This is an initiative to platform talent, connect talent and improve our skills in filmmaking and marketing.
If you see it as a competition only, you will miss the greatest benefits.
Dates and deadlines tend to be soft and moveable. We do this as we discover things on the journey, and modifying the process will likely result in a better film. The whole process will take
longer than we all anticipate, in line with all filmmaking endeavors.
We operate in as transparent a way as possible and share many updates via the News section. We invite you to get
involved in conversations.
If we get the scripts right, the films will be knockout and we will have a compelling movie that will make audiences 'feel’ very deeply. And that is the core ingredient for a hit.
Make no mistake, we are building on everything that we learned from 50 Kisses and we
are determined to produce a film that will attract both broad audiences as well as broadcasters and distributors. We want this film to play very widely.
We learned a great deal from 50 Kisses. Here are some thoughts.
- Scripts MUST be two pages or less. Very few people submitted one page scripts, and there is no reason why you should not do so.
- Give your script an original title and do not call it 'The Impact'.
- Anyone can enter from anywhere around the world, though scripts must be in English.
- Scripts MUST be submitted in English although the subsequent films can be translated into any language.
- Do submit several scripts, especially the one you think is a great idea, and the one(s) that scare you to write. Be bold or controversial.
- Do redraft, rewrite and polish before uploading. 80% of scripts submitted to 50 Kisses contained typos, redundant words and just plain, first draft writing. Be excellent and you will rise to
the top of the pile.
- Don’t obsess about punchline stories with big character arcs and melodrama. Small and understated stories can work just as well, even portraiture in some cases.
- But if you do have a killer ‘big’ story, do write and submit it. Remember you can submit more than one script and we urge you to write something radically different for your second
submission.
- To help filmmakers, unless absolutely essential, we would avoid naming cities / countries in your scripts. This will allow filmmakers ANYWHERE to produce your script and in the correct
timezone for their own shooting location.
- Consider producing a film, even if it’s not your script. The value is in the journey, process, new relationships and experience.
- Consider production issues. Someone who is cash strapped but overflowing with passion and chutzpah may shoot your film. Ask yourself, how could I arrange what’s in the script? If you feel it
would be possible, even a challenge, it’s probably OK.
- Avoid obvious ‘first idea’ stories. No matter how good it is, if it’s an obvious thought we may well get a lot of scripts on that same theme, and we can only take one script that tells ‘that
story’. In ‘50 Kisses’ we had around 100 ‘deathbed in a hospital confession’ scripts, and we could really only take one or the film would start to feel very ‘samey’. By all means write it and
submit it, but also write a second one that is not that ‘brilliant first idea’ you had.
- Be prepared to engage with the community in a positive and constructive manner. Expect to receive feedback, some of which you may not like. But remember this is a critical part of the
writer's process and will be a constant throughout your writing career.
- Be prepared to engage in the process beyond the writing of your script. We encourage you to engage and collaborate with the filmmakers and you should also expect to get involved in the
marketing (online and via traditional press) of the final completed film as it goes into distribution (be that in theatres, television or online). Though your script may be one of many
shorts included, ultimately this is YOUR film and YOUR career you are advancing.
- To submit a script you MUST pay the entry fee AND sign the contract. Your script remains YOUR property but you do give us the right to produce it, and to allow the community to produce it.