The 9th Annual First Look Project fulfills the requests of production companies and managers by finding high-concept material in screenplays and TV pilots.
Next Deadline: September 15th
Screenwriting Contest
The 19th Annual Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition connects talented writers with production companies, agencies, and managers who can help launch their career.
Next Deadline: August 31st
Submit
TV Writing Contest
The 14th Script Pipeline TV Writing Competition is searching for television writers and original pilots for exposure to production companies, agencies, and managers.
Next Deadline: August 31st
Submit
Idea Contest
The Great Movie and TV Show Idea contests are searching for original feature film and television series concepts; unique stories a diverse audience can connect with.
Next Deadline: August 20th
Submit
About
Script Pipeline discovers and develops writers for film and television, connecting them to producers, agents, and managers. Since 1999, several produced films and over $7 million in screenplay and TV pilot spec sales are credited to Script Pipeline’s unique, intensive process of long-term writer-to-industry facilitation.
Success stories include:
Tripper Clancy, winner of the Screenwriting Contest, sold the comedy The Ambassadors to 20th Century Fox and the pitch Winter Break, before writing Stranded for Sony and Hacker Camp for Hasbro. In development: High Five with Amazon, an adaptation of the bestselling novel The Art of Fielding for Mandalay / IMG, and a Kevin Hart series for Quibi, Die Hart. His action-comedy Stuber sold to Fox for the mid-six figures and starred Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) star. Tripper was also staffed on the Netflix series I am Not Okay With This (2020).
Screenwriting Competition winner Evan Daugherty selling Snow White and the Huntsman to Universal for $3 million and later taking the lead on studio films Divergent and Ninja Turtles, as well as the new Anaconda reimagining for Sony. His contest-winning script Killing Season was produced and starred Academy Award-winner Robert De Niro and John Travolta.
Most recently, Screenwriting Competition winner Helen Gaughran signed with UTA, and several other finalists and winners landed management, such as 2019 First Look Project winner Nick Roth and 2019 TV Writing finalist JP Estes getting representation from Zero Gravity (Ozark).
A number of original feature and TV projects are in various stages of development, and over 150 writers have found representation, had their scripts optioned and produced, and seen their careers launched as a result of facilitation. With a constantly expanding industry network, Script Pipeline searches for new material and writers on a daily basis–and an anticipated 20,000 screenplays, pilots, and original pitches will be reviewed for 2020.
Upcoming Deadline
August 31st, 2020 Screenwriting Competition
Affiliate Services
Consultation and Fellowship Opportunities
Interviews
Winner of the Script Pipeline First Look Project with his pilot Power Suit, Nick Roth had a varied career in the industry before becoming a full-time screenwriter. Following his contest win, Pipeline executives connected him with management at Zero Gravity, who saw the clear potential in his high-concept TV project set in the world of 1980s Hollywood. Before we get into the pilot, you told us a story of writing a screenplay with your father (a veteran TV director) in China over the course of several months. . . . How formative was that for you, creatively and professionally speaking? So I decided to pursue screenwriting full-time a little over seven years ago, and since then, I sort of have had the beginnings of two completely separate writing careers. In one, I spent about six years as a writers’ PA, assistant editor, researcher, middle school substitute Latin teacher, etc., and…
From Script Pipeline Writers
“When I literally knew no one in LA, Script Pipeline promoted my script to anyone and everyone who'd listen. Not to mention read my other material and answer a barrage of questions, all while being unbelievably creatively supportive. I'd recommend them without hesitation.”
Helen Gaughran (Visitation)Screenwriting Contest Winner
“I cannot overstate the impact that Script Pipeline has had on my writing career. Winning the contest directly led to new representation, which in turn led to working with studios like 20th Century Fox.”
Tripper Clancy (Stuber)Screenwriting Contest Winner
“Script Pipeline introduced me to a manager and helped launch my professional career as a writer.”
Evan Daugherty (Snow White & the Huntsman, Divergent, Rose Red)Screenwriting Contest Winner
“In a matter of hours, Script Pipeline achieved what I’d been trying to do for years: they got my foot in the door... and changed my life in more ways than I could have imagined.”
Justin Daries JamesTV Writing Contest Winner (Powerhouse)
“In the few days after the competition announcement, we had a slew of terrific meetings... Script Pipeline allowed us, two unknowns from Australia, to come to LA, meet people in the industry, and begin relationships.”
Penelope Chai and Matteo BernardiniScreenwriting Contest Winner
“The Script Pipeline staff goes the extra mile promoting and championing their winners' work and have gotten me opportunities I would never have been able to get on my own. It's wonderful being a part of the Script Pipeline family, and I am proud to be counted as one of their winners.”
Diana WrightFirst Look Project Winner
“I’ve been fortunate to be a finalist in a few comps. None have been as continually supportive and responsive as Script Pipeline. They’re about relationships, not transactions.”
Josh EstesTV Writing Finalist
“When I relocated from NYC to LA to pursue sitcom writing, everyone I met in the industry said it wasn’t about entering competitions, it was about entering the right competition. Script Pipeline was a turning point.”
Howard Jordan Jr. (Superior Donuts)TV Writing Contest Runner-up
Essential Reading - Screenplays and Pilots
In recent years, the lines between comedy and drama have become increasingly blurred, at least in the television world. It’s not uncommon to see hourlong series that more closely resemble comedies and half-hour shows that are for all intents and purposes dramas. This current trend was kickstarted almost fifteen years ago with shows like Weeds and Desperate Housewives that, while being ostensibly comedies, often leaned more heavily toward the drama side of the coin. Demand for this type of series has only increased, and dramedy has become a surprising enduring and successful genre for female-led series. Just look at last year’s Emmy nominations — Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Russian Doll each straddles that line and all were met with critical acclaim. Also add Dead to Me to that list. The series, created by Liz Feldman, is a (dark) comedy about grief. Two women meet in a therapy group for…
Script Sales
Here are some of the most notable script sales from June 2020: – Searchlight Pictures has picked up Stefani Robinson’s pitch Black Mozart, based on the true story of Chevalier de Sant-Georges. Stephen Williams is attached to direct. – Lionsgate, Good Fear, and Mangata have picked up Stephen Herman’s horror spec The Culling. David F. Sandberg is attached to direct. – Thunder Road Pictures picked up Doug Simon’s 2019 Black List script Breathe, a sci-fi/thriller. – Will Packer Productions and Universal Pictures have acquired One and Done, written by Chad Sanders and Chris Spencer. The sports drama script follows a top high school athlete who decided to attend an HBCU. – Brendan O’Brien has been tapped to script the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot for Nickelodeon Animation and Point Grey Pictures. – Christina Hodson will script the next entry in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise for Walt Disney Pictures…
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