OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS
| Submission
Deadlines And Entry Fees |
Postmarked/
Uploaded By: |
Early Web
Discount
4/15/08 |
The
Deadline
6/11/08 |
1 Last
Rewrite!
6/28/08 |
If
We
Extend the
Deadline*
|
| Feature |
$35 |
$40 |
$45 |
at least $55 |
| Teleplay |
$27 |
$30 |
$35 |
at least $45 |
*Please do
NOT count on an extension. Please see THIS IMPORTANT NOTE.
1) All submissions must be postmarked by
deadline. The Competition reserves the right to extend the deadline.
2) By submitting, you agree to the Release Form (copied below) and to abide by all the Contest Rules.
3) Submitted screenplays must be the
unproduced, unoptioned, and wholly original work of the writer(s). There must be
no dispute about the ownership of submitted screenplays or the writers’ right to
submit screenplay. Submitted
teleplays will adhere to the industry “spec script” practice of being a
derivative work based on a pre-existing television series, however submitted
teleplays must contain original story and dialogue. For teleplays, any characters created by
the writer(s) must be wholly
original work. Pilots for
unproduced television shows or episodes of an unproduced series will not be
accepted.
4) Scripts by more than one writer are
eligible, but only one prize will be given and it will be the writers’s
responsibility to distribute the prize. If writers of a script are unable to
agree on the distribution of a prize, their script will be
disqualified.
5) All writers of submitted scripts must
be at least 18 years of age.
6) Writers of submitted scripts must not
have earned more than $8,000 (in cash or other consideration) for writing
services for film or television. Furthermore writers must not have won a
fellowship or writing contest that includes a “first look” clause.
7) Online submissions must be in either
Movie Magic, Final Draft, PDF or RTF format. It is preferable but not mandatory that
the file has the title page as the first page of the file. Printed scripts must be in English, printed
single- or double-sided on 3-hole white paper with the pages numbered and with
the title (for TV specs include name of show), name of writer(s) and contact
information on the title page. Font must be 12-point Courier, Courier New or
Courier Final Draft. Feature screenplays must be between 85-140 pages and in
standard spec screenplay format, fastened with 2-3 brads with (optional) blank
cardstock covers. Teleplays for
hour-long series must be between 50-70 pages. Teleplays for half-hour shows must be
between 25 and 55 page (more than 40 only if double-spaced dialogue).
8) Hard-copy submissions must contain
eligible scripts(s), a signed, initialed and completed application, entry fee
(check, money order or credit card information), and, if you want notification
that we have received your materials, a self- addressed, stamped postcard.
Hard-copy submissions must be mailed (USPS, UPS, etc…) via a delivery method
that does not require a signature. Online submissions must contain eligible
script (as a Movie Magic, PDF, RTF or Final Draft file), valid credit card
information and a valid email address. Confirmation of receipt of online
submissions will be only done via email.
9)
Employees, contractors, or immediate family members of principals of
Creative Screenwriting, The Screenwriting Expo, and Inside
Information Group, Ltd. may not submit screenplays. Writers who and
scripts which have won a cash prize from any previous
AAA Screenwriting Contest are ineligible.
10) NO REFUNDS FOR FAILURE TO ADHERE TO RULES. Failure to adhere to The Contest guidelines will result in
disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.
11) Judging will be performed by trained
readers and industry professionals. The finalists’ scripts will be read by
industry professionals. The decisions of the Judges will be final.
12) Entry fees are nonrefundable. Make
your check payable to "Creative Screenwriting."
13) Questions regarding The AAA Screenplay Contest should be directed to: aaacontest@creativescreenwriting.com.
14) The official prize list is as stated in the web page http://creativescreenwriting.com/aaa/prizelist.html.
No other listing of prizes is the official list. This prize
list is subject to revision until the official closing date of the
Contest (June 28, 2008, or as extended).
15) The AAA Screenplay Contest may substitute alternative prizes of equal or greater value in place
of previously announced prizes.
16) For the purpose of prizes, the precise content of a "Gold Pass" to the Screenwriting Expo
is defined by Screenwriting Expo management on a year-to-year basis.
It generally includes priority admission to events, four lunch
tickets, and entrance to ticketed receptions, but Expo management
reserves the right to change the offer without notice.
17) A screenplay may win both a Special Jury Prize and any one
of the regular- competition cash prizes (Grand Prize, second, or
third-place or Teleplay prizes). A writer may win more than one
regular-competition cash prize with different scripts.
17) All winners will be responsible for
their own
U.S.
income tax
withholding.
AAA Contest Sponsors
Include
These Organizations:
 
 
AAA Contest Release Form
I/we have read all of The AAA Screenplay Contest Rules and Regulations.
I understand and have complied with these
rules. As the sole owner(s) and author(s) of submitted
material, I/we fully attest that the following
is true and correct:
1. I/We attest that I/we have read and understand
and complied with the Rules and Regulations
of The Contest, that I/we are the author/s
and sole owner/s of all rights to the Material,
which was created and written without any
suggestion or request from any third parties
that I/we write the Material.
2. I/We recognize that The AAA Contest, Creative Screenwriting, The Screenwriting Expo, and
Inside Information Group, Ltd. have access to hundreds
of ideas, stories and scripts for motion
pictures and that many stories and ideas
relate to one or more common underlying themes.
I/we understand that The Contest and
Inside Information Group, Ltd. agree not to use any
portion of the Material unless 1) I/we do
not control or own the Material or such features
or elements, 2) the Material elements used
by you and claimed by me/us to be my/our
Material or embodied in the Material is in
the public domain, is not new or novel or
is not legally protected or protectable,
or 3) any third party would be free to use
the Material if it had not been submitted
to it and been the subject of any agreement
with it.
3.
I/We agree that any dispute arising between us shall be subject to
mediation in Los Angeles, California, through the Los Angeles County
Bar Association mediation service, and if such mediation dues not
resolve all disputes, then through binding arbitration in Los Angeles,
California pursuant to the then effective Commercial Arbitration Rules
of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator will be someone
with at least 10 years of motion picture industry experience and shall
have the authority to award all appropriate relief, including equitable
or injunctive relief; provided, however, that the arbitrator is not
authorized to award punitive damages. The award issued by any such
arbitrator may be entered and confirmed as a judgment in any court of
competent jurisdiction. The state with jurisdiction over any disputes
relating to this Agreement is California, and the sole location for
proper venue is Los Angeles, California.
4. Furthermore we indemnify The Contest
and Inside Information Group, Ltd., its associates,
judges and sponsors against all claims, losses,
expenses, damages and liabilities, if I/we
do not satisfy all of The Contest's rules
and regulations.
5. I/We understand that the submission of
the Material into The Contest does not
establish any fiduciary or confidential relationship
between us, nor is there one intended or
created by reason of this letter and/or submission
of the Material. I have retained a copy of
the Material and agree that you shall not
be obligated to return the Material to me,
and I release you from all liability if the
Material is lost, misplaced, stolen or destroyed.
Furthermore, I/we understand that it is our
sole responsibility to register Material
with the U.S. Copyright Office and/or with
the Writer's Guild of America.
6.
If more than one writer signs the application for The Contest, then
reference to “I/We” within this release letter shall apply
to each party jointly and severally.
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