Deadline: 29 April 2011
gmc SCREENPLAY COMPETITION 2011 OVERVIEW, ELIGIBILITY & INSTRUCTIONS
gmc is America’s favorite channel for uplifting music and entertainment. It can be seen in almost 48 million homes and is available nationally on DIRECTV Channel 338, Verizon FiOS Channel 224 and on local cable.
Contest Overview
The gmc SCREENPLAY COMPETITION 2011 is meant to encourage and promote the production of faith-friendly, family-friendly and inspirational screenplays and films. The competition is meant to:
- Encourage filmmakers to go beyond the “pastor’s story” and beyond the “church story” as the only settings for family-friendly and faith-friendly stories.
- Encourage filmmakers to organically incorporate faith and faith elements into stories that resonate and appeal to broad audiences.
- Expand interest beyond “Christian”/”evangelical” films, to include films that are consistent with Judeo-Christian values, and that have mainstream commercial appeal.
- Expand the genres/formats that tell these inspiring stories like dramas, comedies, romantic comedies and action movies.
One (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the three Finalists and announced at the closing night event of ABFF.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Screenplays must be faith-friendly and family-friendly. They must incorporate messages, themes or topics that include, depict, reflect, and/or are set in an American Black cultural experience.
2. Screenplays must be written for a two (2) hour television movie (approximately Eighty-Eight (88) minutes of content, excluding commercials).
3. Screenwriter(s) must be Eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the Date of Submission as stated in the Submission Form.
4. The contest is only open to United States residents.
5. All screenplays must be submitted in English.
6. Screenplays must be original with the Screenwriter, and must not have been produced, or be scheduled to be produced, in any form (television, live-theatrical, feature film, on-line).
7. Screenplays must be complete and have been written by the Date of Submission.
8. No individual Screenwriter can be attached (either as the sole Screenwriter or as a Co-Screenwriter) to more than three (3) submitted Screenplays.
9. The Screenplay must be the original work of the Screenwriter(s) and may not be based, in whole or in part, on any other work to which the Screenwriter(s) does/do not own the rights.
10. Employees of Gospel Music Channel, LLC, its parent, affiliate or subsidiaries (whether permanent or temporary), and their respective immediate family members and/or those living in the same household, are not eligible to participate in the gmc SCREENPLAY COMPETITION 2011.
Submission Instructions
1. Each Submitted Screenplay must be submitted and received with the following items on the list below to qualify for entry:
o Two (2) completed copies of the Submission Form.
o Two (2) original and signed copies of the Submission Guidelines and Release.
o Two (2) original copies of the Screenplay.
o Each Screenplay should be submitted on 8-1/2 x 11, white, 3-hole punched paper, with only two brass fasteners (top & bottom).
o Each Screenplay should be a minimum of 88 pages and maximum of 100 pages.
o Each Screenplay should be typed in standard script format, in black ink, in 12 pt Courier or Times Roman font.
o Two (2) copies of a short Synopsis of the Screenplay (between 75 – 100 words).
o Two (2) copies of a written Biography and color Photo of each Screenwriter(s).
o Two (2) copies of a written list of writing and/or production Credits for each Screenwriter(s), including any work that has been produced or is scheduled to be produced, in any form, as of the Date of Submission.
2. The title of the Screenplay and name(s) of each Screenwriter(s) must be on all Submission Materials.
3. Each submitted Screenplay must be submitted with a separate Submission Form and separate Submission Materials as outlined below in the section titled “Submission Materials”.
4. Submission Materials (including the Screenplay, the Submission Form, and the Submission Guidelines and Release) should be mailed (by regular postage or express delivery) to:
gmc SCREENPLAY COMPETITION 2011
c/o Film Life, Inc.
116 West 23rd Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011.
NOTE: We will not accept electronic copies of any Screenplays or Submission Materials.
5. Submission Deadline: All Submission Materials must be received by 5PM on FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011. If any Submission Materials are received after 5PM on FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011, the Screenplay will not be considered.
6. Please note that Submission Materials will not be returned.
Selection and Prizing
If your Screenplay is selected:
1. Finalists:
o GMC shall select three (3) “Finalist Screenplays” and shall notify the appropriate contact for each Finalist Screenplay of its selection no later than Thursday, May 26, 2011.
o GMC shall host a Table Read at the American Black Film Festival where a section of each Finalist Screenplay shall be read in front of the attendees of the Film Festival.
2. Grand Prize Winner:
o GMC shall select one (1) “Grand Prize Winner Screenplay” from the three (3) Finalist Screenplays.
o The Grand Prize Winner Screenplay shall receive Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) and shall be announced at the awards event for the Film Festival.
3. Travel and Accommodations to attend American Black Film Festival: For each Finalist Screenplay selected, GMC shall provide the following in connection with the American Black Film Festival: up to two (2) round-trip coach-class airfare tickets to Miami, Florida, shuttle ground transportation from the airport to the hotel on the day of arrival and from the hotel to the airport on the day of departure, and one (1) standard hotel accommodations (either single or double occupancy) for up to four (4) nights. (Approximate Value: $1,926.00). Each Finalist shall also receive up to two (2) Marquee Passes providing access to the American Black Film Festival events. (The Marquee Passes do not include or provide access to the Master Classes/Workshops.) Any other costs associated with the prize receipt and/or use that are not expressly stated above are not included in the prize package and are solely the responsibility of the Finalists.