Is All About

The basic fact about the television business is that in order to get into it you, the writer, must have at least 3 great spec episodes written for existing shows. These episodes are your calling cards. They demonstrate that you have what it takes to write "on assignment." In other words, they show that your writing can meet the demands of a show's individual (we would never say "peculiar") style. As more writers work on spec scripts, the competition between them for Industry attention increases. That's why TV Writer.Com has decided to step into the fray with the Spec Scriptacular Competition. In the proverbial nutshell, TV Writer.Com aims to help you get your spec episodes, pilots, and even MOWs read by those who can buy or hire you - by giving your work the ultimate validity short of having been professionally produced. That validity is a Contest Win. The Spec Scriptacular has three categories - Sitcom, Action/Drama and Pilot/MOW/Special. The Sitcom category is for spec episodes of current (or very recent) broadcast and cable network sicoms, which are usually (but not necessarily) half-hour shows. The Action/Drama category is for spec episodes of current (or very recent) broadcast and cable network action or dramatic shows - including sci-fi shows, medical shows, cop shows, lawyer shows, dramedies, et al. These are usually one-hour shows, but this is also the proper category in which to enter any current half-hour action or drama series. The Pilot/MOW/Special category is for pilots of any length that you have written for your own prospective series regardless of genre, for any and all original spec TV movies, and for any and all original spec specials regardless of length. The People's Pilot has shown us that many of you have already written or are eager to write pilots for your own ideas. This is the contest and category in which to enter those pilots. The late, lamented People's Picture Show has shown us that many of you have already written or are writing feature screenplays that can fit into the MOW mold. This is the contest and category in which to enter those screenplays. Tips To Remember If you're writing a sitcom spec tell a good story and BE FUNNY. If you're writing a one-hour drama or action show remember that even the "softest" show is STORY-DRIVEN. Keep your scenes short and pack in as many twists and turns as you can in the appropriate page count. Regardless of whether you're writing a sitcom or an action/drama, always keep in mind that your intended reader is not the showrunner of that specific show but of another, similar show. The showrunner is looking for GOOD WRITING, so it's your job to shore up the weaknesses of the series you've chosen. Stick to the format but make it BETTER where you can. If you're writing a pilot, combine your "origin" or series backstory with a typical episode of what the series will be. If you're writing a pilot, make sure that your characters are clearly defined and interesting enough for us to want to see week after week. If you're writing a pilot, don't forget to DESCRIBE THINGS. No one's ever seen this show before so don't be afraid to take a few lines here and there to tell us about the characters and the sets. Paint a word picture so the reader can better understand your series concept. If you're writing a TV movie, think "HIGH CONCEPT." Base your screenplay on a simple logline. Present hot issues in which the viewing public will be interested. If you're writing a TV movie, remember that the television audience is not the same as the film-going audience. Juvenile humor is OUT. Gratuitous sex is OUT. Meaningless action and violence are OUT. (We know what you're going to say, so let's qualify that - deliberately meaningless action and violence are out. What's in? Intelligence, believe it or not. The TV movies that get commissioned or sold are ABOUT SOMETHING. Yours should be too. We at TV Writer.Com always try to be honest with you, our loyal visitors. We want you to know that the bottom line reason we're holding this Competition is simply this: WE BELIEVE IN YOU What Series Are Eligible? TV Writer.Com is proud to say that teleplays from all current and recent series airing in all English-speaking countries now are eligible for the Spec Scriptacular. This means series airing on U.S. broadcast and cable networks, Canadian broadcast and cable networks, United Kingdom broadcast and cable networks, Australian broadcast and cable networks, South African broadcast and cable networks, and in first run syndication in the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia and South Africa. To make certain that Canadian, UK, Australian and South African series are judged properly we have added judges who are executives at the BBC, producers of Canadian shows, and both judges and producers at South Africa's SABC networks. These execs know the shows and their proper formats the way our U.S.-based judges cannot. Just one more reason why, if you're going to enter only one contest this year, the Spec Scriptacular is the one. Some Final Suggestions Your script should look as much like the script from the series you've written it for as possible. Don't forget the title page! Register your work. TV Writer.Com recommends the WGA and WriteSafe. WriteSafe gets the edge from us because they're less expensive than the WGA and have a snazzy contest that's free to everyone who posts their work there publicly! (We also have to tell you it's part of the TV Writer.Com corporate family...because we believe so strongly in what it's doing.) PERSONAL FEEDBACK is also available for those who want it. This Feedback is Larry Brody's personal evaluation of your work and your chances of scoring with it in the Industry. Any questions? E-mail us HERE! Two SPEC SCRIPTACULAR competitions are being held each year. One runs from August 1 to December 1. The other runs from February 1 to June 1. THE CURRENT CONTEST CLOSES JUNE 1, 2005!