The Screenwriting Challenge is back and will begin on July 1st!
Thanks to all of you who took the survey, I have made some modifications to this year’s challenge to make it even better. To those of you who are new, don’t worry! Everything is explained below.
What is the Screenwriting Challenge?
This is a (free) online challenge in which participants will create an original screenplay from the bottom up, starting with brainstorming ideas and ending with a complete first draft. Each week, participants will submit an assignment that works toward this end goal.
This year, due to popular demand, participants will write a short film screenplay in seven weeks.
General Requirements
- Anyone with any level of experience can participate.
- Your completed script must be 30 pages or less (preferably less). Quantity does not equal quality!
- You must submit each weekly assignment if you want to be eligible for the prize. (See below for submission details.)
- Your finished script must be in the proper format. You can use any software you want (even Word). There are lots of free options.
How to submit
- You can submit via tumblr or email. For tumblr, submit a picture. For email, send a document, picture, or pdf to 2ndratefilmschool@gmail.com.
- If you submit every week, you will receive a prize from me and, more importantly, you will have a completed script for your portfolio.
*If you don’t submit every week, you won’t be eligible for the prize. However, please feel free to still submit, participate, and/or ask for feedback. (This includes latecomers as well!) If you are having trouble, message me and we can possibly work out an extension.
Prizes
While the main point of this challenge is to have a completed script, I also want to give a little extra reward to those who finish the entire challenge. I will make a promotional post for each participant who completes the challenge. You can promote your blog, website, and one creative project of your choice (script, film, artwork, etc.)
Feedback
Individual Feedback
- I will provide in-depth feedback for each stage of the challenge. For each week you want feedback, you must indicate in your submission that you would like it.
- It will take me 2-4 days to get back to you with feedback so the earlier you submit, the sooner I will get back to you. Weekly participants have top priority for feedback, but I will give feedback to everyone who asks.
Group Feedback
Currently, this blog runs an online chat workshop called Coffee Shop Critiques via Discord. Participants are encouraged to take part in this group to get feedback from fellow writers. I am also on this chat and will give extra feedback there as well.
Weekly Breakdown
Start Date: July 1 at 12:00am (CT)
End Date: Aug. 18 at 11:59pm (CT)Below is the topic/assignment for each week. At the start of every week, I will post an in-depth description of each assignment, as well as examples and resources to help you compete each section.
- Week 1: Brainstorming (Optional prompts given)
- Week 2: Preliminary Outline
- Week 3: Treatment
- Week 4: Step Outline
- Week 5: Act 1
- Week 6: Act 2
- Week 7: Completed First Draft + Feedback