TERMS AND CONDITIONS & GUIDELINES
HOW IT WORKS
The Studio21 Scene-By-Scene Script Competition), produced in association with Script Angel, C21Media and Content London, is designed to discover and develop the best new writers and projects and connect them with coproduction partners to turn them into TV series for the global market.
It is one of the most prestigious writing competitions in TV, providing unrivalled access to the global drama business through its relationship with C21Media and Content London.
The competition is open for entries between 15 July 2024 and 18 September 2024 with a mission to find original projects with global appeal from fresh talent.
AWARD PRIZES
From the pool of submissions made between 5 July 2024 and 18 September 2024, a shortlist of the top 21 projects will be selected and six finalists will be chosen.
The script competition finalists will then be invited to participate in the C21 International Drama Summit as part of Content London, which will take place at Kings Place in London, 2 – 5 December 2-24.
The final round of the competition will take place at the conference where each finalist will present their script & series to a panel of judges in front of industry delegatesOnce each finalist has presented their pitch, our industry judges will select a winner of the script competition. The winner will receive a £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) cash option development prize from Studio21. a development producer positioned at the heart of the content business and supported by some of the biggest names in global drama.
The winner receives:
£10,000 prize from Studio21 to option or acquire the script and connect with leading producers to co-produce for the global market.
Exposure at Content London to all executives in attendance.
A complimentary ticket to the three-day Content London event or digital alternative.
Six finalists receive:
Exposure at Content London to all executives in attendance.
A complimentary ticket to the three-day Content London or digital alternative.
A development consultation with Script Angel to discuss feedback on their submitted project.
WHO CAN APPLY
Anyone with a great series or mini-series idea, a brilliant pilot script and a burning desire & talent for writing – new writers and experienced writers alike are welcome.
Non-represented and represented writers are welcome to submit.
The script competition is open to international applicants.
Writing teams (of up to 2 people) are welcome to submit their project.
HOW TO APPLY
Submissions must consist of a pilot script in the English language (“the Script”) and a 1-4 page series treatment (“the Treatment”) plus a Reference from an industry professional. Guidelines for each described below.
Submissions must be made through the online submissions form which can be found by clicking here. Any Submissions submitted by email or by any other method shall be not accepted or considered for the Competition.
The script, the treatment and the reference comprise “the Submission”.
You may only enter one project per submission.
An Entrant’s Submission must be typed in English.
There is an entry fee (“the Entry Fee”) of £40 (forty British pounds) per Submission to enter the Competition, to be paid online via credit/debit card. The Entry Fee covers the cost of paying for independent readers to evaluate the Submissions.
Entrants should include their full name, email address, country of residence and contact information with their submission. The Promoters are not able to return an Entrant’s Submission once delivered to the Promoters for consideration.
DATES AND DEADLINES
The script competition is open for entries between 5 July 2024 and 183 September 2024, 23:59 GMT.
The 21 shortlisted projects will be notified on 11 October 2024.
The six finalists will be notified on 1 November 2024.
The script competition final will be held at Content London on 3 December 2024.
PILOT SCRIPT GUIDELINES
The script must be written in the English language.
The script must be at least 30 pages and no longer than 60 pages.
The script must be formatted to industry standard.
The name/title of the Entrant’s project should be included on either the header or footer of the pages submitted.
The pages must be numbered.
The script must have been written within the last 2 years.
The script will ideally not have been previously submitted to established production companies, although this does not discount an entry if it has been circulated.
The script must be fully available and not under any option.
The script must not have been sold to, optioned or otherwise exploited at any point by a studio, network, production company, or any other third party.
For scripts that are based on underlying material, they must:
Be based upon content that’s in the public domain (or)
Be based upon intellectual property that has been optioned/is controlled by the writer submitting to this competition.
SERIES TREATMENT GUIDELINES
The series treatment must be 1-4 pages.
The series treatment must include a one-paragraph description at the top that succinctly states your series concept.
The series treatment must include a brief description of the series story beyond the pilot episode.
Other things you might include are:
A personal statement about why you wrote this show and what makes it stand out.
The themes you’re hoping to explore in the show.
Marketability of the show – looking around at the TV landscape, is anything like your show already on the air? In what ways is it unique and different and needs to be viewed by millions?
Tell us something about your passion for writing or writing experience.
You may find this article by Script Angel founder Hayley McKenzie helpful: www.scriptangel.com/how-to-write-a-tv-series-pitch-bible
INDUSTRY REFERENCE GUIDELINES
Each entry should be supported by a reference, pasted into the Reference box on the submission form.
