Entries are now being accepted for the the Rod Serling Conference's Short Feature Scriptwriting competition. The conference, scheduled for October 2-3, 2009, will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first airing of The Twilight Zone.
The script competition is open to nonproduced or nonoptioned writers only. The deadline for entries is April 1, 2009.
Serling taught at Ithaca College from 1967 until his death in 1975. Ithaca College is also home to the Rod Serling Archives consisting of television scripts, movie screenplays, stage play scripts, films, published works by Serling, unproduced scripts, and secondary materials.
More Info on the Rod Serling Conference
Eligibility
The script competition is open to non-produced, or non-optioned writers only. Any applicant who has earned money or other consideration as a screenwriter for theatrical films or television, or as a playwright for the legitimate theatre, or for the sale of, or sale of an option to, any original story, treatment, screenplay, play, or teleplay will not be eligible for the competition.
Postmark Deadline
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Awards
Top 5 finalists will be judged by Carol Serling.
First Place: $250
Second Place: $150
Third Place: $100
Winners will be notified by Wednesday, June 17, 2009.
Awards will be announced at the Rod Serling Conference in a formal ceremony held on October 3, 2009. Winners are not obligated, but encouraged, to attend.
Submission Guidelines
1. Each script must be written in the same genre and style that would have been suitable to conform with episodes for either THE TWILIGHT ZONE or NIGHT GALLERY. More specifically this means displaying traits of either a horror or a science fiction genre, while exhibiting strong social themes. An example of a script has been posted for your reference. It is a script from a NIGHT GALLERY episode that aired in September, 1971. Entitled “Class of ’99,” it is available here for information purposes only. It is copyrighted material not intended for reproduction purposes.
2. Each script must be written in English.
3. Each script must be between 10 to 20 pages in length. No exceptions. Scripts that do not conform to the above page limit will be disqualified.
4. Each script must be written in Master Scene Format, the accepted industry standard for motion pictures. All scripts must use standard industry script binding: three-hole punched with brass brads in the top and bottom holes.
5. Scripts will be blind judged. The entrant’s name and identifying information must appear ONLY on the entry form. No personal information should appear on the script OR on the title page. ONLY the title of the piece should appear on the title page.
6. The entrant must submit
a. three (3) copies of the script
b. a pdf copy on disc (please label the disc with last name and title of script)
c. a completed entry form
d. a check or money order for $20.00 U.S. made payable to: Ithaca College.
7. All scripts must be POSTMARKED by Wednesday, April 1, 2009. Scripts will not be returned.
8. Failure to comply with any of the guidelines can result in disqualification. Entry fees for disqualified entries WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
9. Scripts should be registered with the Writer’s Guild of America Script Registry. http://www.wga.org/
10. You may enter more than one script, however, a separate entry form, and payment of $20.00 U.S must accompany EACH entry. All entries should be sent to:
Stephen Tropiano
Serling Scriptwriting Competition
c/o Ithaca College Los Angeles Program
3800 Barham Blvd. Suite 305
Los Angeles, California 90068
