America's Newest TV Scriptwriter Contest 2013

The Association of National Advertiser’s Alliance for Family Entertainment (AFE), the consortium of almost 40 national advertisers who have brought to air some of the most popular family shows on television for more than a decade, and Overbrook Entertainment, the award-winning entertainment production company co-founded by two-time Academy Award nominee Will Smith and acclaimed film producer James Lassiter, are joining forces to find new TV programming through the 2013 America’s Newest Scriptwriter Contest.

This was the website for the 2013 contest to Discover America’s Newest TV Scriptwriters. Content is from the site's 2013 archived pages as well as other sources.

PRESS

Welcome to the Family: ANA Alliance for Family Entertainment Teams With James Lassiter and Will Smith of Overbrook Entertainment to Discover America’s Newest TV Scriptwriters February 21, 2013, New York, NY— Overbrook and the AFE will work together on the nation’s only script competition for aspiring unrepresented writers in a revolutionary new model for collaboration between brands and content creators. The venture is designed to increase the number of quality family programming options in what Smith calls “the next generation for the creation of family entertainment.” “We know that family shows are good for business,” adds Gail Tifford, Unilever senior director of media, North America, and AFE co-chair. “As a mother of two, I’m hoping that this partnership will inspire new scriptwriters to help us reframe and contemporize family-friendly programming and ultimately have more places for marketers to invest our ad dollars.” The 2013 competition includes both a one-hour drama and a 30-minute comedy category. The contest is open to all unrepresented writers with scripts centered on their interpretation of “family.” The winning scripts will be chosen by Overbrook Entertainment. Each winner will receive $5,000, a script development meeting with Overbrook and an 18-month option agreement on their script. The contest will be supported by a multi-media advertising, public relations and social media campaign to drive awareness and encourage script submissions to the contest website. Lassiter adds that the Overbrook-AFE team-up is “an exciting new model. Brands helping the creative community directly will not only benefit the brands but also the producers, and will allow us to produce more family entertainment.” ”When talking with consumers, the unmet need we hear most resoundingly is there isn’t enough family-friendly television readily available,” says Ben Simon, AFE co-chair and senior director of retail development for Walmart U.S. “As a group of almost 40 leading marketers, the AFE believes leveraging our united strength can help increase the support for more family programming options and serve our consumers by meeting this unmet need.” Overbrook and the AFE were brought together by Reach Entertainment, an agency with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco dedicated to bringing brands directly to the entertainment community. The agency developed the creative strategy in collaboration with the AFE and Overbrook and created all contest materials. Reach Chairman Tom Sebastian underscores the unique nature of the union, saying that “brands and artists collaborating directly on this level will create unprecedented opportunity for family entertainment.”

The contest is being administered by Creative Zing Promotion Group, a full-service integrated marketing agency with expertise in complex contests, sweepstakes and social media promotions. Outside sponsors include CleanItSupply: janitorial supplies vendor, Final Note: educational materials for schools and training programs, and Doc 1: promotional services for theatrical events.

About Overbrook Entertainment

Overbrook Entertainment, founded by partners James Lassiter, Will Smith and run along with partner Jada Pinkett Smith, is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment focused in film and television and has produced a diverse slate of both critically acclaimed and blockbuster feature films, which have generated more than $2.5 billion dollars in worldwide box office receipts and even more in home video sales.

Some of Overbrook’s most successful films include ALI, HITCH, PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, I AM LEGEND, HANCOCK, SECRET LIVES OF BEES, and most recently THE KARATE KID. Overbrook's next feature project is AFTER EARTH, which is set for a June 7th, 2013 release. They are also producing Queen Latifah’s syndicated daytime talk show with Sony Pictures Television that will premiere this fall.

About the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the ANA Alliance for Family Entertainment

Founded in 1910, the ANA (Association of National Advertisers) leads the marketing community by providing its members with insights, collaboration, and advocacy. The ANA includes more than 500 companies with 10,000 brands that collectively spend over $250 billion in marketing communications and advertising. The ANA strives to communicate marketing best practices, lead industry initiatives, influence industry practices, manage industry affairs, and advance, promote, and protect all advertisers and marketers.

The Alliance for Family Entertainment is a group of nearly 40 national advertisers supported by the ANA that represents 37 percent of all U.S. television advertising dollars. Its mission is to find, nurture, develop, and support high-quality content the entire family can enjoy on multiple distribution platforms.

