Competition presented by: International Screenwriters’ Association
See more contests presented by International Screenwriters’ Association.
The information included in on this page was provided by Jordan Trippeer, ISA Development and Contest Coordinator, on June 19, 2020.
Competition Information
Three Table Read My Screenplay contests are conducted each year.
One of the main aspects of this competition is to find writers for the ISA’s Development Slate program, where scripts are then championed throughout the industry to top agents, managers and producers.
“The table read and film festival experience is incredible, but the greatest value comes from the Dev Slate.”
Jordan Trippeer, Development and Contest Coordinator
| Competition Name | Table Read My Screenplay |
| Competition Website | tablereadmyscreenplay.com |
| Contact Information | info@tablereadmyscreenplay.com jordan@networkisa.org jerren@networkisa.org |
| Competition Type | Competition |
| The information included on this page was provided relative to: | The 2020 Script Competition |
| Total number of scripts entered in the previous year | The three Table Read contests conducted in the prior year resulted in over 4,000 combined total entries. |
| Total number of scripts entered in the previous year per genre | Prior years did not use genre-specific judging. |
Entry Dates and Fees
| Opens for Entries | February 29, 2020 | Entry Fee: $19 |
| First Submission Period | February 29, 2020 to March 5, 2020 @ 11:59 p.m. PST | Entry Fee: $19 |
| Second Submission Period | March 6, 2020 @ 12:00 a.m. PST to March 12, 2020 @ 11:59 p.m. PST | Entry Fee $39 |
| Third Submission Period | March 13, 2020 @ 12:00 a.m. PST to April 7, 2020 @ 11:59 p.m. PST | Entry Fee $49 |
| Fourth Submission Period | April 8, 2020 @ 12:00 a.m. PST to May 28, 2020 @ 11:59 p.m. PST | Entry Fee $69 |
| Final Submission Period | May 29, 2020 @ 12:00 a.m. PST to June 5, 2020 @ 11:59 p.m. PST | Entry Fee $75 |
Discounts
A variety of discounts are offered, including those for previous entrants and those who are part of ISA Connect.
Type of Scripts Accepted
| Feature-length | Features: 80 to 120 pages |
| Short | Shorts: under 45 pages |
| Teleplay Pilot | Original pilots only (half-hour, one-hour, and web series) Teleplay pilots: 10 to 70 pages Web series pilots: 1 to 20 pages |
Type of Genres Accepted
| Feature-length | Action/Adventure Comedy Drama Historical/Biopic Horror/Sci-fi Mystery/Crime/Thriller |
| Short | Action/Adventure Comedy Drama Historical/Biopic Horror/Sci-fi Mystery/Crime/Thriller |
| Teleplay Pilot | Action/Adventure Comedy Drama Historical/Biopic Horror/Sci-fi Mystery/Crime/Thriller |
Advancement Tiers
| Semifinals | Top 25 scripts per genre |
| Finals | Top 10 scripts per genre |
| Genre Winners | One Winner per genre |
| Grand-Prize Winner | One Grand-Prize Winner chosen from Genre Winners |
Advancement Notifications
| Entrants | Advancement notifications are sent directly to entrants via email and/or phone call. |
| Public | Semifinalists, finalists and winners are posted on the competition website and shared via social media pages. Email blasts as well. |
Awards and Prizes
| Promotion | Publicized on the ISA and Table Read websites, winners invited to development slate, scripts up for submission to companies and executives. Winning scripts sent to rolodex of agents, managers and producers. Entrants will be informed who their script and contact information was sent to. |
| Festivals/ Conferences | Table Read My Screenplay Event — Hollywood, Austin, Park City. Held on various dates depending on location. Competition prizes relative to the event: The Grand Prize winner (feature or pilot) receives festival perks and paid travel (if travel is required). |
| Education/ Mentorship | The Development Slate offers the writer an on-going mentorship with ISA staff, producers and industry professionals. |
| Trips/ Retreats | Trip/retreat prizes associated with the competition: Pass to the Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference, Live Table Read of Your Script with a Professional Director and Actors, Tickets to Films, Panels, Parties and More. |
