Student Scriptwriting Competition - Entry Instructions
The Student Scriptwriting competition accepts entries in the following categories:
- SW1 - Short Subject (15-35 pages): Scripts may be any narrative fictional genre and may be live-action, animation, or a combination of both.
- SW2 - Feature (90-120 pages): Scripts may be any narrative fictional genre and may be live-action, animation, or a combination of both.
- SW3 - Original Television Series Pilot (hour long or half-hour long): A pilot episode for an original on-air one hour or half-hour show. This script may not be based on any existing show, past or present.
- SW4 - Television Spec (hour long or half-hour long): An original episode of a current on-air one hour or half-hour show.
Submission Requirements:
- Script submissions are limited to one entry per category.
- Each entry must have a faculty sponsor as noted on the entry form. However, the script or screenplay need not be written for a class assignment. The faculty sponsor is encouraged to guide each entrant in his or her writing process and adherence to the correct format in their submission to the competition.
- Short subject, feature, mobisode, and webisode entries must conform to the Master Scene Screenplay format as defined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowships Competition. Additional information about this format and a sample script may be found at http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/resources.html. This format is further detailed in The Hollywood Standard: the Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style, by Christopher Riley (from Michael Wiese Productions).
- While television shows use differing formats, this competition will accept Television Spec and Television Pilot entries in a standard TV script format, using Act, Teaser, and Tag breaks where warranted by the story.
Please read the Student Competition Rules to verify that your entry meets all eligibility requirements for submission. To enter the competition, complete steps 1-3 as shown below.
STEP 1: Become a BEA Student Member.
Full-time students attending BEA member institutions can now receive FREE BEA student membership. This will allow students to enter the Festival of Media Arts and get member discounts for the convention. Student members will also be able to create an account on BEA's soon to be launched social networking site, BEActive, where you'll be able to post material and connect with industry reps. To join as a free student member go to BEAweb.org and follow the 4 step process listed below:
1) Select "Student Membership"
2) Select "Student Type" (undergraduate or graduate)
3) Enter the discount code (The professor who told you about the Festival should have this information)
4) Fill out the new visitor registration form by using your school email account (this is important for us to verify your school!)
List of BEA Member Institutions
If your school isn't a member and you want to enter the Festival....
You can either pay for student membership, or convince your school to be a member institution.
STEP 2: Complete online entry form and payment.
- CLICK HERE to log into BEA Member Services
- Log In using your BEA Member Username and Password.
- Choose Online Store from the left sidebar
- Locate the Festival Student Scriptwriting Competition Event and Click SELECT to add it to your cart.
- Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the entry form and submit your payment. Shortly after checking out, you will receive a Festival entry confirmation e-mail. DO NOT DELETE this e-mail. It contains important information that you MUST include when uploading your Festival entry for judging.
STEP 3: Upload your media file.
Prepare your script for submission
- To ensure an effective blind review process, include only the name of the script and the competition category (Short Subject, Feature, etc.) on the script’s title page.
- Save your script in PDF file format. Do not include any portion of your name in the file name.
UPLOAD your file
- Proceed to All Academic and create a new account (if you don't already have one)
- Under the "Submitter Menu" click on "Submit or Edit a Paper, Panel or Festival of Media Arts Submission" and then "Submit a New Paper or Panel Proposal." (This is the same system we use for BEA2012 Panels/Paper proposals...)
- Scroll down and select “Student Festival Scriptwriting Competition,” then select the category you wish to enter.
- Fill out the title and abstract and “Accept and Continue” to the next page, then scroll down until you see “You Have Not Uploaded a Paper. Click here to upload now.” Just click and upload your script – and once you receive the confirmation email, you’ll know the process is complete.