"short script contest" Archives - Screenwriters' Workshop

September 23, 2020November 9, 2020

Screenwriters’ Workshop Newsletter for September 23, 2020

Join Us for Our First Ever “Wednesday Writing Workout” at 8:00 PM Tonight!

Karen Frank, facilitator of Second Sunday reading series

Tonight, Wednesday, September 23rd from 8:00-9:30 PM, Screenwriters’ Workshop will host an online workshop offering simple, fun writing exercises to keep you going and stretch your skills. Unlike a script group, you don’t have to share what you wrote, but you can discuss how it might affect your future work. 2020 McKnight Fellow in Media Arts Karen Frank will host the first session.

There is no need to sign-up for this first session, and there is no fee for this event. Join us at 8:00 PM on our programs link below:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/533859616?pwd=OWF5MTJkOFk3Y1Z4aHVVS0p1R3ZUdz09
Meeting ID: 533 859 616:
Call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Passcode: 848149

Congratulations to Our “Charlie Chaplin Challenge” Participants and Winner!
We had six writers participating in our “Charlie Chaplin Challenge” for short scripts that have ten lines of dialogue or less. The quality of these entries were excellent and were brilliant examples of visual storytelling.

The entries were:

“The Balcony of Dread”–about a sickly old man searching through his memories.
“One Egg or Two”–telling of a man vs. chicken struggle for peace.
“The Story of My Life”–based on a poem by Raymond Carver by Dick.
“Backyard”–the story of growing up told through through the metaphor of a backyard.
“Dreamsicle”–a young boy’s story of connection with his parents.
“Pain”–bout an artist, struggling to make a living.

The winner of the Screenwriters’ Workshop tee-shirt was “Dreamsicle” by Karen Frank. Thank you to all who entered. Please join us for our next script challenge…

The Halloween Short Script Challenge
If you missed our short Charlie Chaplin Challenge, please consider our Halloween Short Script Challenge. Please follow the rules of our contest as outlined on the website (10 page, 4 character maximum, must be a member of SWW, etc…), writing a short film that is Halloween themed. While this could mean hour or ghost stories, it could also include Halloween themed comedies and dramas. Scripts must be received no later than midnight on October 15th, and scripts will be read and voted on online on Sunday, October 25th at 6:30 PM.

The winner of this challenge will be able to choose between a Screenwriters’ Workshop tee-shirt or our Haunted Typewriter Halloween decoration (see above). Also, on the 25th we will have bonus prizes for those who show up in costume or have Halloween themed virtual background.

Mini Calendar Through the End of 2020
In addition to Saturday Script Groups, Sunday Script Group, and 2nd Sunday Script Readings, see below for a list of SWW events through the end of the year:

Wednesday, September 23rd—”Wednesday Workouts” pilot 8:00-9:30 PM
Friday, October 9th—Five “For Love or Money” Script winners reading online
Thursday, October 15th—Halloween Short Script Challenge DEADLINE
Saturday, October 17th—SWW Board Meeting Online, 3 :00 PM
October 25th—Halloween Short Script Challenge Reading, 6:30 PM
Week of November 16-21st—Annual Meeting, specific date dependent on speaker availability
December—regular events only

Except for the Saturday morning script group, all online events are available at:

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/533859616?pwd=OWF5MTJkOFk3Y1Z4aHVVS0p1R3ZUdz09
Meeting ID: 533 859 616:
Call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Passcode: 848149

Don’t forget to FALL into your writing!

August 9, 2020November 9, 2020

Screenwriters’ Workshop Newsletter for August 9, 2020

Gene Tsao (center, in cherry red T-shirt) with others from the Sunday Script Group in 2017

Don’t Miss Gene Tsao’s 2nd Sunday Script Reading Tonight
Tonight’s 2nd Sunday Script Reading will be of an episode of his made for TV script for Europol: Urban Operations, Season 1, Episode 8, “Sicily.” The series is about a happily married mother of two who leads a group of young paramilitary agents to catch spies, corrupt ministers, terrorism financiers, and leaders of organized crime all over the EU. Join us for an action-packed evening.

