ScreenCraft’s competitions and talent-discovery programs are the entry point for emerging screenwriters into Hollywood. Here are just a few writers’ stories of how ScreenCraft’s programs helped them breakthrough.
Signed an option agreement
"The main reason we picked ScreenCraft over various other competitions is because of the name recognition and the ability to submit your work to a specific genre. We wrote a really fun animated family-comedy and being able to find both a Family and Animation focused competition was important to us. It was also helpful to have the judges work for companies that make those types of movies. Working with Screencraft helped open numerous doors for us including getting our script optioned by Story Warrior. We would have never had the opportunity to meet with them and then eventually sign an option without the help of Screencraft."
Signed with a literary manager at Bellevue
"When I made the finals (and eventually won) the 2022 ScreenCraft Horror Competition, that completely changed the game for me. Being accepted into the ScreenCraft Development Program, I was given the privilege of getting to work one-on-one with amazing folks who have put my name and work out to some incredible players in the industry, from reps to production companies I am looking to work with. This resulted in me finding my manager, Jeff Portnoy at Bellevue Productions, as well as getting me meetings with production companies who I am in talks with to produce my first feature. Having people like the folks at ScreenCraft champion your work takes a massive load off your plate as a writer, and allows you to keep working on your art while also getting it in the right hands of people who can actually get it produced."
Signed with Agents and Managers
"When my horror film MOSHARI won the SXSW Grand Jury [Award], I was suddenly thrust into a lot of attention. Agents, managers, general meetings. As a Bangladeshi filmmaker and an outsider, I was honestly overwhelmed. ScreenCraft was so supportive in that journey, ever since I became a Film Fund finalist. [A ScreenCraft Writer Development Executive] and I sat down multiple times. He connected me to some amazing reps as well. We made pros/cons lists, brainstormed strategies - it was just super cool to have a neutral perspective. Made this journey much easier."
Signed with a literary manager
"I was a Finalist in [the Virtual Pitch Competition] that, and a few other contests too. But the Virtual Pitch contest helped hone my elevator pitch to an aerodynamic vessel. I pitched it to my agent about a month after the Finalist round contest (incorporating the feedback they gave me), and it really impressed her. She read my script and signed me about a month after that."
Signed with a literary manager at Affirmative Entertainment
"I didn’t go to film school and, especially at the beginning, I was super nervous about sharing my work. ScreenCraft was the first writing competition I submitted to, and I’ve continued to do so for several projects because they consistently work with amazing readers who give in depth, actionable notes. The quality of the feedback has just been incredibly valuable for bettering my craft and taking my scripts to the next level. Sometimes I feel like the path to a successful writing career is this weird, nebulous mystery, and it can be pretty intimidating trying to set an effective course. Which is why I sing such high praises about ScreenCraft’s writer development team!! They have this wonderfully hands-on approach that helps clarify how to take actual steps towards your goals. From strategizing on game plans, to answering questions and concerns, to connecting me with other finalists, I’ve just felt super supported throughout. They even got my script read by a number of reps, and facilitated a meeting with the manager that I’m now repped by. I’m just feeling super grateful — it’s been such a whirlwind experience, and ScreenCraft has really gone above and beyond in advancing my career. I can’t thank them enough."
Signed with Manager (Affirmative Entertainment) & Agent (Paradigm Talent Agency)
"I am not based in Los Angeles. I am in San Francisco and I thought the only way to get out there is to start entering contests and see what happens. And because of ScreenCraft, an opportunity did knock. They put me in touch with a manager, like he really understood what I was trying to do with my stories. ScreenCraft put me in touch with a producer and we ended up taking it to a major studio, who expressed interest in my script, which is beyond my wildest imagination. I was so glad that I just kept writing, kept writing, kept writing stories that I believed in. Eventually, everybody has some opportunity, some luck and you have to be ready, and I think ScreenCraft really helped me be ready."