| Other Prizes feature and teleplay | •ISA Development Slate Acceptance •Professionally Designed Movie Poster •Plus Genre Winners’ Prizes •$1000 Cash •ISA Development Slate Consideration •ISAConnect Membership •Script Studio •6 Month WrapPRO Membership (short/web series prizes differ) |
Judges
| Judge Credentials | At least one year as a reader, providing coverage, usually either a writing, English, or film degree (producing, screenwriting, etc.). Publicized judges are usually studio executives and producers. |
| Judges Seeking New Writers or Material | Yes, all competition judges are seeking new writers or material. Judges generally agree to read curated material pertinent to their mandates. If a judge is interested in a script or writer, ISA will act as the go-between until a rapport forms between the judge and the writer. |
Judging Process
| Script assignment | Scripts are randomly assigned to judges. |
| Judge knowledge of script prior to reading | Judges are provided with a script’s logline and genre prior to reading. |
| Script qualities the competition looks to advance | Original, well structured material that satisfies the expectations of its genre, and strong, flawed characters. Diverse voices, LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC. |
| Judging Criteria This criteria is the same for every round of competition. | Structure Character Plot Theme Originality Marketability Pacing |
Submission Information
| Required materials | Script, writer contact information, logline, genre. Logline and genre are provided to a script’s judges. Show bibles may be submitted with teleplay entries. |
| Submission Pathways | Table Read My Screenplay website ISA website: networkisa.org Filmfreeway Coverfly |
| Rights | Entrants retain all rights to their entered script and other submitted materials. |
Script Eligibility Requirements
| Page Length | Features: 80 to 120 pages Shorts: under 45 pages Teleplays: Pilots: 10 to 70 pages Web series: 1 to 20 pages Scripts that fall outside requested page-length will not be disqualified. If feedback is requested, a $1.00 per page fee is required for scripts that exceed the requested page count. |
| Adaptations | Accepted if in the public domain or the writer owns the rights. |
| Previous or Concurrent Competition Entry Restrictions | A script cannot be entered if it has won the competition previously. |
| Script purchases, options, production, etc. | The script and any related materials must not be in a current option agreement, and/or may not have been previously sold or produced for profit. |
| Copyright | Not required, but is recommended. |
| WGA Registration | Not required, but is recommended. |
Writer Eligibility Requirements
| Age Restrictions | Entrants under 18 years of age must have guardian’s permission. |
| International Submissions | Accepted. |
| Multiple Writers | Writing teams of two are allowed to enter. |
Written Critiques
| Critique Name | Reader Feedback Types: First 20s Full Feedback Development Eval |
| Fee | $30 to $99. A $1.00 per page fee is required for scripts that exceed the requested page count. |
| Purchase Opportunity | Critique can be added to competition entry or purchased separately. |
| Receipt | Critique will be sent to entrant within 90 days. |
| Length of Critique | First 20s = 1-page critique Full Feedback = 3-page critique Development Eval = 5-page critique |
| Number of Critiques | One per purchase. |
| Critique Contents | A Full Feedback critique includes reviews of the following: Concept Structure Character Voice Dialog Theme |
| Critics | Scripts are evaluated for written critiques separately from the competition and therefore the written critiques entrants received are not written by their competition judges. Critiques are written by Script Readers whose credentials must include at least one year as a reader, providing coverage, and/or a writing, English, or film degree (producing, screenwriting, etc). A critic’s individual credentials are not included with the critique. Critics are not seeking new writers/material. |
| Script Assignment | Scripts are assigned randomly to critics. |
| Script Knowledge | Prior to reading the script, critics are provided with the script’s logline and genre. |
Screenplay Competitions 