Studio21 International has opened its 2024 Script Competition with a mission to find a global scripted series that can be released scene-by-scene on digital and then stitched together to create a traditional longform drama for television.
Script Angel is thrilled to once again partner with Studio21 on this year’s Scene-By-Scene Script Competition which is designed to uncover compelling contemporary stories that can reach a 21st century audience across platforms, with a shortform episodic release across digital platforms, followed by a longform window on traditional television.
You can find out more and enter online by CLICKING HERE.
Studio21’s David Jenkinson said: “The script competition always attracts the most progressive new writers. But this year we are challenging the creative community to think differently, writing scenes as standalone shortform pieces that, when stitched together, make a longform scripted episode. In many ways this is not different from the structure of a traditional script, but it means each shortform piece may be slightly different in character.”
The Studio21 Scene-By-Scene Script Competition aims to find new projects from fresh writers that reinvent the scripted genre, with a view to bringing in new coproduction partners from digital platforms and brands, alongside traditional coproducers and broadcast partners.
Studio21 partner Hayley McKenzie added: “In terms of the structure of the pilot episode story, we’re looking for scripts in which every scene turns in some way, has something change within it and makes you want to watch the next one. I’m excited to see how the wonderfully creative screenwriting community respond to this challenge and surprise us.”
We remain open to pilot scripts in any fiction genre, but priority will be given to projects that meet the following criteria:
• Explore progressive themes.
• Engage with the audience in new and innovative ways.
• Deliver scenes that each feel like a distinct shortform episode.
• Create hooks that make us want to watch the next scene-episode.
• Have a driving narrative across the pilot script that creates a satisfying longform episode.
• Can be produced on a reasonable budget.
Entries should be presented as a single script of 30 to 60 pages, with each scene clearly identified and a runtime of between one and three minutes per scene.
Jenkinson added: “We firmly believe that a new form of storytelling will emerge over the coming years, marrying the best of the past with new elements that help stories reach an audience that is consuming content in a new way.
“Writers shouldn’t be frightened of this new approach. We are looking for projects that tell the most compelling stories in fresh ways. The best script will once again win the competition, but it will represent how it can be distributed in shortform scene-by-scene pieces on the way to the full episode being consumed as one longform show.”
The competition connects emerging writers with the global content business, offering the winner a £10,000 prize to option or acquire the script and the unique opportunity to connect with the global drama business through C21Media’s Content London in December.
The winning project will be developed by Studio21, supported by an advisory board made up of the most creative showrunners and television executives in the business.
Previous winners now have their shows in development with leading producers, and the raft of new writers and projects taken under the Studio21 wing is commanding the attention of coproducers and commissioners worldwide.
From the pool of submissions, made between July 8, 2024 and September 18, 2024, a shortlist of 21 scripts will be selected. From these, six finalists will be chosen to present their script to the global drama business at Content London 2024.
Shortlisted entries will be announced on October 11, 2024, and the six finalists will be announced on November 1, 2024.
The Studio21 Scene-By-Scene Script Competition is produced in association with C21Media, Content London and Script Angel.
Each finalist will also receive a free consultancy session from Script Angel.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get your script in front of the world’s drama community!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS
For more information, including submission requirements and guidelines, eligibility criteria, FAQs and FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, CLICK HERE.
If you are experiencing any issues with your submissions, please email info@studio21.com
