Film Festival, complete with a Producer’s Badge permitting you to attend the Screenwriters Conference panels, movies, exclusive events and parties while rubbing elbows with some of the industry’s top entertainment professionals. It’s one of the best places an up-and-coming screenwriter like yourself can network in the U.S.! Best of all, you will get to have your screenplay table read at the festival by professional actors! This is the opportunity of a lifetime!

Q: How do I enter?
A: Complete the form on the SUBMIT ENTRY page.

Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: Paypal and all major credit cards.

Q: Can I mail a copy of my Screenplay, Submission Form and Payment?
A: No, we're sorry. We only accept online submissions and payments at this time.

Q: Should I include my contact information on my title page?
A: Yes. It does not affect judging either way if you forget to include it.

Q: Who will be reading my screenplay/judging the contest?
A: The final panel of judges will be comprised of members of the Los Angeles and Chicago Film Communities, including numerous producers and established writers.

Q: Will you fly me to Austin, Texas during the AUSTIN Film Festival if I win?
A: The respective GRAND PRIZE winner(s) will receive coach airfare and hotel accommodations resulting in a five-night stay.

Q: When will my ‘Table Read’ be scheduled?
A: It will be during the 2013 AUSTIN Film Festival in October. We will work with the winner to determine an ideal date to the best of our ability. If the final date as selected by TRMS does not work for the winner, TRMS will not provide any cash value matching for the non-accepted airfare and hotel expenses turned down by the winner. We will be as flexible as possible, but the ultimate decision resides solely with TRMS.

Q: How will I participate in the ‘Table Read’?
A: You sit back and relax, watch and listen as Professional actors perform your characters.

Q: I heard that Alvaro Rodriguez might be narrating my screenplay, do my chances of winning improve if I’ve written in his favorite genre?
A: Alvaro is not a judge for the contest, but he may be narrating and giving you notes. Plus, he actually loves ALL genres. We are looking for the BEST screenplay, and it doesn’t matter what genre the winner comes from.

Q: Is this contest associated with the AUSTIN Film Festival?
A: No, this is just an exciting place for any writer/filmmaker to attend. If you've never been to the Festival we can't urge you enough to go. It's an experience you'll never forget!

Q: Who will I meet at the festival?
A: That is totally up to you. We can't guarantee you'll directly meet the people who will change your career. If you're at the festival, we can guarantee, however with help of the Producers Badge you will receive, at some point in time whether at the conference or during one of the exclusive parties you may be standing right next to a person who could change your career. You've just got to mix and mingle. Learn more about the opportunities of AFF here.

Q: Do I maintain the rights to my screenplay?
A: Absolutely YES, you retain all the rights to your screenplay!

Q: Do I need to submit a Synopsis?
A: No.

Q: Can I submit a screenplay under a pen name?
A: Yes.

Q: Does my screenplay have to be registered?
A: No, but we do recommend registering your work with the WGA West and/or the Library of Congress Copyright office. It's really easy and a VERY smart thing to do.

Q: Do you accept TV Pilots, Web Series or Short screenplays?
A: Yes.

Q: Can Shorts win the GRAND PRIZE?
A:Yes, there is a Short Grand Prize and a Feature/Pilot Grand Prize.

Q: What's the minimum/maximum required page length?
A: Feature - (70 -140 pages), Shorts – (1 - 40 pages) , TV Pilots – 60 pages

Q: Does genre matter in my submission?
A: Yes, after the two Grand Prize winners, the other top 8 are judged based on the best in its genre, as well as the best short and best pilot.

Q: What genres do you accept?
A: All genres are welcome, but not all have their own category to enter. When submitting, please choose the genre category that BEST suits your screenplay!

Q: Can I submit my screenplay in multiple categories?
A: Yes, you can. Each time you submit in each category, you will have to pay the entry fee.

Q: If I make the TOP 100 what elements of the screenplay are taken into consideration during the judging?
A: We are looking for Originality, Story, Dialogue, Description and use and strength of Characters, scripts with their own true voice.

Q: I don't live in the United States; am I still eligible?
A: Yes, but all submissions MUST BE IN ENGLISH!

Q: What happens if I don't live in the United States but win the GRAND PRIZE, will you still pay for my flight?
A: TRMS will only cover a domestic flight at this time. If you live outside the U.S. you will be given the cash equivalent of a domestic flight to apply towards your international flight.

Q: Is an adaptation of a published novel (by somebody else) eligible?
A: You must have the legal rights to adapt the book to enter your screenplay.

Q: Can I make a change to a submission?
A: No. Once you enter, you cannot make changes.

Q: What stops you from taking my idea and developing it yourself?
A: Our panel of judges is comprised of respected industry professionals, and they have no intention of stealing your material. They're actually hoping to find new talent to work with. If you make it to the TOP 100, your work will be seen by these professionals, which in turn gets you one step closer to getting your screenplay produced. You can sit at home and protect your ideas all day long hoping for that one right person to come along. Or you can get your work out there and show us what you've got!