Signed with a manager
"Winning the ScreenCraft Fellowship with my pilot KILLERS opened so many doors with an amazing group of executives, producers, showrunners, and reps. The Fellowship and the ScreenCraft team undeniably provided a nitro boost of professional momentum that has been invaluable to me and led directly to finding an awesome new manager, Reg Tigerman!"
Signed with literary managers
"ScreenCraft has been incredibly helpful from the moment my script advanced as a Finalist and even before that. I was invited to various events/Zooms that were fantastic networking & learning opportunities. Following a series of successes, I found myself in a very lucky position of having multiple offers for management, and ScreenCraft were right there by my side to help me weigh the factors and make the best decision for my career. "
Signed with a literary manager
"When I saw ScreenCraft Comedy open up, I felt like this could be the perfect exposure to connect me with the right reps. And it did! This win pushed me over the edge and I was linked with Najeeb Khuda at Zero Gravity who is incredible."
Mentorship with Literary Agent
"The amazing panel of judges drew me to ScreenCraft and the chance to have my work read by agents and managers. It’s also been lovely to connect with some of the other finalists."
Mentorship with screenwriter Seth Sherwood
"ScreenCraft introduced me to Seth Sherwood, who has been an amazing mentor! With his guidance, we decided the best strategy was to hone my script's pacing and tone, which were initially a bit all over the place. Since then, I've been rewriting the script with specific production companies in mind, and I'm already loving how much more focused the story has become. On a practical level, winning the mentorship has garnered read requests from both industry members and writers. One read request led to a group writing opportunity that I'm currently in the midst of."
Signed with a literary manager
"In search of a platform that would spotlight unrepped screenwriters, I stumbled across ScreenCraft/CoverFly, whose entire purpose revolves around prioritizing the careers of up-and-coming screenwriters. For writers on the verge, ScreenCraft comes in and provides that little, much-needed boost. The obstacles were endless, with my biggest feat being not knowing anyone in the industry – where ScreenCraft comes in is they take your measly little script that no one seems willing to read, and they put it in the hands of people willing to do something with it. After winning a few festivals, suddenly this measly script doesn’t feel so measly anymore."
Signed with a manager at Lit Entertainment
"ScreenCraft values genre pieces, and I believe that a lot of my works tends to fall into genre fiction, like Science Fiction and Horror. ScreenCraft helped me organize my materials and focus my efforts. Through them, I was able to schedule two meetings with significant industry figures. Winning the competition itself also opened a lot of doors. I run an improv show at the UCB which features television writers. My future manager came to see one of those shows, and after they saw that I had won the competition, they reached out to represent me. I can now officially tell my parents that improv comedy has helped my career."
Project acquired for production
"I see a lot of incredible writers with tack sharp stories who sit on them, waiting for the insiders to reach out of the clouds and green light them. Those movies are never getting made. Does it happen? Sure. But bet on yourself not on some surprise benefactor. Get out there and get it done. Consider that it’s easiest for insiders to pick other insiders to work with. Make your own movie. Learn the tools. Your own empowerment is the coolest university you can ever go to. When you’re successful, others will notice. It will be easier to tell your next story, and people will be more interested in you as a writer because they’ll actually be able to SEE it. Even then, you’re the one who has to get the work done. Don’t wait for it to get easier. "
Signed with literary manager
"ScreenCraft first caught my attention with their focus on hosting screenwriting competitions for each specific genre and format, rather than lumping them all into Feature or TV like most other competitions. In my experience, competing against thousands of scripts across every genre often results in quality genre scripts getting left behind. So, when I saw ScreenCraft’s Horror competition, a genre I primarily write in, I knew I had to submit my work. The ScreenCraft team helped me formulate a solid query letter template for my script submissions, while also preparing me for the right mentality to be a working writer. The single biggest benefit though, has to be ScreenCraft pairing me with my mentor, producer Jim Klock. Jim read my Horror/Western Pilot STRANGE FLESH and took me under his wing, which resulted in invaluable notes, critical professional feedback, paid writing assignments, and an introduction to my current management team at Sandstone Artists."
