THE CSSC HAS MOVED SITES:
please visit at the new site by clicking here, or by visiting http://www.screenplay-contest.com
If your question isn’t answered below please contact us: by email
Q: Is the competition only open to writers of Canadian nationality?
A: Not at all. In the true spirit of being Canadian, we’re just too darn polite and can’t find it in our hearts to turn someone away because of the country they are from. We welcome entries from all over the world. So call up your Aunt in Luxembourg and let her know that Loïc can enter his script. In fact, you might be thrilled to learn that 2008′s 2nd place entry “No Man’s Land”, came all the way from Ireland and the 2009/10 1st Place Writers Block Crystal went to Neil Graham of the United Kingdom!
Q: What is the top prize?
A: The Grand Prize winning screenwriter(s) of the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition will receive CAD $2,500, an iPad, an ePublishing agreement, accreditation to attend the 2011 Yorkton Film Festival and have their screenplay produced by Year of the Skunk Productions. It will be premiered (subject to availability), and entered into film festivals around the world along with the help of our distribution partner Ouat!Media. For more information, you can check out the prizes page.
Q: Is there a cash alternative?
A: No. While the top three prizes are accompanied by a cash amount, there is no cash alternative to any prize. Prizes are awarded ‘as is’. Our hope is to launch a writer’s career with this competition. We believe that the best prize would be to set a screenplay writer on a career path. Having your screenplay produced and to be able to show it to an agent / producer / the world on the screen is the best opportunity you can hope for. That is the golden opportunity on offer here. As well, and new for 2010/11′s year is the introduction of a non-exclusive ePublishing agreement for top 13 finalists (a true opportunity to get paid for your writing)!
Q: Can I read last year’s winning and finalist scripts?
A: New for this year, we’ve introduced the ability for fans of the CSSC to purchase copies of the top 3 winning short film screenplays (for a nominal fee and process similar to iTunes). The beautiful part of this, is that profits from the sale of the screenplays/eBooks will be shared with the respective authors, so you can feel fantastic about your purchase knowing it supports these emerging talents/burgeoning writers in the film industry.
Q: I’m not yet 18, but I have a great script I want to enter… What do I do?
A: No need for fake ID’s here. Simply have your parent or legal guardian sign your entry form in the appropriate box and your script is on it’s way to being a part of the competition!
Q: Live-Action screenplay?! Does that mean you only accept action genre films?
A: No. This simply means we are looking to produce scripts that are NOT animation, lifestyle or documentary scripts. Otherwise, so far as genre goes… your imagination is the only limit we’ll place on you.
Q: Who will produce the films?
A: Year of the Skunk Productions will produce all winning screenplays.
Q: Who is Year of the Skunk Productions?
A: Year of the Skunk Productions was approached to manage the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition. Additionally, we are in the business of producing comedic and dramatic content, shorts, feature films and television productions. This of course is great news for the entrants of the competition as we are able to offer more opportunities for writers.
Q: Who will direct the films?
A: Year of the Skunk Productions will select directors for all films produced. They will be provided with a professional cast and crew.
Q: Why are the writers expected to pay a CAD $25 fee?
A: We are extremely grateful to our sponsors for their in-kind support but as generous as their sponsorship is, the competition has considerable administration costs which have to be met, separately from any of the film production budget(s). Having said that, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the cost of submission. As soon as we can, we will do so. It is also worth noting that there are several discount codes floating around out there that can be applied to reduce the fee for entrance to the competition. Keep your eyes open for them. And when you find one, share ‘em with your buddies.
Q: What is the budget of the film?
A: This is a difficult question. Why? Because we don’t yet know the screenplay we are to produce. Does it have a cast of one or thirty-three? Is it all interiors or exteriors with a cast of thousands? Where will we shoot? Can we make it eligible and maximize all the available tax credits? Do we need a crane or have to block off traffic? And do we include or exclude sponsorship in this budget? Each winning script will have different needs and requirements that will determine the individual screenplay’s production budget.
Q: Who are the judges?
A: We use industry professionals with a variety of experience in the business. We prefer to protect the judges’ and writers’ anonymity prior to judging and the results are announced. This protects the judges and competitors of any reprisals and accusations of misappropriating the outcome of the competition. We feel this creates a fair judging system. Judges for 2009/10 consisted of the following fine folks:
David Carey, Writer and 2nd place winner of 2008 CSSC
Anna Tsouliagiannis, Broadcast Executive and Programmer – Movieola, the Short Film Channel
Josh Strait, Actor and Song Writer
Joanne McDonald, Broadcast Executive – SCN
Stephen Huszar, Producer – Hulo Films
Dillon Andrews, CSSC Social Media Coordinator & Web Entrepreneur
Michael Bien, Producer
Glenn Cockburn & Sheron Scherba, Agents – Meridian Artists
Tyler Ward, Actor
Shaista Ahmed, Series Creator
Laurence Cohen, Director
Jeff Boulton, Producer/Director
David Cormican, CSSC Founder & Producer
Q: Will the winning writer get a copy of the film?
A: Yes. This whole project is being run for the screenplay writer. Their prize is the production of their screenplay. Of course the winner will receive DVD copy of the final film as well as all the press and publicity we can drum up for them. We also encourage winners to pursue other avenues of promotion and PR for their winning/finalist scripts.
Q: How much is the CAD $25 submission fee in USD?
A: Get up-to-date currency conversion here.
Q: How about in Pesos, Rubles and Swiss Francs?
A: Get up-to-date currency conversion here.
Q: Can I pay the entry fee by Credit, Debit Card or Bank Transfer?
A: Yes. There is a direct link on the ENTRY page for you to pay by these means using a secure connection via PayPal and/or Withoutabox.
Q: I have a short screenplay which is seventeen pages will it be disqualified from entry into the competition?
A: Yes. 15 pages is the maximum page length accepted. And with that said, do remember the competition slogan:
Short. Is. Better.
Q: How can I increase my chances of winning?
A: Write the best script possible.
Here are some helpful suggestions to better your chances of winning
any screenplay competition:
* Send your submission in early! Waiting until the deadline will only place your submission at the bottom of the pile. Some competition piles can run into thousands of submissions, in which event the readers can be under pressure to read quickly and not give your screenplay the time it may require.
* Always bind your screenplay. The preferred binding is using only one brass brad in the top left corner. They keep the screenplay together and the reader doesn’t lose the all important scene.
* No fancy binding. Seriously. Ditch the covers and the booklets and plastic. Stick to one brass brad in the top-left corner. It is appreciated. And in this case, cheaper is better!
* Please, please, please! Do not send submissions by registered post. It’s a waste of time to go to the post office and collect your submission, and your money to pay for this extra feature.
* Please put your name, address, telephone number and Email address, if you have one, so that you can be contacted should you win.
* Make sure that the copy you send is legible without the magnifying glass!
* Make sure your payment is made out properly to: Year of the Skunk Productions
* Use standard screenplay format. There are lots of books on the market which will teach you and also available are many computer screenwriting programs.
* Word and Final Draft formatted screenplays will be accepted, but it is much easier if the file is emailed in as a .pdf
* Please attach the entry fee certified cheque or postal order/money order to the entry form with a paper clip, please do not staple it. Put your name/script title in the memo of the cheque/postal order/money order in case it gets separated from the screenplay.
* Use enough postage to cover the cost of mailing.
* Fill in your Entry Forms and Release in BLOCK CAPITALS and clearly. Make sure they are signed!
* Check your submission one last time again for ENTRY/REGISTRATION FORM, ENTRY FEE, YOUR SCREENPLAY, CONTACT INFORMATION and ACCURACY.
Good luck with your submission!