Congratulations to Our “For Love or Money” Short Script Contest Winners
With the pandemic afoot, it has taken the board awhile to announce the winners of the “For Love or Money” Short Script Contest. After all, the prize was a public reading of the script at a theater, and nobody wants a bonus prize of COVID-19. Rather than wait around, the group decided to offer the winners an online reading with hired actors but kick in a $25 bonus, because, well, online just isn’t the same as live. Since this was our first “reverse fee contest,” all who submitted a script will receive $5 as our fee to you for your writing efforts.

(Drum roll!) The winners are (in no particular order):

“The Finder of Lost Things” by John Gigrich
“The Day the Box Arrived” by Daniel Polsfuss
“Albert Wants a Shirt” by Tiffa Foster
“The Road Home” by KT Perleberg
“Caveat Emptor” by Kelly Lamphear-Dash

Still Time for Our Charlie Chaplin Short Script Challenge
If you haven’t started your short script for the Charlie Chaplin Challenge, there’s still time! These scripts are due on August 15th at midnight. Please follow the rules of our contest as outlined on the website (10 page, 4 character maximum, must be a member of SWW, etc…), writing a short film with no more than ten lines of dialogue. Scripts must be received no later than midnight on August 15th, and scripts will be read and voted on online on Sunday, August 30th at 6:30 PM. Happy writing!

Stay tuned to the newsletter for details on our next short script challenge for Halloween.

New Pilot Program in Fall—The Wednesday Writing Workout

Need a little extra push to get through hump day? On Wednesday, September 23rd from 8:00-9:30 PM, Screenwriters’ Workshop will host an online workshop offering simple, fun writing exercises to keep you going and stretch your skills. Unlike a script group, you don’t have to share what you wrote, but you can discuss how it might affect your future work. Since it may involve breakout rooms, you will need to sign-up in advance. A free will offering is encouraged. 2020 McKnight Fellow in Media Arts Karen Frank will host the first session. Stay tuned for further details and sign-up.

Mini Calendar Through the End of 2020
In addition to Saturday Script Groups, Sunday Script Group, and 2nd Sunday Script Readings, see below for a list of SWW events through the end of the year:

Sunday, August 15th—Charlie Chaplin Challenge Deadline at midnights
Sunday, August 30th—Reading and voting on Charlie Chaplin short script winners, 6:30 PM
Wednesday, September 23rd—”Wednesday Workouts” pilot 8:00-9:30 PM
Friday, October 9th—Five “For Love or Money” Script winners reading online
Thursday, October 15th—Halloween Short Script Challenge DEADLINE
Saturday, October 17th—SWW Board Meeting Online, 3 :00 PM
October 25th—Halloween Short Script Challenge Reading, 6:30 PM
Week of November 16-21st—Annual Meeting, specific date dependent on speaker availability
December—regular events only

Except for the Saturday morning script group, all online events are available at:

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/533859616?pwd=OWF5MTJkOFk3Y1Z4aHVVS0p1R3ZUdz09
Meeting ID: 533 859 616:
Call in: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Passcode: 848149

Keep working on your script. It’s the wright thing to do!

January 31, 2012December 17, 2018

2012 Script-to-Screen Round 3 Results

SwW’s three judges have chosen three semi-finalists for the January round of the 2011-2012 Script-to-Screen short script contest with the theme “fore for four.”
A TABLE FOR FOUR by May Chaplin
LEFT TURN by Patty McDonald
WHAT FORE FOR FOUR? by Charlie McAnulty
In addition to the above, the semi-finalists from rounds one and two are:
“before eight ate:”
MRS. VAN HOPPER’S TEA PARTY by Al Easter
TOMMY’S TEA TIME by Randy Holland
WHAT YOU CAN SEE by David C.C. Erickson
“after one won:”
AND THE WINNER IS by May Chaplin
ESCALATION by David Erickson
THE LAST BUS RIDE by Deanna Perchyshyn
All the semi-finalist scripts will be posted for members to read and vote on their favorite.
By early February, the judges will narrow down the 9 semi-finalists to 3 finalists. SwW next sends these 3 finalists’ scripts to IFP-MN as a part of its “Fresh Filmmakers Production Contest” where directors hoping to win the contest will pitch on the scripts they hope to film and ONE director will win his or her choice of ONE of the three finalists’ scripts, which will then be filmed over the Summer. Therefore, in the end, only ONE filmed script will be SwW’s 2012 Script-to-Screen winner and the other TWO will be runners-up.