Lab Dates: July 17-19, 2002

As part of OUTFEST's 20th Anniversary celebration, we're proud to unveil the OUTFEST Screenwriting Lab, a competitive program to nurture emerging screenwriters and promote promising screenplays that significantly feature lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered characters and/or themes.

Since 1997, over 500 scripts have been submitted to the OUTFEST Screenwriting Competition. The newly expanded program will feature a dynamic three-day, mentor-led workshop in Los Angeles for the top screenwriters identified by a panel of entertainment industry professionals.

The authors of up to five (5) winning screenplays will be invited to participate in an intensive laboratory during which each will be paired with an established writer who will critique and encourage their work. Held in conjunction with OUTFEST 2002, the Lab will also include sessions with other industry professionals, structured career development opportunities and participation in ongoing festival events.

In addition to participating in the three-day intensive Lab, competition winners will receive:

• travel assistance within the continental U.S. (limited to one person per screenplay in cases of multiple authors)
• housing in Los Angeles
• OUTFEST 2002 festival accreditation
  

With the inauguration of the OUTFEST Screenwriting Lab, this organization deepens its commitment to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered film from conception to exhibition.

In 2001, judges included the following industry representatives:

Leslie Belzberg, St. Clare Entertainment
Greg Berlanti, Director
David Bernardi, Imagine Entertainment
Dustin Lance Black, Sock Puppet Enterprises
Brandon Boyce, Screenwriter
Scott Bradley, Paradigm
Eric Buchanan, Producer
Howard Cohen, United Talent Agency
Eric d'Arbeloff, Roadside Attractions
Kevin Donahue, Atlantic Streamline
Dawn Ebert-Byrnes, Summit Entertainment
Patrick Falvey, Mutual Film Company
Jordanna Fraiberg, Village Roadshow Pictures
Stephanie Gisondi, Weed Road Pictures
Paul Goff, Cucolorlis Films
Larry Grimaldi, Brayton/Carlucci Productions
Rogers Hartman, Sanford Gross
Brian Harvey, Touchstone Television
Chad Hudson, Castle Rock Entertainment
Bruce Hughes, Screenwriter
Jonathan Hung, Chris Lee Productions
Stephen Israel, Neofight Film Inc.
William Kaufman, Sock Puppet Enterprises
Keya Khayatian, United Talent Agency
Mark Kruger, Screenwriter
Dean Lavine, Disney Channel
Bob Levinson, ICM
Dave Mace, Storyline Entertainment
McIntyre Maury, Screenwriter
Josh McLaughlin, Mutual Film Company
Barry K. McPherson, APA
Chad Miller, Screenwriter
Darla Moyer-Sims, Producer
Ragna Nervik, Palomar Pictures
Mary Pickertt, Paramount Digital Pictures
Orly Ravid, Maxmedia/ FilmFixx
Chris Rico, Wil Vinton Studios
Philip Ross, Brillstein-Grey
David Rubin, Mirage Enterprises
George Sealey, Katie Face Productions
Michael Sluchan, USA Networks
Susan Stein, Red Cliff Productions
Mark Stoelting, Michael Black Management
Eric Timm, CBS Productions
Patrick Welborn, Producer
Josh Welsh, IFP/West

OUTFEST
Screenwriting Lab

Submission Requirements

1. Screenplays entered in this competition should display significant content or thematic material regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered persons and/or issues. A submitted screenplay may not be based on pre-existing literary works unless these are the original work of the author(s) of the screenplay. The submitted material must not have been purchased or optioned for purchase by any established production company, motion picture studio or film financing entity.

2. This competition is open to anyone who has not received screenplay credit (shared or sole) on a feature film that has been released theatrically in the United States. Individuals are eligible to enter regardless of sexual orientation. This contest is not open to individuals in the following categories, nor to their immediate family members: employees of OUTFEST, members of its Board of Directors and judges of this contest.

3. Applicants must submit:

a. An entry form, completed in its entirety and signed by the applicant(s).
b. Three (3) copies of an original screenplay, between 90 and 130 pages in length.
c. A statement of up to one page (250 words) outlining career history and objectives of the screenwriter(s) as well as what they hope to gain from their participation in the Lab.
d. A non-refundable entry fee of US$25.00 (check or money order).
e. Optional: A self-addressed, stamped postcard for acknowledgement of receipt of entry.

4. Each applicant may enter only one screenplay each year. Screenplays entered in the contest in previous years may only be re-submitted once and they must have been revised since the previous entry.

5. SUBMITTED SCRIPTS WILL NOT BE RETURNED. It is therefore strongly recommended that applicants do not send original materials.

6. Format Requirements:

a. Screenplays should be written in screenplay format standard to the United States motion picture industry.
b. Screenplays should be suited to feature film production in their conception; television pilots and series episodes will be disqualified, as well as scripts formatted as "movies of the week" (with act breaks for commercials, etc.).
c. Screenplays should be typed or printed (dot matrix or laser printing are both acceptable) on white, three-hole paper and bound with two or three metal fasteners (brads). Text must only be on one side of paper. Card-stock covers are required to protect the script (see below). The spine of the script must not be covered (i.e. the page edges should remain visible). Pages must be numbered.
d. IMPORTANT: The card stock cover must be blank or contain no more than the title of the script. A title page, following the card stock cover, must contain the applicant’s identifying information. The applicant’s name must not appear on any page following the title page; no other identifying materials may appear on the script. (The title page will be removed before the script is forwarded to judges, so that each script may be read anonymously).
e. No additional materials should be attached to the script (e.g. letters of recommendation, story synopsis, alternate pages, character list, mention of awards or production, etc.).

7. All entrants will be notified of competition results by May 31, 2002.

8. Entering the contest constitutes permission to use the entrant’s name and likeness for publicity and promotions.

9. Although not necessary at time of entry, OUTFEST encourages writers to register their material with either the Writer’s Guild of America or the U.S. Copyright Office. Writer’s Guild East: (212) 767-7800. Writer’s Guild West: (323) 951-4000. U.S. Copyright information: (202) 707-3000.

10. Any disputes or questions regarding the application or effect of these rules shall be resolved by the Board of Directors of OUTFEST, whose judgment shall be binding and final on all parties.

Click here to download the Screenwriting Entry Form. (You will need Acrobat Reader to view the letter. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, click here to download.)