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Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest featuring Don Murphy

UPDATE 12/9/16: Our Finalists!

Congratulations to our 10 finalists!

Benjamin Mair
Lynn Sutyor
Julie Holderman
Michael Johnson
Christopher Feeley
Kathleen Mitchell
Josh Gilbert
Paul D'Onofrio
Jonathan Turner
Bethany Therese

Win an A-List Screenwriter Experience and Gain Unparalleled Access

Do you think you can turn this logline from Don Murphy, Producer of the live-action Transformer movie franchise and Natural Born Killers into a killer script?

“After an accident, two science students stumble upon a discovery that could change the world for the better, placing them in the crosshairs of sinister forces who want to stop them by any means necessary.”

Working from this A-list logline, you’re challenged to create up to the first 15 pages of an original script based on the given concept. Make it your own - drama, action, comedy... anywhere your imagination takes you.

Break out your scriptwriting software and get to work, because the Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest gives you the unique opportunity to turn the provided logline into a solid spec screenplay that could be your ticket to Hollywood success.

The Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest is an international screenwriting competition that facilitates relationships between new writers and Industry leaders looking to help aspirants embark on writing careers.

Ready to get started?

Step 1. Enter today to take part in the Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest and submit your entry or entries anytime before the final submission date. Securing your entry today is a great way to motivate yourself to get down to writing!

Step 2. Write up to the first 15 pages of an original script based on logline, provided by producer Don Murphy. Make it your own and take your time—once you’ve submitted your entry fee, your 15 pages aren’t due until the final deadline.

Step 3. Submit your script(s) using the instructions provided when you purchase your entry or entries.

Contest Feedback Option

Want to get a head start on the competition? Get preliminary feedback on your 15-page entry using our Contest Feedback Option. With this professional service, you receive:

  • Overall Notes on your initial submission
  • A rating of Pass or Consider as a Finalist
  • A chart rating on Concept, Plot, Pacing/Structure, Format, Characters and Dialogue

How the rest of the contest works

  • Entrants write up to the first 15 pages of a script based on the logline above, provided by Don Murphy
  • The top 10 finalists are chosen from the submissions, and receive a personalized letter of congratulations from Don Murphy
  • Each of the 10 finalists receives a copy of Movie Magic Screenwriter to professionally format their work as they enter into a 12-week ScriptXpert Scriptwriting Coaching mentoring program, consisting of feedback for every 10 pages submitted, with the goal of completing a spec screenplay based on the given logline
  • After the mentoring, the finalists submit their rough drafts to our professional script readers for comprehensive ScriptXpert Screenplay Coverage, and then have two weeks to work with their mentor and notes to complete the final draft of their screenplay for judging.
  • Don Murphy judges the completed screenplays and chooses a winner

With an overall prize package exceeding $15,000 and a history of past finalists securing representation, the Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest is worth your consideration.

Prize Package

Twelve 50-minute sessions over the course of 90 days, in which you’ll go from idea to finished draft.12-week ScriptXpert Story Specialists mentoring program

Finalists receive a copy of Movie Magic Screenwriter 6 to professionally format their work.

This award-winning screenwriting software formats movies, television, novels, stage plays and even comic book scripts, making it the only program for all types of creative writing.

An e-book copy of the Hollywood Screenwriting Directory

With over 4,000 listings for Industry insiders such as studios, production companies, and independent financiers.

An e-book copy of the The Pocket Screenwriting Guide:120 Tips to Getting to FADE OUT

Leads you through classic Hollywood storytelling with 120 succinct tips – mirroring the standard page length for a 2-hour film.

Finalists submit their rough drafts to our studio script readers for comprehensive ScriptXpert Extended Coverage Development Notes

An extensive report with detailed information on concept, structure, pacing, dialogue and more. It also includes feedback and recommendations for improving the script and making it more marketable.

Get writing now and enter your submission for your chance to win!

Thanks to our sponsor Write Brothers!

Don Murphy

Don Murphy was born in Long Island, New York, and grew up dreaming of making movies. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business he moved to Los Angeles where he received his MFA degree from the prestigious University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television. The first film he produced was NATURAL BORN KILLERS, based on a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino which was directed by Oliver Stone. That film attracted so much attention it was eventually canonized in a best selling book, KILLER INSTINCT. Since then Don has focused on producing films he wants to see, be they Stephen King’s APT PUPIL directed by Bryan Singer or Alan Moore’s FROM HELL directed by the Hughes Brothers and starring Johnny Depp. He is also a producer of the blockbuster franchise TRANSFORMERS and the Hugh Jackman-starring REAL STEEL. He is currently developing a film version of the best-selling Cory Doctorow novel LITTLE BROTHER, working on the next installment of the TRANSFORMERS franchise and has many other projects in development for fi...

Contest Closed

Contest Details:

For feedback on your contest submission click on Enter Contest w/ Feedback for an additional $20 fee.

For general contest submission click on Enter Contest.