Signed an option agreement
"I chose to submit to ScreenCraft because a guy I went to college with had been placed in the Public Domain/True Story contest so I knew that there was a contest out there for exactly the kind of script I was writing! The company found my script on Coverfly because of its higher rating because I won the ScreenCraft contest. I’ve been working with the ScreenCraft team to reach out to managers and producers and expand my network in Hollywood. I am currently seeking representation and the ScreenCraft team has been a big help with that."
Signed with literary managers
"I think many people in this town require a co-sign from a respected entity before they’ll take a look at one of your scripts. Coverfly/Screencraft was that entity for me. When I sent out query letters mentioning my ranking in the Screencraft Pilot Competition, potential managers were more likely to respond than they had been in the past."
Signed with an agent
"I was spending countless hours and so much of my time trying to get through to agents and managers. Once I was a finalist, ScreenCraft really sat down with me and helped me evaluate my goals and the best and next steps for how to achieve those. Even before winning a competition, I had an agent from Paradigm reach out to me for a meeting, who I have since signed with. Woo! After my win, I have had multiple managers reach out and take meetings as well as befriending a lot of other writers."
Mentorship with lit agency
"Winning the ScreenCraft TV Pilot Fellowship has opened doors I didn’t know existed. I’ve had meetings with several agents and I’m overjoyed to be developing the script with Daniel Perry from Buchwald. The industry expertise, the creative impulses, the personal contacts – all outstanding. When I finished it [first screenplay], I had no idea what the best next step would be – so I decided to enter it in a couple of competitions. I was instantly drawn to ScreenCraft because of the promise of feedback, the range of opportunities on offer, the many success stories… and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! "
Collaborating on a short film
"[S]eeing the individualized care and attention given to finalists and winners convinced me that this was a worthwhile community to join. –writer Kyle Casey Chu"
"I had heard ScreenCraft had a solid reputation and that they actually helped a lot of the writers who were finalists and winners, so that was certainly enticing. And when I was a finalist for the first time I was really surprised by the care and attention that was taken to make sure we all felt supported by the ScreenCraft family. –director Erin Cantelo"
Sean signed with Doorie Lee at 42mp
"I submitted to ScreenCraft because of [its] notoriety, as well the prospect of being read by a prestigious jury. After being selected as a TV Pilot Finalist, ScreenCraft took a keen interest in strategizing my career path. This ultimately led to signing with 42mp."
Signed with a literary manager at Gravity Squared
"Telling stories is what I love. The medium – film, tv, novels, immersive entertainment, interactive, branching narratives -- that really means less to me than the act of disappearing into a story. ScreenCraft was one of the few contests I found that had books as an option and I was looking to get my novel published...I feel very supported by the community and have loved the experience so far. I also met a management company through the contest."
Signed with a literary manager at Gramercy Park
"I love fantasy and sci-fi. The infinite possibilities. The unending scope. Imagination... unleashed. But moreso, I love being able to speak to the human condition in ways that feel new and different, unique and novel. For me, the fantasy and sci-fi genre allows me to express my experiences as a marginalized person without always having to be so overt in displaying the cruelty and beauty of life. Screencraft having a contest dedicated solely to fantasy & sci-fi meant the work I put into crafting a narrative steeped in both character and world building would be valued, would be seen, which is something marginalized writers often struggle with... being valued and seen. Screencraft set a general with one of the producers who read my script. The producer and I clicked. And once he learned I was not repped, the producer offered to send my script to his contacts. I had a manager a few months later. "
Signed with a literary manager
"We were drawn to ScreenCraft because of its reputation as a thriving community that has helped many of our admired peers. As avid fans of SC's high-quality educational resources for screenwriters, we knew it was an excellent tool for our writing process. Winning the ScreenCraft competition was a turning point in our writing careers. It not only brought us exposure but also opened the doors to incredible opportunities, such as signing with Jeff Portnoy at Bellevue. ScreenCraft has played a crucial role in connecting us with our judge, Diana Ossana. With her immense experience and knowledge, Diana has provided us with invaluable guidance and inspiration, helping us navigate the complexities of the film industry and develop our writing careers."
