Cowrite: In Association with Benderspink

Description

In association with respected management/production company Benderspink (A History of Violence, Just Friends, The Hangover) Cowrite is launching a truly innovative screenwriting competition open to aspiring writers and movie lovers everywhere. The contest will provide a unique opportunity to those who have always thought they could write a screenplay to play an essential role in a potential Hollywood blockbuster.

The idea behind the web-based Cowrite contest is to have writers throughout the country collaborate on a movie script based on a posted story premise. The script will be written in ten-page increments based on contestant submissions.

Every other week, the best ten-page script submission ($10 per 10 page entry) selected by the Cowrite judges will be added to the developing story until the script is finished and ready to be sold. There will be eleven winners over the six-month contest. Each winner will receive money and prizes totaling $3,000, a pitch meeting with Benderspink and a chance to win the grand prize of a paid rewrite of the script. All winners will also share in any potential script sale proceeds.

Another exciting aspect of the Cowrite website is the "Pro's Take" section where professional screenwriters and industry professionals will offer comments and suggestions on the developing story as well as insight into how to get started in Hollywood. This mentoring program will serve as an invaluable tool for aspiring screenwriters and help guide the story along. Guest mentors will include screenwriters Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center), Shintaro Shimosawa (The Echo) and Josh Schaer (TV's Jericho).

This is believed to be the first screenwriting competition where the end goal is to try to sell a collaborative movie script. In true Web 2.0 fashion, Cowrite utilizes social networking and the "wisdom of the crowd" to create a community-sourced product. Cowrite believes this method of art creation will become a widely accepted, and, in fact, sought out way of finding new talent while producing blueprints for major motion pictures. After all, what better market research tool for studios trying to figure out what audiences want to see at the theaters than letting the audiences provide the content?

Deadlines and Fees

Awards

Cowrite offers some of the most amazing prizes of any contest...and all for writing just a quick 10 pages!

Quick Cash: Each Cowrite winner will receive $2000 within two weeks of their submission being selected as a winner and posted

Benderspink Meeting: Each Cowrite winner will have a chance to pitch their movie ideas and scripts to Benderspink for possible representation

Industry Recognition: Each Weekly Winner will have his name and picture posted on the website

Grand Prize Paid Rewrite: 1 of the Cowrite winners will be selected to rewrite the Cowrite script for $5,000 and win a full Westwood Village pass to the 2009 LA Film Festival

Potential for More Money: Each Cowrite winner will receive a share of the proceeds for any potential script sale

Potential Onscreen Credit*: Each Cowrite screenwriter has the potential to receive onscreen credit in a major motion picture. (*Screenwriting credit will be determined by WGA for any produced film of a Cowrite script)

Great Sponsored Prizes: Each Cowrite winner will win Final Draft's Scriptwriters Suite, Jungle Software's Gorilla Pro and new Story O software, a 1 year subscription to Script Magazine, and 4 vouchers to the 2009 LA Film Festival

Formats

Screenplay - Feature

Genres

Action, Adventure, Comedy

Rules

Official Contest Rules and Conditions of Cowrite Screenwriting Contest

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED

Submissions which do not comply with these rules will not be considered.

Please read this document carefully and follow these directions prior to submitting your entries. If submitting with a writing partner, the reference to pronouns within this document shall apply to each party jointly and severally.

Submission fees:

- $10 per submission ($14 per extended deadline submission)
Each submission must be submitted electronically by the respective deadline date and include the following: (1) a submission of between 10-15 standard script pages (any script shorter or longer will not be considered) written in English,; (2) a submission form completely filled out (or accepted log-in), which indicates acceptance of terms and conditions; (3) submission fee.

1. This contest is open to all writers except WGA members and independent contractors, sponsors and associates affiliated with Cowrite and/or Benderspink. Writers under the age of 18 must have a parent's permission to submit.

2. Submissions must be submitted as a Microsoft Word/Works, Wordperfect, Final Draft, RTF or PDF file.

3. No indentifying information (name, address, email address, title) should be included on your submission.

4. Multiple entries per submission period are permissible, but must be accompanied by a separate submission fee. Collaborative work submitted by two writers is eligible. Collaborative work by three or more writers is not eligible. Both writing partners must be listed on the submission form. One collaborator must be designated the primary contact for all submissions. Cowrite will divide the prize money and other prizes equally for writing partners.

5. By entering the Cowrite contest, you acknowledge that contest judges receive numerous submissions of ideas, scenes, stories and scripts, and that your submission, and the ideas and stories embodied in it, may be similar or identical to other material received. You agree that you are not entitled to any compensation or credit for use of any such other material. Contest entrants must accept, without reservation, the decisions rendered by the judges.

6. Once a submission has been entered, no substitutions or new drafts or corrected pages will be considered. Entrants must retain at least one copy of the submitted material, and understand that all material we receive cannot and will not be returned under any circumstances.

7. All submissions must be the original work of the author(s) and not infringe on the copyright or other rights of other people. Content from work already assigned, sold or produced is not eligible.

8. By entering this contest and in the event you are declared a winner, you understand and accept that Cowrite will be free to use your name and likeness for advertising or promotional purposes without additional consideration. Winning entrants agree to supply, upon request, a picture and grant an interview to be posted on the website.

9. By entering the contest and accepting contest rules, Cowrite entrants agree and acknowledge that if entrant's submission is selected as a winner of any part of the contest, the submission as originally written or as edited and all rights thereto are automatically assigned to Cowrite, L.L.C as well as all rights to the content therein. A two thousand dollar payment will then be sent to the selected winner. Entrant further acknowledges that as part of said assignment, Cowrite has the right to use the submission as written or edited in the final script, post the submission as originally written, as edited or as part of the script on it's website, edit same and/or assign the winning submission and its content, as originally written or as edited as part of any final version of the script. Entrants who do not win retain all rights to their material but agree to allow Cowrite to post the submission as originally written or edited on the Cowrite website.

10. In the event of any sale or option of the Cowrite screenplay including your winning submission, then you acknowledge that 10% (ten percent) of the gross script sale consideration shall be paid by the purchaser to Cowrite as a representative's fee before any payments are made to winning Cowrite entrants. Cowrite winning entrants will divide equally the net proceeds of the script sale after customary expenses of management fees, agent fees, legal fees, etc.

11. Entrants may only win a maximum of 3 times although writers are free to submit all 11 submission periods and submit multiple entries for each writing period.

12. Submission fees will not be returned or adjusted. Cowrite is not responsible for any lost or late submissions.

13. Cowrite contest entrants agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Cowrite and its affiliates against all demands, claims, losses, damages, costs, liabilities, judgments, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising out of and in connection with all third party claims based on any materials submitted by entrant and not fully owned by entrant as acknowledged above to this competition.

14. If you are using a program or file that includes macros or codes, do not activate such macros or codes. If macros are included, or if a file or program contains or appears to contain malicious or other damaging code, Cowrite may, at its discretion, disqualify the submission.

Announcements

There will be a new winner every other week. All winners will have their name and photo posted on the website.

Discussion

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