  • Contest Begins: July 1, 2016
  • Early Deadline: July 31, 2016
  • Early Fee: $40
  • Standard Deadline: September 30, 2016
  • Standard Fee: $50
  • Extend Deadline: October 31, 2016
  • Extended Fee: $75
  • Finalists Announced: November 2016
  • Mentor Program Begins: December 2016
  • Mentor Program Completes: February 2017
  • Winner Announced: March 2017
  • Lunch with Don Murphy April 2017

Contest Testimonials:

“No other screenplay contest offers what the Industry Insider Contest does — a chance to develop your script alongside an industry professional. Some contests are about cash and prizes. The Industry Insider Contest is about advancing your career and developing material that can be successful in the marketplace. It’s about opening up doors.”

- Tyler Marceca, The Disciple Program – Contest Winner (Robert Mark Kamen Round)

“After my wonderful experience with the contest, I became a full time writer and landed on this year’s (2014) Blacklist while securing representation at Management 360 and APA. Along with my Blacklist spec going out now, I have a TV pilot that is being produced by TV360.”

- Leo Sardarian,_ Historia_ (Simon Kinberg Round)

“I took the screenplay I wrote for the Industry Insider Contest and turned it into a television pilot. That pilot went on to win Best Original TV Drama in the 2013 Creative World Awards. The guidance I received from my Story Specialist mentor really helped me nail down the concept and the characters, and I think that’s part of the reason the pilot was so successful. Thanks to the work I did during my time with the contest, almost everything was in place when I sat down to craft the pilot. All I had to do was expand the story line a bit and change the formatting!”

- Jennifer Green,Triangle (Todd Garner Round)

“There’s a really wonderful sense – from the beginning of the contest on — of how invested everyone at The Writers Store is in helping the finalists write a great script. From Mario’s, my Story Specialist’s, weekly call to the amazingly detailed Development Notes after the rough draft, to the terrific, encouraging updates and emails throughout, there’s a great sense of motivation and professionalism that’s very inspiring. I can’t say enough about this screenwriting contest. If I could, I would be a perpetual finalist!”

- Joshua Rebell, Old Boys Club – Contest Winner (Allan Loeb Round)

“I have a B.A. in Screenwriting, but I am an even better writer for having been a finalist in the Industry Insider Competition. This is boot camp for screenwriters — and it only takes fifteen pages to open the door to an invaluable experience. You’d be crazy to pass this up.”

- Kelsey Rude, Imaginary Bachelor (Allan Loeb Round)

“The whole experience was just fun — and instilled in me a work ethic and a drive to write which has persisted even after the contest’s end. Because of the Industry Insider Contest, I’m a better writer and I have a complete screenplay that I never would have written otherwise. It’s way too awesome an experience for any writer to pass up.”

- Zan Gillies, The Dark Side of Eden (Robert Mark Kamen Round)

“Just like a character in a screenplay, I started the contest hoping the reward would appear at the end of my journey and then realized that the reward was the journey itself. This is a contest you have to enter if you want to become a better writer.”

- Dan O’Donahue, The Magnesian Protocol (Robert Mark Kamen Round)

“If you are going to enter a screenwriting contest, then pick this one. In my opinion, this prize package is one of the very best in the industry.”

- Kari Ciardi, Alien Underground (Robert Mark Kamen Round)

“I wish everyone had the opportunity that I did and wish all of the future contestants the best of luck. Remember, being in the ‘top ten’ IS winning because the rest is up to you.”

- John Torma, Salmon Falls (Robert Mark Kamen Round)

“I had an amazing experience during the Industry Insider Contest. My story specialist, Anthony, was wonderful and the experience working with him was invaluable. I’m walking away from this competition with a well written screenplay and insights that I will carry with me throughout my screenwriting career. I recommend this competition to anyone who wants to challenge themselves and really take their screenwriting to the next level.”

- Tiffany Diamond, Imaginary Bachelor (Allan Loeb Round)

“Working to deadlines, re-writing and re-working after notes and comments is the life of a professional screenwriter, and this competition has given me an invaluable chance to experience that first hand. And most importantly I’ve come out the other end with a screenplay I’m really proud of.”

- Adam Cece, The Last Viking Stag (Allan Loeb Round)

“All in all, no matter what the outcome of the contest, you walk away with pages of valuable notes and a completed spec script. The perfect reward.”

- Stephen Judge, The Man-Up (Allan Loeb Round)

“Writing a feature is such a big investment of time and energy, it’s not always clear whether or not it’s worth it. However, writing the first 15 pages of a screenplay is such a relatively small investment, you almost can’t afford not to. Then, if you’re lucky enough to be chosen as a finalist, you definitely can’t afford not to write the whole feature length script.”

- Alex Berger, Onu (Simon Kinberg Round)

“Of all the screenplay competitions in which I have been fortunate to be a finalist, this contest has been the most rewarding to my growth as a screenwriter.”

- Kenneth Lemm, Drum (Simon Kinberg Round)

“Thanks to all of you for a fantastic experience. I learned a lot about writing. More than I could have just reading the books or going to writing groups. The screenplay contest and my work with Anthony have been an integral part of my development as a writer.”

- Araby Patch, Spy Dad (Simon Kinberg Round)

Copy and past this link in your browser to read more testimonials: http://www.writersstore.com/industry-insider-contest-testimonials