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RULES

WRITE LA RULES

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Submission Deadlines and Announcements

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  • Competition Opens – Nov 1, 2024

  • Early Deadline – December 31, 2025 (New Year's Eve) – $45

  • Regular Deadline – Feb 1, 2025 – $60

  • Final Deadline – March 4, 2025 – $75

  • Written Feedback (PILOTS AND FEATURES) - $60 extra

  • Quarterfinalists (Top 50) Announced - May 20th, 2025

  • Semifinalists (Top 15) Announced – June 1, 2025

  • Finalists (Top 5) Announced – June 10, 2025

 

Written Feedback Option

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Written feedback may be added to any entry (pilot or feature) for an additional $60. All feedback is written by our Founder and Head Judge Tim Schildberger, and is designed to help you discover the strengths of your script, and learn about opportunities and areas to focus on for the next draft. Feedback will be distributed after the Top 3 winners have been announced, and before August 1, 2025.

 

Regarding Your Entry

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  • All entries must be electronically submitted by midnight Pacific time on or before the respective deadline.

  • Write LA is open to anyone worldwide 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.

  • Previous entrants who reached the Semifinalist level or above may not submit the same script or a new draft of the same script again. Such entrants may enter new scripts or scripts that did not advance in previous years.

  • Previous Write LA winners are not eligible to win again.

  • Initial judging of Write LA is done BLIND. The entrant’s name, address, phone number, or any other identifying information should NOT appear on the title page or any other page of the script. The title page should only include the title of the script or show and the title of the episode, if applicable. Placing a Library of Congress or WGA registration number on the title page is also acceptable, but not required.

  • All entrants retain complete ownership of their scripts.

  • An entry should consist of an original feature film screenplay (maximum 120 pages) or teleplay (maximum 70 pages). Speculative television scripts (i.e. an episode of The Simpsons) are not eligible. All scripts must be written in English. Scripts should be in standard screenplay format and font (Courier 12) and submitted as a PDF file through our website,  FilmFreeway or Coverfly. Scripts sent by mail or email are not eligible.

  • Any genre is welcome. No genre or format (feature, half hour, or hour) will be given preference. Feature and television scripts will be judged together.

  • Adaptations are permissible provided that the writer has permission to adapt the original work. Adaptations of works in the public domain are permissible.

  • Any script currently under option or previously optioned or sold is NOT eligible. If a script is optioned or sold during the judging process, the writer(s) must notify Write LA and will be withdrawn from the competition at that point, but the writer(s) will retain any contest placement earned up to the time of the option or sale.

  • Collaborative work is eligible. By submitting, writing teams acknowledge that all members of the writing team agree to these terms and conditions. Writing teams also acknowledge that any prizes won must be shared by the writing team.

  • Do not include resumes, pitches, synopses, casting suggestions, letters, or other supporting documentation with your submission. Judges will not review these materials.

  • Entrants may submit multiple entries. Each submission must include its own unique script and entry fee.

  • Once an entry has been submitted and payment has been processed, no refunds will be issued. No revisions or re-submissions will be accepted.

  • Affiliates, employees, and family members of the readers, judges, and staff of Write LA are not eligible for the competition.

  • The cash prize will be delivered electronically. We won't be mailing out actual cash. Our preferences are Venmo, Paypal and Zelle, but we will make sure you receive your prize.

 

The Boilerplate Stuff

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  • By entering Write LA, you acknowledge and agree that contest judges receive numerous submissions of ideas, stories, and scripts, and that your entry and the ideas and stories embodied therein may be similar or identical to other material already received and/or developed by one or more of the judges. Also, being read by a Management Company in no way implies an obligation for that company to represent or assist the writer. There are no assumptions, guarantees, or promises of representation included with the reading. 

  • By entering Write LA, you understand that Write LA will be free to use your name, script title, and logline for promotional purposes without additional consideration should you qualify for the Semifinals or beyond.

  • Write LA winners give permission to Write LA to audio and video record their live script reading for promotional use on websites and social media platforms.