The industry reference should take the form of a single paragraph which says “I support the entry of ‘writer name’ for ‘script name’.
The industry reference must include the referee’s name, position within the industry and a contact email or phone number.
The industry reference should be from a professional currently working within the drama industry. The referee can be: Literary agent/manager, producer, development executive, drama commissioner, script editor, experienced screenwriter or screenwriting course tutor.
RIGHTS
Writers must be able to demonstrate they own the rights to the story.
Writers will retain all intellectual property rights of their submitted project unless it is optioned by agreement during or as a result of Content London.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
All genres and themes are accepted but the project must be live-action fiction. Animation and documentary projects are not eligible.
Subject matter is unrestricted but a priority of the competition is to identify and support pilots which, through their themes, will have global appeal.
HOW WILL THE FINALISTS BE SELECTED?
• All Submissions will be read by a top team of readers provided by Script Angel andStudio21.
• Studio21 will manage the online submission process.
• Studio21 will read all shortlisted Scripts and select their top six (6) Scripts as “the Finalists”.
• Finalists’ Scripts will be read by a panel of judges (“Judges”) comprised of top programming executives at networks around the world to choose the winners. The Judges will select one of the Finalists as the winner of the Competition.
FAQs
Can I modify or make changes to my submission after it’s submitted?
No, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, changes cannot be made to application questions or materials once submitted.
How do I know you received my application?
Once you submit your application you will be shown a page confirming your submission.
Can I submit a project I’ve submitted previously?
Yes, but we would encourage you to have sought professional feedback on your work and made significant revisions before submitting again.
Will I receive feedback on my submission?
No, we are unable to provide feedback on submitted projects, except where they are selected as a Finalist and receive a development consultation with Script Angel as part of the prize.
ATTENDING CONTENT LONDON
• All Finalists will be invited to attend the International Drama Summit which is part of Content London in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. The International Drama Summit is currently scheduled to take place at Kings Place in London..
• The Finalists shall be solely responsible for obtaining all necessary visa and/or travel permissions required in connection with attending Content London and for paying any and all expenses, including without limitation, travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses, incurred by each Finalist in connection with the Finalist attending Content London. Attendance at Content London shall be subject to the General Terms and Conditions set out below.
FURTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The promoters are: Studio21 International Ltd and its registered address located at 148-150 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3AT
By reference these General Terms and Conditions expressly incorporate the Submission Requirements and the Eligibility and Guidelines set out above:
1. Remittance of the Entry Fee entitles you (“Entrant”) to participate in the Competition. Any form of entry other than as set out herein is void. The Promoters are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible or misdirected Submissions, which will be disqualified. The Entry Fee will not be returned or adjusted.
2. The submission process for the Competition opens from 5 July 2024 and closed on 18 September 2024 at 23:59 GMT.
3. Entrants must be eighteen (18) years old or over. Proof of age and residence may be required.
4. The Competition is open to Entrants worldwide.
5. Submissions that do not comply with the Submission Requirements will be disqualified, and the Entry Fee will not be returned or adjusted.
6. The decision of the Judges on the eligibility of a Script or otherwise is final and binding. The Judges reserve the right not to award the Prize(s) if in their sole opinion there is no Submission of sufficient merit.
7. Finalists will be notified by email by1 November 2024. Failure to respond to the initial verification notification within seven (7) days or return of notification as undeliverable after three (3) attempts will result in the Finalist being disqualified from the Competition and a new Finalist may be chosen by the Promoters at their sole discretion and election.
8. The Promoters offer no cash alternative for non-cash prizes and the prize winners must accept the prize in the form offered.
9. The Entrant hereby warrants and represents that (i) the Submission (including the Script) is wholly original to them; (ii) the Entrant is the present, exclusive and sole owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Submission (including the Script)and has the unconditional power and right to present the Submission (including the Script) to the Promoters subject to the Terms and Conditions of this Agreement; (iii) the Submission (including the Script)has not been produced, sold or optioned to any third party; and (iv) the Submission (including the Script) shall not infringe any law or regulation or third party right, including (but not limited to) the law of copyright, defamation or trademarks.
10. Entrants shall indemnify and hold the Promoters harmless from and against all damages and liabilities suffered or incurred in connection with, resulting from or arising out of a breach by the Entrant of these Terms and Conditions.
