At least 2 winners every single month. Watch recent and past winners:
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Recent Testimonials from past writers who submitted to the festival:
Thank you. This feedback was exactly what I needed to know where I stood. I just wanted to try and convert it into a script, and I will be making the necessary revisions to it.
– Melissa R. Mendelson, TV Spec Screenplay
Probably the best and most informative feedback I have ever gotten for this! Thank you so much I’ve been trying to figure out what isn’t quite right with the script – the notes make complete sense! Thank you again, now I know what to do to tighten it up
– Tania Penn, TV Pilot
Thank you so much for reading my script and for your feedback. This is very valuable information and I would love to rewrite and resubmit. –…
n the pilot, we meet our hero Petey and her friends. Petey has to deal with training this guy who broke her heart. Her best friend, Leya, has to prepare an assignment while on her shift. We get sucked into this bizarre Twilight Zone that is work-study. It’s like a half-step between being a kid and an adult because you’re balancing school and work. When you’re a kid, school is always supposed to come first. When you’re an adult, other than your family, work is top priority. The pilot introduces us to that world.
Script Titled: Chrysanthemum. In the 80’s a computer whiz and former army buddy of Magnum’s, fakes his own death to stop the theft of a then state of he art super computer. .
This is most excellent. I loved the thorough feedback, and some of the fixes or easy and some require a little more thinking but regardless, I’m glad to be getting your feedback. – David Baugnon, (The Messiah Project)
Thank you for your encouraging words and for this great chance you are giving me. If I had to rate your feedback, I would give it 110 over 100 !! In fact, it is thanks to your previous feedback that I was able to improve this piece: even when they are harsh, your comments are always constructive, thorough and motivating. – Maroun Rached, (Elan Vital)
I really appreciate the detailed feedback, it is very encouraging and gives me very specific things to improve upon. – Rochelle Blissett-Miller, (Axiom – Source)
That’s the most useful feedback I have received. Certainly understand the issues you brought forth. – Andrew Vestrand, (On the Nut)
These notes are very helpful in my advancing this piece and as a new writer I am extremely pleased with the generally positive reinforcement here. – R. Christian Frostholm (Consequences)
This feedback is clear, and very helpful. I will work on it and resubmit, much appreciated. – Jamie Aderski (The F Factor)
Thank you for the extremely useful feedback on my script Digital Natives. – Adam Preston (Digital Natives)
Thank you for the feedback to my script “Father Flanagan”. I was very excited to get this valuable tool and you did not disappoint! – Chris Beatty (Father Flanagan)
I greatly appreciate the time and effort from you and all of the actors involved. It was really something seeing a reading of my work. – Seregon O’Dassey (Absynthia)
Thank you for your feedback and notes. This is very constructive. I agree to reduce the number of characters. They can be brought out in specific episodes. – Tomas Stanley (Pocono Heaven Lodge)
In the pilot, we meet our hero Petey and her friends. Petey has to deal with training this guy who broke her heart. Her best friend, Leya, has to prepare an assignment while on her shift. We get sucked into this bizarre Twilight Zone that is work-study. It’s like a half-step between being a kid and an adult because you’re balancing school and work. When you’re a kid, school is always supposed to come first. When you’re an adult, other than your family, work is top priority. The pilot introduces us to that world. We also get to see Petey make an adult decision in how she handles Ryan, this guy she slept with last year. She can be petty or she can be professional, that’s where this decision-making comes into play again.
In the pilot, we meet our hero Petey and her friends. Petey has to deal with training this guy who broke her heart. Her best friend, Leya, has to prepare an assignment while on her shift. We get sucked into this bizarre Twilight Zone that is work-study. It’s like a half-step between being a kid and an adult because you’re balancing school and work. When you’re a kid, school is always supposed to come first. When you’re an adult, other than your family, work is top priority. The pilot introduces us to that world. We also get to see Petey make an adult decision in how she handles Ryan, this guy she slept with last year. She can be petty or she can be professional, that’s where this decision-making comes into play again.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a TV show?
I think it’s important to show black girls getting to be silly and have fun. Just about all the media surrounding black women is very serious and intense. It feels like we’re expected to grow up faster than everyone else. There really is no Broad City or Two Broke Girls for us. Why can’t we have crazy shenanigans and learn from our stupid mistakes? I feel like it would be refreshing and maybe a little therapeutic for us to get a show where we’re just living life and no one is getting murdered or having extramarital affairs and all that other heavy stuff.
3. This story has a lot going for it. How would you describe this script in two words?
Millennial shenanigans.
4. What TV show do you keep watching over and over again?
There are very few shows I can watch over and over but Bob’s Burgers is so fun that I can just chill out and watch it while I’m having a meal, even if I’ve seen the episode before. I can’t even do that with some of my other favorite shows because I usually can’t stand seeing re-runs.
5. This is a very tight, emotionally engaging and fun screenplay. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Conceptually? Since my first year of college, which started in 2010. This is semi-autobiographical and some of the characters really aren’t too far off base from the people who inspired them. My Freshman year roommate and I both worked at the Rec Center and there were so many unique personalities we loved to lampoon that we were like, “This could be a show!” The first time I put anything down on the page was last year.
6. How many stories have you written?
So many. I’ve been writing since I was a kid. As far screenplays that I consider ready-to-sell, I have one pilot, two features and a short. But I’ve got countless other things in various stages of completion.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
This was actually meant to be my entry for the HBOAccess Writing Fellowship last year, but the submissions capped before I could send it in.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Time. Before I decided to move to California to pursue screenwriting full-time, I was emotionally sapped from my day job. Finding the energy to get something on the page was the hardest part.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I care a lot about activism, social justice. I really enjoy any opportunity to mentor and teach people, especially when it comes to screenwriting.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I actually did the First Scene festival not too long and my scene got picked. I loved the festival’s style of feedback, and the entry fees are very reasonable. I figured I’d try my luck again.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
I like to say, “Write a script you could marry.” That’s how I answered this question when Loveless was picked, but I realized that was extremely vague. What I meant was, find a story that means so much to you that you have to tell it no matter what. No matter how many re-writes, no matter how long you’ve had writer’s block. Write a story that you’ll be willing to work on as long as it takes.
In this spec of ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’ Kimmy quickly becomes addicted to an iPad game. As she discovers she unknowingly made in-app purchases, she has to find a creative way to pay her debts. Meanwhile, Titus battles his own obsession and Jacqueline struggles with her need to be accepted by Xan.
I’ve been trying to figure out what isn’t quite right with the script – the notes make complete sense! Thank you again, now I know what to do to tighten it up
