Red Planet Prize

UPDATED ** LIST OF RULES, see bottom

You should all know by now. 5 grand. A TV commission from Tony Jordan. And an agent. The Red Planet Prize. Come get some.

On Tuesday, the legendary Mr Jordan launched this amazing prize at the Screenwriters' Festival (which I'm helping coordinate, that's me sitting next to Tony on the video blog). It really is an exciting and inspiring opportunity. There's no entry free and it's open to everyone, so there's no excuse not to enter.

As you'll see from the website, the first round only asks that you send in the first ten pages of a script. This could be half hour, one hour or a spec feature film. Basically, it should be a script that best demonstrates your abilities as a writer.

In the links on the right (top 10 popular posts), I've written about The First Ten Pages and The Top 10 Cliched Ways to Begin Your Script, so you may want to check them out as the tips may (or may not) be useful. I wrote these when the blog started 2 years ago, so I'll probably do an updated version soon.

Anyway, below are the official details of the prize. It's gonna be good!

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Red Planet Pictures shows its on-going commitment to finding new screenwriting talent with the creation of an annual prize for the best and brightest. The final judging panel sees Tony Jordan joined by Julie Gardner (Head of Drama Wales and Drama Commissioning at the BBC), writer and actor Mark Gatiss, and Stephen Fry.

The winner will receive:

• £5000
• Representation
• A script commission for Red Planet Pictures

The finalists will all spend a workshop day with Tony Jordan and receive mentoring from Red Planet Pictures.

How to enter:

Your entry should consist of no more than 10 pages of your screenplay, and a covering page about yourself - including a half-page synopsis of your work. (Please note, sending complete screenplays will disqualify you.)

All entries must be in English and in screenwriting format. They must also be original and the sole property of the applicant.

Entries should be sent to redplanetprize@redplanetpictures.co.uk

Should you make it through to the next round, we will request the complete screenplay.

Closing date for entries is 1st September 2007

Good luck!

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Rules

All scripts must be in English and in screenwriting format.

Scripts must be original and the sole property of the applicants.

For the first round, only the first ten pages of the script, a half page synopsis of the script and a half page biog of the writer are required (Please note, sending complete screenplays for the first round will result in disqualification).

Entries should be sent to redplanetprize @ redplanetpictures.co.uk

Only one entry per person.

Deadline for entries is 1 September 2007.

Full scripts will be requested by Red Planet Pictures in October 2007.

The final short listed candidates will be contacted in December 2007 for a workshop day and the winner will be announced following the workshop.