Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Q. Should I register my script before I enter the competition?
A. Yes, absolutely! it's a very good idea to register your script before you enter any competition or send your script to anyone in the industry to read. ASA has a script registration service with its partner, ProtectRite. Click on this link to get more information. You can register your script on-line in just 30 seconds and instantaneously obtain a certificate to print and keep for your own records. 
 
Q: What if I have already registered my script with the WGA, can I still enter your competition or do I also need to register with ProtectRite?
A: If you've already registered your script with the WGA that's fine. ASA recommends ProtectRite because they are less expensive and their registration last longer. 
 
Q: Can I enter more than one screenplay to the contest?
A: Yes, but please note that each screenplay submission requires a separate entry form and a separate entry fee. 
 
Q: Can I enter the same script from a previous year's contest?
A: Yes you may, but we discourage writers from entering the same script unless it's fundamentally different from the previous version. Each year, we employ the same handful of professional readers, so it's unlikely that, without substantive changes, a script would place dramatically different from one year to the next.  
 
Q: What are my options for entering a script?
A: You can enter your script on-line (valid only if you are paying on-line with a credit card), or you can print and mail in your entry form with your script and payment (check, money order or credit card). 
 
Q: What file formats do you accept for online submissions? 
A: We accept Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) and Final Draft (.FDR or .FDS) files. Due to the risk of losing essential formatting we cannot accept online submissions as Word (.DOC), Text (.TXT), or any other format.
 
Q: What happens if there's a problem with my electronic file?
A: We will contact the writer as soon as we encounter problems with a file and allow the entrant to send a replacement script.  
 
Q: How can I confirm that my entry was received?
A: Every entrants will receive an email confirmation once your script is received and processed for judging. If you are mailing your entry, you can also include a self-addressed, stamped postcard which will be mailed once your script is received and processed for judging.  
 
Q. When will the winner and finalists be announced? Will the quarter and finalists be announced earlier?
A. We have several levels of communication to keep you informed on the competition results. 

First, the Quarterfinalist and Finalist results are posted on the ASA web site at www.goasa.com.
Second, a notice is sent out via email by Gotham Writers Workshop using the email address you provided on your entry form. 
Third, ASA sends out notices in its e-newsletter, Script Notes, which you receive for free by simply entering your email address on our home page at www.goasa.com.
Fourth, all quarterfinalists will receive a notification letter informing them of their status.

First Round Judging: December 1, 2008 - March 31, 2009
Quarterfinalists Announced: March 31, 2009 or earlier 
Quarterfinalist Round Judging: April 1, 2009 - May 15, 2009
Finalists Announced: May 31, 2009 or earlier  
 
Q. Do you accept entries from writers outside the USA?
A. Yes, we are truly an international screenplay competition and receive entries each year from screenwriters living in virtually every continent: Europe, Asia, South America, North America, the Middle East and Africa. However, all screenplay submissions must be in the English language.  
 
Q. I live outside of the USA and have trouble getting the script printed and bound with brads or finding the correct size paper.  Is there another way I can enter your competition?
A. Yes! We now accept on-line entries. You can submit your properly formatted screenplay in either Adobe (.PDF) or Final Draft (.FDR or .FDS) formats. This way you save the hassle of printing, binding and and mailing your entry in overseas! 
 
Q: As a foreign citizen, I have difficulty finding United States dollars. What other options do I have? 
A: Your local bank or financial institution can write a money order payable in U.S. dollars, which will be accepted for your entry fee. You may also submit your script and pay online with a credit card. 
 
Q. I live in Europe and we use A4 paper, is that acceptable.
A. Yes, the use of A4 paper is acceptable for submitting your screenplay. 
 
Q. I accidentally entered the wrong screenplay / included a shooting script version of my script instead of a regular script / etc., while entering on-line at withoutabox.com, how can I rectify this problem?
A. If you have any customer service questions about trying to submit your script online via our on-line entry, please contact: screenplay@write.org.  Questions regarding Withoutabox.com entries should be sent to: chelsea@withoutabox.com

Q. Can I send in cash payment with my script?
A. DO NOT send cash through the mail, even if you send it registered/certified/etc. You can only pay your entry fee with a credit card, personal check or a money order. 
 
Q: Can I pay online with a credit card and then submit by mail? Or, can I pay with a check or money order and then submit online? 
A: Unfortunately, no. You must either submit and pay online, or submit and pay by mail. There are no exceptions.  This ensures that your screenplay and entry will be received together for accurate processing.
 
Q: How do I change my contact information if my email, mailing address, or phone number changes?
A: You may change your contact information by emailing screenplay@write.org.  
 
Q. Screenplay submissions are suppose to be between 80 pages and 130 pages. If my screenplay is shorter than 80 pages or longer than 130 will it be disqualified?
A. No, within reason. We do allow a leeway of a few pages. You should know that our guidelines require your script to be within these pages lengths because we have find that most producers, production companies, agents and other key industry personnel will not read scripts that are too short or too long, so entering a script of 60 pages or 150 pages will not help your cause of getting exposure for your script. 
 
Q. Is there a specific genre of script that has a better chance of winning?
A. No, we do not separate out or in any other way distinguish submitted scripts based on genre. In reality, the scripts that win each year do so because they are well written in the opinion of the judges, regardless of genres. Finalist scripts have included action adventure, romance, comedy, sci-fi, drama, period pieces, just about everything. 
 
Q. Can I submit a screenplay that is an adaptation of a novel or other movie?
A. Yes, you can submit an adaptation as long as you are certain you have all the rights to do the adaptation. If you are not sure, we highly recommend that you consult with an attorney before doing so because regardless of whether you submit to our competition or not, if you do an adaptation without all rights assigned to you, you are asking for legal problems down the road. 
 