About Reach Entertainment

Reach Entertainment is an independent entertainment and content strategy agency for brands. The agency builds results-driven strategies and partnership opportunities for clients across television, film, digital/mobile, music, publishing and gaming. Reach Entertainment engages directly with content creators at the inception of the creative process to identify opportunities at an early stage so clients are able to partner in a meaningful way; from creative development, to marketing, distribution and communications. Reach is a partner agency of San Francisco based Swirl Inc.

March 06, 2013

Press Release: Carnegie Mellon Senior Wins America's Newest Screenwriter Contest

Contact: Shilo Rea / 412-268-6094 / shilo@cmu.edu Screenwriters Contest LogoPITTSBURGH—Carnegie Mellon University Senior Madelyn Glymour has won the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) Alliance for Family Entertainment's (AFE) Search for America's Newest Screenwriter Contest. Glymour, who received the top honor in the college category for her script titled "Nuclear," was awarded a $2,500 cash prize. AFE holds the contest to support its mission to "find, nurture, develop and support, high-quality content the entire family can enjoy." Writers are asked to submit original scripts for a 30-minute comedy or one-hour drama that depicts modern family life with a multi-generational appeal. Over the past 10 years, AFE has helped to bring more than 20 primetime successful programs to air. "Nuclear," a drama, is about Julia Bialik-Brown, a family lawyer who helps her clients get the most out of their divorces while trying to navigate her own dysfunctional family life.

"Madelyn Glymour is a smart, funny, and a culturally observant writer," said Sharon Dilworth, associate professor of English. "She has that uncanny ability to know what is current and it's that aspect of her talent that will probably serve her the best. The award will get her in the door and I can see her making tons of contacts, impressing people out in Hollywood. I see her writing the next new hit. I can't tell you what it will be — but I'm sure she can." Glymour, a logic and computation major with a minor in creative writing, entered the contest because she had always wanted to write a TV pilot. She is also in the Humanities Scholars Program, a four-year interdisciplinary program for Dietrich College undergraduates, and has been on the staff of the Tartan — CMU's student newspaper — for two years. On finding out that she won, Glymour said, "Winning was great, and obviously I was happy to get the money, but mostly, as a writer, I was just happy that somebody had responded to my story. At that point, I hadn't shown the script to anyone except the contest judges, and winning made it a lot easier to share it with people - including my own family. Television writing is what I'd like to do for a living someday, so it's definitely a good thing to be able to show your writing to other people."

Search for America’s Newest Scriptwriter

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR ENTRY FEE REQUIRED. THIS CONTEST IS OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY AND WILL BE GOVERNED BY U.S. LAW. DO NOT ENTER IF YOU ARE NOT LOCATED IN, AND A LEGAL RESIDENT OF, THE 50 UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

1. DESCRIPTION: The “Search for America’s Newest Scriptwriter” Contest (“the Contest”) is a script writing Contest in which eligible “Entrants” (as defined by Section 2 ) are invited to submit a 30- minute live-action comedy format script (“Comedy”) or a one (1) hour live-action drama/dramedy script (“Drama/Dramedy”) (the “Script” or “Submission”) in accordance with the criteria as set forth in these Official Rules. For purposes of these Official Rules, Comedy and Drama/Dramedy shall be known individually as a “Category” and collectively as, the “Categories.” The sponsor of this Contest is the ANA Alliance for Family Entertainment, 708 Third Avenue - 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10017 (“Sponsor” or “AFE”). The administrator of this Contest is Creative Zing Promotion Group, 189 S. Orange Ave, Suite 1130A, Orlando, Florida 32801 ("Administrator").

The Contest will operate as follows:

• Submission Period: The Contest Submission period begins February 21, 2013 at 12:01 p.m.

Pacific Time (“PT”) and ends on March 21, 2013 at 1:00 pm PT (“Submission Period”). During this time, an Entrant may submit his/her Script as described in Section 3 .

• Contest Judging: Concurrent with and following the Submission Period, the eligible Scripts will be evaluated by a panel of independent qualified representatives selected by Sponsor (the “Judges”) according to the criteria detailed in Section 4 . Based on initial review and evaluation of the Scripts, the Judges will select up to ten (10) “Finalists” in each Category.

