The 2008 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards

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Judging Procedure

While many screenwriting contests ask students and volunteers to judge their entries, the PAGE Awards competition is judged entirely by Hollywood professionals. The First Round of the contest is judged by industry readers who have years of experience covering scripts for all the major Hollywood studios, agencies, and production companies. And as your script progresses through the various levels of competition, it will be reviewed by increasingly influential judges, including producers, agents, and development execs with credits at Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Paramount, Disney, Warner Brothers, NBC, CBS and HBO. These are people who can truly open doors for undiscovered writers.

Among our past judges: screenwriters Robert Baird (MONSTERS, INC.) and William Massa (RETURN TO HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL), TV writers David Chambers (THE WONDER YEARS), Janice Jordan (ROSEANNE), and Susan Van Allen (EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND), literary managers Colin O'Reilly (First Entertainment), John Orlando (Circle of Confusion), and Jess Rosenthal (Industry Entertainment), development execs Danielle Butler (Sander/Moses Productions), Jesus di Sica (Buena Vista International), Scott Farrell (Midnight Pictures), and many more.

EVALUATION PROCESS

Judging is anonymous. When you enter the contest your script will be assigned a number, and the judges will identify your script by title and number only.

FIRST ROUND
All entries will be reviewed by industry script readers. The judges will evaluate scripts in the categories of their individual interest and expertise, and the top 25% of all entries will move into the Quarter-Final Round of competition.
QUARTER-FINAL ROUND
The Quarter-Finalists' scripts will be reviewed by professional screenwriters and screenwriting consultants. The judges will evaluate scripts in the categories of their individual interest and expertise, and their scores will determine the twenty-five Semi-Finalists in each category.
SEMI-FINAL ROUND
The Semi-Finalists' scripts will be reviewed by Hollywood literary agents, managers and development executives. The judges will evaluate scripts in the categories of their individual interest and expertise, and their scores will determine the top ten Finalists in each category.
FINAL ROUND
A panel of film and television producers and Hollywood production executives will conduct the Final Round of judging. Their scores will determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Prize Winners in each category, as well as this year's Grand Prize Winner.

CRITERIA

At each level of competition, scripts will be evaluated on a ten-point scale. Entries will be given a score of 1 to 10 for each of the following elements:

PREMISE/CONCEPT
The idea behind the story. What the movie is about. The "hook."

FORMAT/TYPOS
Standard spec screenplay or teleplay format (12 pt. Courier font, correct margins, etc.), as well as spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.

STRUCTURE
The framework of the script. Effective use of three-act (most common), odyssey, linear or non-linear story progression.

PLOT
The actions, events, conflicts, and turning points that propel the story forward. How the story unfolds (points for originality/unpredictability).

PACING
The timing of the action, revelation of plot elements and character development.

CHARACTERS
Personalities that are distinctive, compelling, multi-layered, and unpredictable. A protagonist and antagonist with clear and active goals.

DIALOGUE
Voices that are natural, succinct, and unique to each character. Use of language that effectively reveals character and moves the story forward.

THEME
The underlying message of the story as revealed through plot, dialogue, and visual elements.

STYLE/TONE
Overall quality of the writing. Narrative that is distinct, cinematic, and effectively conveys the mood or "feel" of the movie.

COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL
Audience appeal and box-office potential.

In each round the total scores will be tallied, and the scripts with the highest combined scores will move on to the next round of judging.

NOTIFICATION DATES

Contestants who advance to the Quarter-Final Round will be notified of their status by email on or before July 15, 2008. The lists of Semi-Finalists, Finalists, and Winners will be posted on our website on the following dates:

SEMI-FINALISTS
Announced on August 1, 2008

FINALISTS
Announced on September 1, 2008

WINNERS
Announced on October 1, 2008

All prizes and awards will be sent to the winning writers within six weeks of the final announcement.

Questions? Please take a look at our FAQ's...