The Film Empire’s Scrypt to Screen contest wants your scary script
The Film Empire wants to help fledgling screenwriters realize their dreams. At 1428 Elm, we have all the details on the Scrypt to Screen Horror Contest.
Time to write!
The Contest
The Film Empire’s Scrypt to Screen Horror Contest will offer a winning writer-director the chance to shoot a horror short under the mentorship of several industry professionals in Los Angeles.
Short and feature length screenplays are acceptable (features must be able to adapt to a short film). The winner of the contest will be able to shoot their short under the guidance of Hollywood horror mentors.
Screenwriter Jeff Howard (Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil) will help the winner develop their script and Adam Robitel (Insidious: Chapter 4, The Taking of Deborah Logan) will serve as a mentor to the winner throughout principal photography.
The Mentors
Mentors include cinematographer David A. Armstrong (Saw franchise) and cinematographer Pedro Luque (Don’t Breathe), editor Jason Ballantine (It, 2017), composer Charles Bernstein (A Nightmare on Elm Street), and composer Chris Bacon (Bates Motel).
The Film Empire will assemble the crew to shoot the winning short. The winner will fly out to LA for principal photography. Sponsored prizes for the winner TBA.
Submission fees are as follows; Regular (August 7 through August 31): $75 and Late (September 1 through September 15): $90.
Genesis Story
The Film Empire is the dynamic combination of Brandon Waites and Erman Baradi, networking gurus in the Hollywood scene.
Brandon is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a former intern with the Beverly Hills production and management company Benderspink under producers Chris Bender and J.C. Spink. His partner, Erman Baradi, was featured in The Huffington Post as “Top Networker in Hollywood” and named by NXUP Magazine as “Who’s Next in Hollywood” in 2015, and featured in ALIST Magazine, the International Business Times, and Inside Business to name a few. A blossoming writer and producer, Erman began creating Hollywood events in 2014 to connect with industry pros.
The Film Empire – Contest Photo 3 – Courtesy of The Film Empire
The Network
Together, they launched MixKnowledgy and The Film Empire. MixKnowledgy hosts Hollywood speaking panels in a social setting with notable Hollywood speakers from the likes of Bad Robot, Lionsgate, Marvel, Netflix and over 200 more. The Film Empire is a contest based platform that allows filmmakers the opportunity to meet Hollywood mentors and prizes.
Mentors’ projects have been with Joint Effort (Todd Phillips & Bradley Coopers company), Marvel, Sony, and Universal. Other mentors’ projects have included Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Narcos, Lion, Manchester by the Sea, This is Us, War Dogs, The Walking Dead and Black Panther.
Together, Waites and Baradi have produced their first project, Don’t Look Back, a horror short written by Jeff Howard (Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil and the upcoming Stephen King adapted Netflix horror film Gerald’s Game).
If you intend to enter the contest, you had better hurry. After Sept.15, your time will be up.
Next: Thoughts from the ledge on American International Pictures
What do you think screenwriters, are you going to submit your scripts? Do you feel contests are helpful? Feel free to let us know what you think in the comment section below. We want to hear from you.