Q: What is the U.S. Motion Picture industry standard screenplay format? 
A: You may consult any number of screenwriting books or screenwriting software, we highly recommend The Screenwriters Bible by David Trottier. You may also refer to our guide to standard screenplay format.  Please do your best to make sure that your screenplay is formatted correctly. Pages must be typed and not handwritten. Please proof your screenplay for typos and spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. Please make certain that your pages are properly numbered and in the correct order.  
 
Q: Will you disqualify my screenplay if it isn't formatted correctly? 
A: No, but the judges do expect to read scripts where the formatting is fundamentally similar to standard screenplay format.  
 
Q: Should I include a title page and, if so, what should be on it?
A: There is no need to include a title page as submissions are identified only through an assigned tracking number. Entries, however, that arrive with a title page will not be disqualified. We'll simply remove that information from the script before giving to a judge.  
 
Q: Should I include a log line or synopsis? What's a log line? 
A: Yes, please do. Loglines are commonly used to promote your script by using one or two enticing sentences that will immediately draw in the reader. " Examples:

• "On July 16th 1969, in the coastal town of Cocoa Beach Florida, a bank robbery gone bad leaves the MOST DAMAGING SECRET IN AMERICAN HISTORY, in the hands of  "a couple of hopped-up knuckleheads".
• "In 1880, hundreds of ex-slaves leave the South to work in Iowa's coal mines. One man burning with distrust seeks a better life for his family and discovers deep in the mines that all men are black and that he is not alone."

 
Q: How should my screenplay be bound?
A: Do not permanently bind your screenplay. The screenplay should be copied/printed onto three-hole punched paper with two to three metal fasteners (brads). We suggest the Acco brand #6 or #5 solid brass fasteners. You can obtain three-hole punch paper at any office supply store such as Office Depot or Staples, and you can also get your script printed onto three-hole paper at Kinko's, Office Depot and Staples. This isn't our "rule," it is the practice of all screenwriting professionals. 
 
Q: Who is reading the screenplays? 
A: A small handful of professional readers, who are bound by confidentiality agreements, are reading the screenplays. The Final Judges are industry professionals who will select the Finalists and First Prize-Winner.  
 
Q: What are these readers looking for in a screenplay? 
A: The readers are looking for a screenplay with the best and most well written story-- regardless of genre or budget requirements.  
 
Q: Do you provide notes, coverage, or feedback to screenwriters? 
A: Unfortunately, we do not provide notes, coverage or feedback due to the volume of scripts that we receive. However, all finalists do receive script consultations or critiques from leading Hollywood experts and quarterfinalists will receive a critique of their script.
 
Q. What should go on the card stock over?
A. You should put the title of your script on the white card stock cover so the script is easily identifiable without having to open it and search for the title. By the way, you are welcome to put a title page inside the front cover that includes the script title, but it's not required. 
 
Q. Why do the card stock covers have to be white?
A. The card stock cover should be white because we write on the covers with such information as your script entry number for tracking purposes. If you've ever tried to read something written on a dark piece of paper you see what we mean. 
 
Q. Do I forfeit any rights by entering your competition, or if I win or place in the competition?
A. No, you as the writer retain ALL your rights to your screenplay in all phases of our competition. The only time you delegate your rights is when you option or sell your script to a producer, production company, studio or other industry professional. Note: Never enter a contest that requires you sign over your rights if you win unless you have had an entertainment attorney review the documents first. 
 
Q. Can I submit a shooting script (with numbered scenes)?
A. It is customary in Hollywood not to submit scripts that are shooting scripts (with numbered scenes). If you submit a shooting script (with numbered scenes) you will not be disqualified, just understand what is normally accepted in Hollywood. 
 
Q. Is there an age limit on entering your competition?
A. No, but if you are under eighteen years of age your parent must sign the student entry form as well. 
 
Q. I've rewritten my script and have a new version finished, can I submit that your competition is place of my original entry?
A. No. Once your script is received it is processed and sent out for immediate judging. Substitutions of new drafts for entries will be not accepted.  
 
Q. Why is there a separate entry form for students? Does that mean the student entries are judged separately?
A. There is a separate entry form for college and high school students because they receive a special discounted entry and thus provide documentation validating their eligibility/student status. All scripts entered in our competition, whether student or otherwise, are judged with the same criteria and are eligible for the same prizes as part of the same competition. The judges will be unable to tell students scripts from any others entered.
 
Q: Can student entries be submitted on-line?
A: No, all student entries must be submitted via mail because of the requirement to include proof of student status (your current student ID).  
 
Q. What are the requirements to be eligible for a student entry?
A. The requirements for you to be eligible for a student entry are: 

• a full-time high school, undergraduate or graduate student (valid for students in the USA only)
• provide a photocopy of your current student ID with your entry 

Q: What are the prizes? 
A: The First Prize-Winner will receive $10,000 and a script development trip to LA. All finalists receive script consultations or critiques from leading Hollywood experts, industry exposure to more than 6,500 producers, companies and agents, and additional screenwriting resources such as a professional membership in ASA, an on-line writing class from Gotham Writers' Workshop, the latest Final Draft software, screenwriting books and much more. Quarterfinalists will receive a critique of their script.  
 
Q. What do you do with all the money you collect? You must get rich from doing this competition?
A. No, we do not get rich. The money we receive in the form of entry fees is used to pay for the prizes (more than $30,000 worth), marketing expenses, operational expenses such as personnel to process and keep track of the thousands of entries, shipping scripts to judges, promotion of the winning scripts, and communitcing with entrants. Our goal each year is to not lose money running the competition and we are always looking for ways to increase the prizes offered. It should be noted that the American Screenwriters Association is a non-profit 501 (c) organization.