• Potential Finalist Notification: On or about May 22, 2013 up to ten (10) Finalists in each Category will be notified to confirm eligibility and obtain releases, according to Section 5 of these Official Rules.

• Grand Prize Winner Selection: The confirmed Finalists’ Submissions will be evaluated by a representative of Overbrook Entertainment (“Final Judge”) selected at the sole discretion of the Contest Entities to determine one (1) Grand Prize winner in each Category.

• Grand Prize Winner Announcement: Grand Prize Winners will be announced on or about June

24, 2013.

2. ELIGIBILITY: To participate, Entrants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Entrant must be an aspiring writer who is NO T a member of a professional writing guild or professional writing union or any other guild or union which may prohibit Entrant from participating in the Contest as provided herein;

• Entrant must be an individual (no group entries are permitted);

• Entrant must be the writer and rightful owner of the Script submitted;

• Entrant must be a legal resident physically residing within the fifty (50) United States or the

District of Columbia;

• Entrant must be at least eighteen (18) years of age. If an Entrant is less than the age of majority in his/her state of primary residence (a “Minor”), the Entrant should obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian prior to entering and Sponsor may request written consent should such Minor Entrant be selected as a Finalist;

• Entrant may be a previous winner or finalist of an AFE sponsored script writing contest;

• Entrants of the Search For America’s Newest Scriptwriter College Contest (the “College Contest”) may also enter the current Search For America’s Newest Scriptwriter Contest, but must submit an entirely unique script, different to the script entered into the College Contest;

• Entrant must NO T be under any contractual obligation that would conflict with this Contest or the Official Rules, which includes but is not limited to being under consideration for any scriptwriting or other writing contest other than an AFE sponsored contest;

• Entrant must NOT be an employee, owner, shareholder, officer or director of Sponsor, Administrator, Judges, Overbrook Entertainment or any other person/company directly involved with the Contest (collectively, the “Contest Entities”), together with the immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of such persons (collectively, “Household Members”). For purposes of the Contest, "Household Members" shall mean those people who share the same residence at least three months a year; "Immediate Family Members" shall mean parents, step-parents, legal guardians, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, or spouses.

• Entrant, if selected as a potential Finalist, must consent to a background check as a condition

of eligibility and as a condition of being designated as an actual Finalist. Such background check may include (but is not limited to) investigation of criminal or other arrest or conviction record, and any other factor deemed relevant by Contest Entities to help ensure that a Finalist’s participation in the Contest will not, in Contest Entities’ sole discretion, bring Contest Entities into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule or reflect unfavorably on the Contest Entities. If requested, each Finalist agrees to sign waiver forms authorizing the release of personal and background information. Contest Entities reserve the right to contact any person or entity, including any third party referenced in the background check.

3. HOW TO ENTER: During the Submission Period, eligible Entrants may participate by visiting www.ScriptwriterContest.com (“Website”). Entrant must follow the on-screen instructions to complete the online entry form and upload a PDF file of their Script in accordance with the Submission Requirements and Content Restrictions, as detailed below. Submissions uploaded in any format

other than PDF may not be reviewed by the Judges, and the Entrant submitting such Submission may

be disqualified (as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion). Submissions will not be accepted or reviewed until Entrant has affirmatively accepted the Official Rules and acknowledgements. Entrant must upload his/her Submission by March 21, 2013 at 1:00pm PT. Administrator’s computer is the official timekeeping device for the Contest. It is the responsibility of the Entrant to ensure that his/her Submission is uploaded by the deadline. Submissions uploaded after the deadline will not be reviewed by the Judges and will be disqualified. Entrants must provide all requested information; incomplete or inaccurate Submissions will be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor. A Submission cannot be edited once it has been entered. Limit one (1) entry per person, e-mail address, or physical address.

