CALL FOR ENTRIES
BlackShirtReads is soliciting feature and TV pilot script submissions for our 2016 professional screenplay reading series.
One script will be chosen from among the submissions and will receive a public reading by professional actors in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
INSTRUCTIONS
Submission Deadlines:
EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE (for a discounted submission fee):
February 29, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m. MDT (time zone for Santa Fe, New Mexico)
OVERALL DEADLINE:
EXTENDED to May 31, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m. MDT
Submission Fees:
EARLY-BIRD SUBMISSION FEE: $40 – valid February 1 through February 29
REGULAR SUBMISSION FEE: $50 – valid March 1 through May 31
When we receive your submission email (see “TO SUBMIT” instructions below), we will send you an invoice via PayPal. Your submission will be considered complete when we receive your payment in full.
Payment must be received no later than February 29, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m. MDT to qualify for the early-bird submission fee.
Payment at the regular submission rate must be received no later than May 31, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m. MDT.
Judge’s Feedback:
You can sign up to receive one page of judge’s feedback notes on your script for an additional $75. Selecting to receive or not receive judge’s notes will in no way affect script judging. This fee will appear separately on your PayPal invoice.
If your script is chosen for performance:
BlackShirtReads will host a professional reading of your script in partnership with you.
THEATRE RENTAL: BlackShirtReads will assume one-half of the theatre rental fee and you will be responsible for one-half. Typical rental fees are from $100-$225 per hour. Assume a two-hour reading.
ACTOR AND DIRECTOR FEES: BlackShirtReads will assume one-half of the fees paid to the actors and director, and you will be responsible for one-half. (To date, BlackShirtReads has, on average, paid actors $35 and directors $70.)
ADVERTISING COSTS: BlackShirtReads will assume all costs for advertising the event.
PRINTING COSTS: BlackShirtReads will assume all costs for printing the script, fliers, posters, playbills and followup thank-you notes.
GRAPHICS COSTS: BlackShirtReads will assume all costs for graphics development.
Some re-writing will be necessary:
In order to make a screenplay work as a live reading, some re-writing is called for. In most cases, this involves deleting scene headings and combining or editing descriptive action passages so that the audience hears primarily what would be heard if the story were on film.
If your script is chosen, this re-writing step will be your responsibility, with coaching from the director chosen for the performance. All re-writing must be completed at least a week prior to the start of rehearsals.
Script Guidelines:
Your script must be written in English (occasional dialogue passages in other languages are acceptable) formatted to industry standards (information on script formatting may be found in Dave Trottier’s The Screenwriter’s Bible.
Feature scripts may be up to 120 pages in length based on 12-pt Courier type, with a minimum 1-inch margin on all sides.
TV pilot scripts may be up to 65 pages in length based on 12-pt Courier type, with a minimum 1-inch margin on all sides.
DO NOT include your name on the title page of the script – only the title of the script should appear there. Likewise, DO NOT include your name or any identifying information on any page of the script.
In addition to the script, you must submit a 3-5 page treatment, giving a synopsis of the story (information on writing such a treatment may be found in Dave Trottier’s The Screenwriter’s Bible. DO NOT include your name on any page of the treatment – only the title of the script should appear on the first page.
Your script and treatment must be submitted electronically as PDF files. No other format will be accepted.
A writer may submit more than one script and treatment for consideration. Multiple submissions must be sent in separate submission emails and will be billed for separate submission fees, as described above.
Writer qualifications:
Writers must be non-WGA writers and must be at least 18 years of age as of May 31, 2016. Scripts with multiple credited writers are acceptable; however, all writers on a script must meet the age and non-WGA status requirements.
TO SUBMIT
Send an email to bsrsubmit@gmail.com.
- In the Subject line of the email, put “BLACKSHIRTREADS SCRIPT SUBMISSION”.
- In the body of the email:
*Give us your NAME.
*Give us the TITLE OF YOUR SCRIPT.
*Tell us whether it’s a FEATURE or a TV PILOT.
*Tell us whether you are also requesting JUDGE’S FEEDBACK NOTES.
*Give us the EMAIL WE SHOULD USE FOR SENDING AN INVOICE VIA PAYPAL (this will be the email you used to set up your PayPal account).
*Give us an EMAIL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER WE SHOULD USE IF WE NEED TO CONTACT YOU ABOUT YOUR WINNING SCRIPT.
- Attach a PDF of your script WITH ONLY THE TITLE OF THE SCRIPT ON THE TITLE PAGE.
- Attach your 3-5 page treatment WITH ONLY THE TITLE OF THE SCRIPT ON THE FIRST PAGE.
When we receive your submission email, we will send you an invoice via PayPal. Your submission will be considered complete when we receive your payment in full.
Payment must be received no later than February 29, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m. MDT to qualify for the early-bird submission fee.
Payment at the regular submission rate must be received no later than May 31, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m. MDT.
Judging on scripts will be completed by July 1, at which time we’ll contact all writers who submitted scripts for consideration to announce which script has been chosen.
Files for submitted scripts that are not chosen for a BlackShirtReads performance will be destroyed after entrants are notified of the final judging decisions. Please keep a copy of anything you submit to BlackShirtReads.
Any questions we haven’t addressed? Send us a note at bsrsubmit@gmail.com.
We look forward to reading your script!
Kathleen Dexter and Joanna Smith-Thole
BlackShirtReads
BlackShirtReads 