Signed with a literary manager
"ScreenCraft [was] great in listening to what I’d accomplished and suggesting places they saw as a possible fit. The introductions from a trusted source helped get the conversation started with managers and executives who saw value in my work. Opportunities to connect with people in the industry are everything to a filmmaker and they provided those. They placed my work in front of managers and production companies and gave me at-bats. Connecting in the room with my new manager and knowing we had similar ideas of how to further my career and succeed together was a great feeling. They made that sit down happen. Right after placing in the competition, I was able to set a meeting through ScreenCraft with a high-level executive at MGM. Eventually, they set a meeting with my current manager."
Signed with a literary manager
"The specificity of the categories that I could hone in on under the wide ScreenCraft umbrella of competitions was what drew me towards entering my feature for ScreenCraft’s Family Screenplay Competition. The way in which the ScreenCraft team worked with me, to gently—and very steadily—push me to articulate my goals and hone in on my intentions really set the tone for how my year unfolded. Even just being able to speak the greatest dreams that I harbored out loud in a meeting... really made all the difference with upholding accountability to myself. This wasn’t a pipe dream, ScreenCraft made it abundantly clear; this is my career and my calling. "
Hired as a Co-EP for a writing assignment
"I was really interested in the caliber of people that judged the competitions at Screencraft. I also loved the written feedback. It was really astute and detailed. It felt like the readers really cared to help me improve my work. My breakthrough moment was when my first pilot, American Doctor, a drama/comedy based on my mother's true story of emigrating from the Philippines and becoming a doctor in the United States, became a Finalist in 3 different writing Fellowships/Competitions. 2 of those competitions were with Screencraft - the 2021 Screencraft Fellowship and the 2021 True Story and Public Domain Competition. It felt like there was an overwhelming confirmation that the stories I wanted to tell and how I was telling them resonated with people. Screencraft was helpful my first year in helping me to set goals, communicate with potential reps, and help me understand the process towards becoming a working writer."
Signed with a literary agent
"Winning the Fellowship has opened a lot of doors, and directly led to me finding reps and receiving invitations to dozens of amazing generals. It's also been super helpful in understanding how execs and studios work with writers and develop projects, as well as how to present yourself and your work in the market. I'll always remember the call I received telling me I'd been selected as one of the fellowship winners, when I was told how excited people at ScreenCraft and Coverfly were about my pilot. That meant so much to me. It was during lockdown in 2021, so just knowing there was a community of respected professionals there that were connecting with my work was so gratifying."
Signed an option agreement
"I placed in ScreenCraft with one of my earlier screenplays in the Family Screenplay Competition. ScreenCraft was always on my radar after that competition. I really like how ScreenCraft focuses on specific genres in each contest. I was so excited when Derby Queen was a finalist in the Comedy Competition. It was a huge milestone. I worked with ScreenCraft and [they were] definitely inspirational and extremely helpful. After my script placed as a finalist, the pandemic hit. I went from having lots of managers read it to everything pretty much coming to a halt. It was disappointing to say the least and Derby Queen lost momentum. ScreenCraft helped me strategize about how to create a target list of managers but also try to focus on optioning/selling a script rather than finding a manager right away. I think that put my focus back on the creative process of honing my voice and creating more projects as unique writing samples. "
Staffed on show for FOX
"I love storytelling; it helps me understand the world and myself. The organization genuinely seemed to care about helping emerging writers. I signed with my manager, Marc Manus, who was a judge in my [ScreenCraft Virtual Pitch] competition. I [also] recently was chosen for the Paramount Writers Mentoring Program. I'm so grateful and excited to make new connections and see what opportunities arise. "