11. The Winners and the Finalists must continue to comply with all terms and conditions, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all of the Promoters’ reasonable requirements.
12. The Finalists will be invited to attend the International Drama Summit (“the Summit”) in London. Each Finalist shall be solely responsible for obtaining all necessary visa and/or travel permissions required in connection with attending the Summit and for paying any and all expenses (“Expenses”), including without limitation, travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses, incurred by the Finalist in connection with the Finalist attending the Summit. The Promoters shall not be liable for any Expenses whatsoever or in the event that the Finalist(s) cannot attend the summit for whatever reason. Further the Promoters shall not be liable to the Finalists in any manner whatsoever throughout the world in the event that the summit is cancelled or postponed.
13 The Winner shall enter into a written agreement by agreement or negotiation with Studio21 to assign to Studio21 the entire worldwide copyright and all other rights (including without limitation the underlying format rights therein) in and to the Winner’s Script, such assignment agreement to include a worldwide waiver of “moral rights” to the extent permissible by law. If the Winner is a bona fide member of a guild whose jurisdiction covers the terms of the written agreement referenced above then Studio21 will assign the agreement to a guild signatory with any guild minimum terms to apply (including total aggregate scripts fees), including scale rates for a first draft and options for additional steps. If after expiry of a period of three (3) years (“the Reversion Period”) commencing on the date of the announcement of the Winner, the Winner’s Script is not commissioned and/or in contracted development with either a broadcaster (including for the avoidance of doubt both linear and/or non-linear platforms) or other financier of television media productions anywhere in the world, then Studio21 agrees to reassign all rights to the Entrant without restriction after the expiry of such Reversion Period.
14 Subject always to term 13 above, on or before 28 days after the Winner is announced (the “Option Expiry Date”) Studio21 reserves the exclusive right to option (“the Option”) any of the Submissions from any Entrant to the Competition hereunder, on terms to be negotiated in good faith within thirty (30) days of the exercise of such Option. If Studio21 does not exercise such Option before expiry of the Option Expiry Date then all rights in and to the Submission (and Script) shall remain vested with Entrant
15. Subject to terms (13) and (14) above, copyright and all other rights in the Entrant’s Submission shall continue to vest with the Entrant.
16. Entrant shall execute and deliver such additional documents or instruments as are reasonably necessary to evidence or effectuate the terms of this Agreement.
17. The Promoters shall not be liable (jointly or severally) for any failure to comply with its obligations hereunder where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, technical, mechanical and electronic malfunctions, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances amounting to force majeure.
18. The Promoters accept no responsibility for lost, late, undelivered, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, incorrect or corrupted Submissions. The Internet is not a secure medium and information submitted via it may be accessed by third parties.
19. By entering the Competition, you acknowledge and agree that the Promoters and the Judges receive numerous submissions of ideas, stories and scripts, and that your Entry into the Competition, and the ideas and stories embodied in the Submission, may be similar or identical to other material already received and/or developed by one or more of the Promoters and/or the Judges. You also agree that you are not entitled to any compensation or credit for use by Promoters and/or Judges of any such other material.
20. The Promoters reserve the right to amend the Submission Requirements process from time to time.
21. This Agreement is personal to the Entrant. The Promoters shall have the sole right in their discretion (jointly and individually) to assign this Agreement (and all rights and options granted hereunder) in whole or in part to any third party with terms to be negotiated in good faith.
22. The Promoters reserve the right to contact Entrants for additional information, if required.
23. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the Competition constitutes consent to the Promoters and their agents to use the Finalists and winner’s names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
24. The relationship between the Entrant and the Promoters is one of independent contractors. Neither party will represent that it has any authority to assume or create any obligation, express or implied, on behalf of the other party, or to represent the other party as agent, employee, or in any other capacity, except as specifically provided herein.
25. Employees, officers, directors, contractors and agents (and their immediate families and household members regardless of where they live, or members of the same households (whether related or not) of the Promoters and their respective divisions, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents and advertising agencies, are not eligible to participate in the Competition or to win any Prize.
26. These Terms and Conditions and the Competition are governed by the laws of England and Wales and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
27. The Promoters reserve the right at any time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this Competition (and any of its terms) with or without prior notice for any reason.
28. By submitting a Submission all Entrants agree to abide by these Terms & Conditions.
29. Competition results will be posted publicly on the c21media.net website
30. Entry in the Competition is void where prohibited by the laws of the Entrant’s country of residence.