Television Outreach Program (TOP)

 

 

Submissions are now CLOSED!

 

 

CONTACT:  Director at  [email protected] 

 

The Television Outreach Program (TOP) is a Scriptwriters Network program to support undiscovered television writing talent. The program’s objective is to help writers improve their craft so that they may achieve their goals of obtaining representation, script development, mentoring and career counseling services, landing writing assignments, and/or selling their work.

 

PROCESS:

Phase One: Two readers will evaluate your script and provide written feedback analyzing structure, story development, characterization, dialogue, format, as well as overall impressions. If recommended by two readers, the script will advance to Phase Two.

Phase Two: Loglines of scripts that receive a double recommend from Phase One will be forwarded to our list of agents, managers and producers.

Please note, our readers will read your full script and you will receive two detailed evaluations from two different readers. (All evaluations will be returned in the middle/end of January 2024).

**The Scriptwriters Network reserves the right to publicize the writer’s name and selected script.

 

**As an educational organization, SWN’s Television Outreach Program’s objective is to better assist you in achieving your goals of becoming a better writer by providing positive, constructive detailed feedback/evaluations. 

 

PRIZES:

  • Loglines and/or Scripts will be eligible to be read by industry professionals including studio executives, production companies, agents and managers based on their request from interest in the logline and genre.
  • Receive a one year membership or a one year membership renewal to the Scriptwriters Network (SWN).
  • Winners will receive a 4-month InkTip Pro Membership. As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you’ll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week. With over 3,000 options and 400 movies made, InkTip is the place for independent film.
  • The winners will meet VIRTUALLY, one-on-one with a Writer and/or Producer.
  • The winners will meet VIRTUALLY with a Literary Manager.
  • The winners: Ten (10) Pitches on VPF, the platform for TV/Film professionals seeking scripts and writers to represent. With VPF, writers can submit Written Pitches to 500+ networks/studios, producers and agents with the assurance of a guaranteed response.
    • Winners will also receive a Pitch Boot Camp class with Ms. Sargent, SWN’s President, prior to pitching on VPF. 
  • Arc Studio writing software for the top three winners. Arc Studio goes beyond industry-standard formatting, offering real-time collaboration capabilities, distraction-free design, and advanced story-building tools.
  • The winners: SWN/We are in the process of retrieving funding and supporters, in order to produce the winning scripts with our production company. We want to make sure you have a chance, at least once, to see your project developed. 
  • Prizes subject to changes and availability.

 

ELIGIBILITY and ENTRY RULES:

 
  1. TOP is open to both SWN members and non-members who are 18 years of age or older.
  2. SPEC SCRIPTS for half-hour or one-hour network or cable series in production as of the entry deadline are eligible.
  3. Pilot scripts for original series are also eligible.
  4. All scripts must be wholly original works of the writer or writing team, unproduced and unoptioned, and, responsibly registered with the Writers Guild of America and/or the U.S. Copyright Office.
  5. Interstate and international entries are allowed.
  6. Do NOT put your name or contact information anywhere on the script or title page you submit. Personal information should ONLY be included in the entry form, so that scripts remain anonymous. Title is only allowed on the title page.
  7. Please conform to standard industry feature format.
  8. There is no limit on the number of entries. Complete a separate submission for each script.
  9. Scripts are to be in PDF format only.
  10. Scripts are to be submitted in English language only.
  11. Electronic submissions must be posted by midnight on the entry deadline.
  12. Submissions that do not meet the full requirements will be disqualified.

 

SUBMITTING SCRIPTS:

1) Go through the PayPal button below with a credit or debit card. You can pay as a guest user if you are not registered with PayPal.

–   SWN Members will then be directed to log-in with their membership info to access the member rate.

–   Non-members will have access to the non-member rate.

2) After submitting the required information on PayPal, click to return to the SWN page, where all entrants will be directed to upload their scripts in a PDF format on the following page.

3) Check the box confirming you agree to the competition rules and regulations.

4) The script submission will now be accepted.

5) Check e-mail for successful completion of entry, and your receipt.

6) Any questions, please email the Director – [email protected]

 

Entries occur once per year.

 

 

There are NO REFUNDS.

Final results are announced in the middle/end of January 2024..

**All evaluations will be returned in the middle/end of January 2024.

 

NEW READERS:

We are currently looking to expand our pool of experienced readers in TOP. Please contact us at [email protected] for details.

 

QUESTIONS: 

Please contact the Director – [email protected]

 

INDUSTRY CONTACTS:

Producers, production companies, agents, and managers who would like to read winning scripts may join our list by completing the Industry Contacts form. It can be downloaded from the documents section below. In the interim, please check out our previous winners.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Participation in SWN events, programs, contests, classes and workshops is not a promise or guarantee of employment, and is intended for educational and networking purposes only.