Skip to main content

Free Feedback. Industry Jury.

TV is where it’s at. Seriously. There were over 400 scripted series last year. That’s a lot of pages of TV that need to be written. And that’s why we want to find the best undiscovered TV writers out there.

We know you’re out there – with awesome ideas and pilots. And not only do WeScreenplay competitions have a history of getting writers signed and staffed, but every single entrant gets written feedback from a professional reader.

Plus, check out our industry jury below: three lit managers and a showrunner! These folks can get a TV writing career off the ground, provide invaluable mentorship, and share the knowledge on what it takes to get a pilot turned into a show.

What’re you waiting for?

SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED – THE 2021 COMPETITION OPENS MAY 15th!

Thank you to everyone who entered. We’re reading all of the entries now. If you’d like updates on next year’s TV competition, just click here.

Get Updates

Deadlines and Fees

Early Bird Deadline – June 15th, 2020 – $49.99
Regular Deadline – July 15th, 2020 – $59.99
Late Deadline – August 15th, 2020 – $69.99
Final Deadline – September 15th, 2020 – $79.99

Announcements

Quarterfinalists – October 15th, 2020
Semifinalists – November 15th, 2020
Finalists – December 15th, 2020
Winners – January 15th, 2021

Jury

Erin Cardillo, Showrunner with Overall at Warner Bros

Erin is an EP/Showrunner with a current overall deal with Warner Brothers. She previously created and wrote the CW show LIFE SENTENCE, staring Lucy Hale, and the comedy SIGNIFICANT MOTHER. She also worked as a CO-EP on FULLER HOUSE and wrote the feature ISN’T IT ROMANTIC, starring Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, and Priyanka Chopra.

Justin Littman, Manager at Gotham Group

Justin Littman is a literary manager at The Gotham Group whose clients wrote THE TWILIGHT ZONE (2019), SUPER TROOPERS, and RAFIKI.

Jermaine Johnson, Lit Manager at Zero Gravity Management

Jermaine is a manager at Zero Gravity Management, the company that produces Netflix’s OZARK. Their clients have worked on television shows like STRANGER THINGS and AMERICAN HORROR STORY.

Tracy Kopulsky, Lit Manager at MXN Entertainment

Tracy is a manager at MXN Entertainment, whose clients have written on THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO, THE WITCHER and more.

Prizes

Our winning scripts are read by our industry jury and sent to our industry relationships, spotlighting both you as a writer and your project. Many past WeScreenplay winners have been introduced to their manager or a producer they’re working with through our competitions.

On top of the exposure, the WeScreenplay Television Contest is giving away cash and prizes. The Grand Prize scripts in both half-hour and hour-long categories will receive $1,000 cash prize and the top 3 scripts in each category will receive WeScreenplay’s top-notch coverage.

Read about WeScreenplay Success Stories here.

Past Winner Success

Check out more of our Success Stories.

Dallas Rico

Staffed on a HBO Show

First, the feedback has been incredibly insightful and validating. Secondly, I got a meeting with a manager through WeScreenplay who I really dig, and now that manager is considering signing with me. Stay tuned!”

Tips for fellow screenwriters

“Make your writing as polished as possible. I see so many aspiring writers out here, desperate to get read by an exec, yet their work is not even ready to share. You want your script to be so remarkable that when an exec finally reads it they have no choice but to meet this undeniably talented writer.”

Jim Maceda

Got a paid writing gig

WeScreenplay has been instrumental in my career. Its coverage was tough love, but honest and insightful. Their readers not only highlighted my weaknesses but always offered ways how I might improve. It gave me the confidence to get my stuff out there, and to place in a number of screenwriting competitions. After winning its 2018 Feature runner-up award, WeScreenplay’s staff took me under its wing and hooked me up with successful pros

Tips for fellow screenwriters

“It can be a cruel, lonely business, so do it only if you love it. And if you do, then persevere, persevere again and persevere some more. And never forget to network with your peers.”

Nevil Jackson

Signed with Zero Gravity Management

“I think one of the things standing between many writers and their goals is access. Theres plenty of talented writers who’ve yet to get their shot because they can’t get their work in front of the people making the decisions. But, entering WeScreenplay got me noticed and got me management.

Tips for fellow screenwriters

“Consume everything; Input is just as important as output. Give written notes on your friends’ scripts; it forces you to examine a script from structure, to character voice, to tone, and strengthens your ability to examine your own work… and it helps your friends.”

Evyn Williams

Signed with manager, John Bauman

I’m amazed at how much WeScreenplay champions their writers. After I won the TV competition, they jumped right in to support me with amazing advice, resources, and career chats. They have consistently been there to cheer me on.