Submission R e q u i r e m e n t s

The Script must meet the following requirements:

• Comedy Script should feature a comedic story line that portrays a “family” dealing with issues that impact them;

• Comedy Script must be presented as a 30-minute live-action comedy;

• Comedy Script should be a minimum of twenty-five (25) pages, as this is a typical length for a 30 minute live-action comedy script (Scripts that are shorter than 25 pages in length may be, but will not necessarily be, rejected and disqualified from the Contest if the Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the script is not capable of filling a traditional 30- minute time slot) and can be no more than thirty-five (35) pages in length;

• Drama/Dramedy Script should feature a dramatic story line that portrays a “family” dealing

with issues that impact them;

• Drama/Dramedy Script must be presented as a one (1) hour live-action drama/dramedy;

• Drama/Dramedy Script should be a minimum of fifty (50) pages, as this is a typical length

for a one (1) hour live-action drama script (Drama/Dramedy Scripts that are shorter than 50 pages in length may be, but will not necessarily be, rejected and disqualified from the

Contest if the Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the script is not capable of filling a traditional one (1) hour time slot) and can be no more than sixty five (65) pages in length;

• Story lines about conflict or sensitive subject matter, must embody positive resolution;

• Script must be wholly original to the individual Entrant;

• Script must be written and submitted in English;

• Script must be in 12 pt Courier New or Prestige Pica font and follow acceptable Script

Formatting standards.

• Script must NOT include intellectual or other exclusive property belonging to another person or company;

• Script must NOT be a spec Script for an existing TV program, webisode or treatment;

• Script must NOT be an adaptation of or based on a book, play or other existing creative product;

• Script must NOT be under current consideration at a network, media company, production

company, or agency;

• Script must NOT be under current consideration for another contest, competition or festival;

• Scripts must NOT be submitted to another contest, competition, festival, network, media company, production company or agency for consideration prior to June 21, 2013 and

• Script must NOT have been previously optioned, produced or purchased by any person or

entity.

Though not required, Sponsor recommends that, as a best practice, Scripts should be copyrighted/registered with theWGA or US copyright office; such registration must be in the name of the Entrant and consistent with the Entrant’s government issued ID.

Though not required, Sponsor recommends that, as a best practice, Scripts should be copyrighted/registered with the WGA or US copyright office; such registration must be in the name of the Entrant and consistent with the Entrant’s government issued ID.

C ontent Restrictions

• Scripts must not include content that encourages , advocates , p romotes or glorifies discrimination, violence, harassment/bullying, risky behavior, abuse, self-mutilation, obscenity, pornography, promiscuity, drugs, alcohol, bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age, or any criminal activity. Story lines dealing with conflict or sensitive subject matter must embody positive resolution;

• Scripts must NOT contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement;

• Scripts must NOT disparage the Contest Entities, any of their respective products or services, or any person or party affiliated with the Contest and/or the administration of this Contest; and

• Scripts must NOT contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction where Submission is created.

Scripts which violate any of these Submission Requirements of Content Restrictions will be deemed ineligible and will be void at the sole discretion of the Contest Entities. Contest Entities reserve the right to disqualify, in their sole and absolute discretion, any Script deemed inappropriate or that does not comply with the Official Rules. Incomplete or unintelligible entries will be disqualified. Contest Entities reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to determine which entries have satisfied the requirements. ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS MUST SUBMIT SCRIPTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES.

4. CONTEST JUDGING: Eligible Scripts will be evaluated by the Judges based on the criteria below (“Judging Criteria”). The ten (10) eligible Scripts with the highest scores after the initial evaluation based on the Judging Criteria in each Category will be determined as potential finalists (each a “Finalist”), subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. Finalist’s

Scripts will be evaluated based on the Judging Criteria by the potential Final Judge to determine at least one (1) “Grand Prize Winner” in each Category.

Judging Criteria:

1. Universally relatable emotions/values (Exclusively for the purpose of this Contest, expression of universally relatable emotion/values is defined as emotions & emotional themes that the U. S. television audience as a whole can relate to no matter their gender, race, color, nationality, ethnic origin or sexual orientation) = 20%

2. Alignment with AFE values

(as set forth in the Contest-related web pages) = 20%

3. Creating a good storyline & character base = 20%

4. Comedic/dramatic value based on family situations (as applicable) = 20%

5. Unique perspective / creativity = 20%

Judges reserve the right to choose fewer Finalists, no Finalists, and/or to extend the Submission Period and all other dates associated with the Contest in the event an insufficient number of eligible Submissions meeting the Submission Requirements and Content Restrictions are received, as determined by Sponsor and the Judges in their sole discretion. Date changes, if applicable, will be communicated on the Website. In the event of a tie, the Judges will reevaluate the tied Submissions based on the applicable Judging Criteria to determine the potential Finalist(s) or potential Grand Prize Winner(s), in their sole discretion.

ScriptWriterContest.com