What is the Monthly Contest?
The Monthly Contest is a free five page screenplay contest held every month at MoviePoet.com.
How does it work?
A new contest starts on the first of each month. For each contest, a new challenge is selected. The challenge might specify, genre, character, dialogue, location, etc.
Members choosing to participate in the contest, must enter their script, before midnight on the last day of the month. Scripts are submitted as PDF's and without the author's name appearing on the script (the author's name is recorded as part of the upload process).
During the next month, members can read the scripts. Members comment on and score each script (not knowing whose script it is) from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).
Finally, during the third month, the writers of each script are revealed as well as the scores and comments received. Each script is saved and searchable through our online database.
Does it cost any money to participate?
MoviePoet.com is entirely free. There are no costs of any kind.
Who can enter the contest?
All members and membership is quick, easy, and free.
How do I enter the contest?
You can use our online entry form.
What is the format for submitted scripts?
All scripts must be: a PDF, five pages or less, in standard script format, and the author's name must not be on the script. Changing font size or margins to fit in under five pages will result in a disqualification.
Why is the contest only five pages long?
Believe it or not, 5 pages is long enough to write a compelling and original story for the screen. It is also short enough that even a bad script can be read all the way through without too much pain.
Does my script need to be written during the entry month?
No. If you have a suitable script that matches the criteria please feel free to enter it.
May I post my script on another website?
You may, but please wait until after the voting period is over so that judging can be done anonymously.
May I submit the same script (or a rewrite) to more than one monthly contest?
No. Each script may only be submitted once.
What is the official deadline for entry?
You need to have your script uploaded before midnight on the last day of the month. Please note: Our web server is located in Dallas, Texas and runs on Central Time.
Can I enter more than one script?
No. Only one entry per month is allowed.
Am I giving up any of my rights to my script?
You are the sole owner of your script. The only privlege you are granting to MoviePoet.com is the permission to share your script online.
Where do I vote on the scripts?
Voting can be done online through our voting page.
How do I vote on the scripts?
Scripts will be assigned to you one at a time. You will give each script a score and share your comments.
How does scoring work?
You will score each script on a scale from 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent).
How do comments work?
You are strongly encouraged to share detailed comments with the writer. Please be helpful and honest.
Are votes and comments ever deleted?
A review may be deleted (by the site moderator) if it is too short, too harsh, or if the comments are not in keeping with the score given.
Is there a guide to scoring and writing reviews?
"A Guide to Scoring and Writing Reviews"
Is voting anonymous?
The score you give each script will be kept secret. However, your comments will be public (after the voting period is over).
Can I change my score and comments?
Yes, during the voting month you can go back and change any of the scores or comments you have given. Simply, go to the voting page and select the title of a script to change your score or comments.
Must I vote on every script?
You do not need to vote on every script for your votes to count. However, you may not skip any scripts assigned to you. Leaving one word reviews or inappropriate reviews may result in all your reviews being deleted.
How do I find out the results?
The top three winners will be announced on our home page and all results will be shared online though our results page.
When are the results announced?
The results are announced on the first day of each month. In the unlikely event that we need to delete a vote (for abusive comments or no comments), there is a potential the results might change. However, once the winners are submitted to MovieBytes.com the results are final.
Can I comment or vote on scripts after the voting month?
You may comment (or continue to comment) on a script after the voting month is over, but you can no longer vote or change your vote.
What is Script Search?
Script Search allows filmmakers (and writers) to search our database of scripts based on criteria (keyword, genre, cast size, production status, etc.) and contact the screenwriter. This provides an easy method for filmmakers to find potential scripts that meet their needs and contact the author to secure the rights.
What is Production Status (and Production Web Site)?
After the voting month is over the writer of a script may select a Production Status. Production Status can be Available, In Production, Produced, or Unavailable. Scripts listed as In Production or Produced may also have a link added to a Production Web Site. Scripts listed as Unavailable are no longer readable.
Can I read the winning scripts from the original MoviePoet.com contests held back in 2002 and 2003?
2002 Quarter 2 ~ "The 90 Second Minute" by Faisal A. Qureshi
2002 Quarter 3 ~ "Invisible?" by Ethelyn Boddy
2002 Quarter 4 ~ "The Cabinet" by Shawn W. Tittle
2003 Quarter 1 ~ "Branches" by Rick Hansberry
2003 Quarter 2 ~ "The Patriots" by Sean Sweeney
What are Member Status Levels?
Member Status Levels reflect the number/percentage of scripts each member has reviewed. The levels break down like this:
Level 5 ~ Top 5% of Reviewers
Level 4 ~ Top 15% of Reviewers
Level 3 ~ Top 30% of Reviewers
Level 2 ~ Top 50% of Reviewers
Level 1 ~ Top 100% of Reviewers
Level 0 ~ No Reviews
How do I enter a URL link in the forums (or in script comments)?
Simply enclose your link inside url brackets like this: [urlx]www.moviepoet.com[/urlx] (remove the x's to make it work).
Are there any secrets for navigating around the site?
You can get to the bottom of any page by clicking on the square in the upper right of the header bar (it is the vine with the three leaves). Meanwhile, the "Top" button in the footer will bring you back up.