Tips for fellow screenwriters

“Network and form community with other people who are right where you are — writing and striving to get better. The people I met in my writing classes, writer’s groups, and co-working spaces really became my community, and I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without their support, kindness, feedback, and soul-searching coffee chats.”

Rules

  1. Screenplays entered must:
    1. Be screenplays that are a minimum of 18 pages. (scripts under 18 pages will be accepted, read, and considered through the finalist round – but cannot win one of the top 3 prizes)
    2. Not include the writer’s or writing team’s name or contact information on any page of the script including the title page.
    3. Include a title page with no name(s) of the writer or writing team.
    4. Be submitted in PDF form and must fit all standard screenplay format guidelines. Personal formatting conventions will be accepted but must not intentionally or accidentally alter the page count of the project as determined by the judges. A rule of thumb, if your script is formatted properly and under 65 pages, it will likely not be more than 12,000 words.
    5. Be owned solely by the writer or writing team listed. It may be an adaptation or reimagining of true events or fictional stories. Spec scripts of existing shows are accepted but will compete against pilots.
    6. Be written in English. However, scripts from anywhere in the world will be accepted.
    7. Be under 70 pages – Anything over 70 pages will be charged an extra $1 per page.
  2. Screenplays entered may be in any genre or combination of genres. All will be treated equally and read by an unbiased panel of judges. Prizes will be awarded separately for ½ Hour and 1 Hour.
  3. Entrant’s total earnings for writing produced or unproduced, published or unpublished, must not exceed $35,000 in the previous 18 months from submission. A writer’s lifetime earnings can’t exceed $300,000 from writing anything produced or unproduced, published or unpublished. This excludes any prize money from competitions or fellowships and only applies to fund or money transferred in exchange for an option or sale of a script, treatment, idea, intellectual property, or other writing for filming. Money earned from acting, directing, producing, or any other film work outside of writing is not included.
  4. WeScreenplay claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remain with the original rights holder(s).
  5. Screenplays submitted must not have been previously sold or produced unless said sale or production was competed with no financial gain to the writer.
  6. For a submission to be valid it must be accompanied with the appropriate payment based on the submission deadlines. 
  7. Purchasing Additional feedback throughout the competition will in no way impact your standing or odds of advancement.
  8. All deadlines are at 11:59pm PST on the date listed. Any deadline alteration or promotion of any kind does not make any entry valid of a refund of any kind.
  9. Updated drafts are accepted. For updating your draft, please do so through the Coverfly.com website.
  10. There are no refunds for any submitted screenplay. Coupons may not be applied to previously submitted scripts. Coupons deemed for WeScreenplay coverage may not be used for submission to the contest or addition of coverage to any submission unless explicitly stated or exempted on the coupon or by a WeScreenplay representative via e-mail communication only.
  11. There is no limit on the number of scripts a writer or writing team may submit.
  12. Prizes are award per script and teams of writers are expected to divide prizes on their own accord. WeScreenplay will send prizes to the writer who submits the project and will in no way be responsible for how the prizes are distributed among the writing teams.
  13. The decision of the judges will be final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the next level as advancement will be based on all score in the competition.
  14. Scorecards can be found on Coverfly.com within a week of elimination from the competition, but early distribution does not necessarily indicate placement in the contest. Feedback and Coverage will be distributed between 2 and 3 weeks following submission.
  15. WeScreenplay reserves the right to delay announcements for any reason. Delay may last up to but never more than 90 days. While we never anticipate any delays, such delays will not alter the standing of any screenplay entry and will qualify no script for a refund under any circumstance.
  16. By entering the WeScreenplay contest every entrant is agreeing to all WeScreenplay Terms and Conditions listed and available before checkout. If you disagree with any terms you may not submit to the contest.
  17. You retain full ownership of your material, its copyright, and your intellectual property. WeScreenplay claims no ownership interest in material submitted to this competition.
  18. By submitting to the contest you are releasing WeScreenplay and holding harmless WeScreenplay, WeScreenplay.com, WeScreenplay’s parent company Industry Arts, LLC,  any and all affiliates of WeScreenplay from any claims, expenses, and liabilities, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, copyright, libel, trademark infringement, slander, personal property infringement, and related claims.
  19. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to WeScreenplay and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
  20. Any prize winners will be required to sign an affidavit validating their entry into the contest.
  21. Any cash prize winners of over $599 will be required to fill out and sign a W-9 before the cash prize is distributed.
  22. Any winners may have their name, script title, and picture used for any WeScreenplay promotions or promotions of our sponsors or affiliates.
  23. Former Grand Prize, Second Prize, and Third Prize Winners of the contest may enter so long as it is NOT the same script that won in a previous year. Any other placement in former years does not disqualify the script from being entered this year.
  24. THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

How to contact us

You can contact us with anything related to script coverage or this contest and we'll get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Contact Us