  • By entering the Write LA competition, you agree that you have read the rules and conditions of the contest and that you have the authorization to submit your screenplay to Write LA. You further agree that your screenplay is owned by you (and co-author(s)).

  • The entrant shall indemnify and hold harmless Write LA, its employees, contractors, agents, and Write LA judges from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, and/or publicity to the screenplay entered.

  • VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

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write LA

WRITE LA SHORTS RULES

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Submission Deadlines and Announcements

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  • TBA

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Regarding Your Entry

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  • All entries must be electronically submitted by midnight Pacific time on or before the respective deadline.

  • Write LA is open to anyone worldwide 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.

  • Previous entrants who reached the Finalist level or above may not submit the same script or a new draft of the same script again. Such entrants may enter new scripts or scripts that did not advance in previous years.

  • Previous Write LA Shorts or Write LA winners are not eligible to win again.

  • Any script that has been worked on in a personal coaching capacity with Head Judge Tim Schildberger is NOT eligible for entry. Writers may enter other scripts not previously read/coached by Tim.

  • Initial judging of Write LA Shorts is done BLIND. The entrant’s name, address, phone number, or any other identifying information should NOT appear on the title page or any other page of the script. The title page should only include the title of the script or show and the title of the episode, if applicable. Placing a Library of Congress or WGA registration number on the title page is also acceptable, but not required.

  • All entrants retain complete ownership of their scripts.

  • An entry should consist of an original short film (maximum 25 pages). No TV Pilots are eligible.  All scripts must be written in English. Scripts should be in standard screenplay format and font (Courier 12) and submitted as a PDF file through FilmFreeway or Coverfly. Scripts sent by mail or email are not eligible.

  • Any genre is welcome. No genre  will be given preference.

  • Adaptations are permissible provided that the writer has permission to adapt the original work. Adaptations of works in the public domain are permissible.

  • Any script currently under option or previously optioned or sold is NOT eligible. If a script is optioned or sold during the judging process, the writer(s) must notify Write LA and will be withdrawn from the competition at that point, but the writer(s) will retain any contest placement earned up to the time of the option or sale.

  • Collaborative work is eligible. By submitting, writing teams acknowledge that all members of the writing team agree to these terms and conditions. Writing teams also acknowledge that any prizes won must be shared by the writing team.

  • Do not include resumes, pitches, synopses, casting suggestions, letters, or other supporting documentation with your submission. Judges will not review these materials.

  • Entrants may submit multiple entries. Each submission must include its own unique script and entry fee.

  • Once an entry has been submitted and payment has been processed, no refunds will be issued. No revisions or re-submissions will be accepted.

  • Affiliates, employees, and family members of the readers, judges, and staff of Write LA are not eligible for the competition.

 

The Boilerplate Stuff

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  • By entering Write LA Shorts, you acknowledge and agree that contest judges receive numerous submissions of ideas, stories, and scripts, and that your entry and the ideas and stories embodied therein may be similar or identical to other material already received and/or developed by one or more of the judges.

  • By entering Write LA Shorts, you understand that Write LA will be free to use your name, script title, and logline for promotional purposes without additional consideration should you qualify for the Finals or beyond.

  • Write LA Shorts winners give permission to Write LA to audio and video record their script, and to be responsible for casting, shooting, and editing of the 'reading'. Winners also agree to the final film produced by Write LA to be to shown at short film festivals that reach an agreement with Write LA in calendar year 2023 only. Write LA holds no ownership claim on the script, or the completed film, and at no stage has authorization to seek to profit from the completed film.

  • By entering the Write LA Shorts competition, you agree that you have read the rules and conditions of the contest and that you have the authorization to submit your screenplay to Write LA Shorts. You further agree that your screenplay is owned by you (and co-author(s)).

  • The entrant shall indemnify and hold harmless Write LA, its employees, contractors, agents, and Write LA Shorts judges from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, and/or publicity to the screenplay entered.

  • VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

Write LA Shorts
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