August 2011 Contest

$160,000 in Awards

One Best Test Movie Award: $100,000

Winner

Main1309491612._sx350_sy197_
(Thriller and Suspense, Action and Adventure) A hard-drinking drifter, with a mysterious and regret-filled past, arrives in a small town ravaged by outlaws.
Winner: Best Test Movie
Finalist: Best Test Movie
Semifinalist: Best Test Movie
 
Main1292012195._sx60_sy60_

Two Best Dialogue Track Awards: $5,000 Each

Winners

Main1290047042._sx350_sy197_
(Thriller and Suspense, Comedy) Someone's killing the Hollywood Monsters (The Mummy, The Hunchback and others) and it's up to a down-and-out Dracula and a monster-hating detective to solve the crime.

Featuring

Winner: Best Dialogue Track
Finalist: Best Dialogue Track
Semifinalist: Best Dialogue Track
 
Main1306229451._sx60_sy60_

Also Starring

Profileimage._sx60_sy60_
Profileimage._sx60_sy60_
Main1314809980._sx350_sy197_
(Comedy, Horror) A dying research scientist injects himself with an unproven formula that turns him into the undead. He must regain stolen funds to finish his research.

Featuring

Winner: Best Actor
Finalist: Best Actor
Semifinalist: Best Actor, Best Script
 
Main1322860155._sx60_sy60_

Also Starring

Semifinalist: Best Actor
 
Main1322859553._sx60_sy60_
Semifinalist: Best Actor
 
Main1322861762._sx60_sy60_

Two Best Script Awards: $20,000 Each

Winners

Main1312087198._sx350_sy197_
(Thriller and Suspense, Science Fiction and Fantasy) Skylar is thrilled to finally be pregnant— until she discovers her unborn baby is not entirely human. Pursued by a government agents, she races to discover whether the child she carries is the first wave of an alien invasion or the key to humanity’s salvation.
Winner: Best Script
Finalist: Best Script
Semifinalist: Best Script
 
Main1289956890._sx60_sy60_
Main1314748272._sx350_sy197_
(Science Fiction and Fantasy, Action and Adventure) A young woman who has been purposely sheltered from life finds her world opening up when she meets a man who can freeze time, but they soon find themselves battling to prevent someone from using this technology for their own dark motives.
Winner: Best Script, Best Sci-Fi/Action Script
Finalist: Best Test Movie, Best Script, Best Sci-Fi/Action Script
Semifinalist: Best Test Movie, Best Script, Best Sci-Fi/Action Script
 
Main1310678837._sx60_sy60_

One Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite Award: $10,000

Winner

Main1314711396._sx350_sy197_
(Horror, Action and Adventure) In ancient Rome, a team of gladiators must fight its most vicious opponent ever... Zombies. As the outbreak spreads and the creatures run wild, it's up to our heroes to save the city.
Winner: Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
Finalist: Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
Semifinalist: Best Script, Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
 
Main1304600334._sx60_sy60_
Winner: Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
Finalist: Best Test Movie, Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
Semifinalist: Best Test Movie, Best Script, Best Sci-Fi/Action Script, Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
 
Profileimage._sx60_sy60_
Winner: Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
Finalist: Best Test Movie, Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
Semifinalist: Best Test Movie, Best Script, Best Sci-Fi/Action Script, Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite
 
Profileimage._sx60_sy60_

One Best Test Movie Award: $100,000

Finalists

Main1309491612._sx289_sy163_

(Thriller and Suspense, Action and Adventure) A hard-drinking drifter, with a mysterious and regret-filled past, arrives in a small town ravaged by outlaws.

Main1314751995._sx289_sy163_

(Horror) Part machine. Part animal. All killer. The Evolver is an indestructible creature that can adapt to any conditions, overcome any...

 
Main1314809980._sx289_sy163_

(Comedy, Horror) A dying research scientist injects himself with an unproven formula that turns him into the undead. He must regain stolen funds...

 

Two Best Dialogue Track Awards: $5,000 Each

Finalists

Main1333927969._sx289_sy163_

(Horror, Action and Adventure) 1885. An outlaw leads a band of mercenaries into the Rocky Mountains after a Blackfoot war party, only to find themselves hunte...

Main1290047042._sx289_sy163_

(Thriller and Suspense, Comedy) Someone's killing the Hollywood Monsters (The Mummy, The Hunchback and others) and it's up to a down-and-out Dracula and a mons...

 
Main1314809980._sx289_sy163_

(Comedy, Horror) A dying research scientist injects himself with an unproven formula that turns him into the undead. He must regain stolen funds...

Main1351881923._sx289_sy163_

(Horror, Action and Adventure) In ancient Rome, a team of gladiators must fight its most vicious opponent ever... Zombies. As the outbreak spreads and the cre...

 

Two Best Script Awards: $20,000 Each

Finalists

Main1312087198._sx289_sy163_

(Thriller and Suspense, Science Fiction and Fantasy) Skylar is thrilled to finally be pregnant— until she discovers her unborn baby is not entirely human. Pursued by a government ...

Main1325275806._sx289_sy163_

(Action and Adventure) Coming from violent, traumatic childhoods, a disaffected Hipster and a wildly demented Schoolgirl embark on a killing spree aga...

 
Main1314748272._sx289_sy163_

(Science Fiction and Fantasy, Action and Adventure) A young woman who has been purposely sheltered from life finds her world opening up when she meets a man who can freeze time, b...

Main1314003172._sx289_sy163_

(Thriller and Suspense, Drama) A Solider wakes up with amnesia in "La Zone Occupée". the only thing he remembers is his duty to deliver a package on the corne...

 
Main1312738881._sx289_sy163_

(Thriller and Suspense, Comedy) Trapped in his life, a pushover archivist finds refuge in a secret guy's club that holds meetings in the house of a neighbor, w...

 

One Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite Award: $10,000

Finalists

Main1314711396._sx289_sy163_

(Horror, Action and Adventure) In ancient Rome, a team of gladiators must fight its most vicious opponent ever... Zombies. As the outbreak spreads and the cre...

Main1351881923._sx289_sy163_

(Horror, Action and Adventure) In ancient Rome, only a team of gladiators can fight through a horde of undead humans and beasts to save the civilized world fr...

 
Main1351881923._sx289_sy163_

(Science Fiction and Fantasy) In ancient Rome, during the Constantinian Dynasty, the outbreak of Christianity has spurred the anger of the ancient gods. Orc...

 

Two Best Script Awards: $20,000 Each

Semifinalists

One Best Test Movie Award: $100,000

Creating a Test Movie

A test movie is a visual rough draft of a script. A table read is a test movie. So is a storyboard. No matter what form they take, test movies should be full-length and should have good acting and sound. Polished visuals are not required.

  • Actor? Animator? There’s a role for you.
    Test movies are a way for all kinds of creative types to help bring a story to life – and potentially win money in the process. If you’re an actor, you can grab a camera and some friends and cast yourself in whatever role you like. We also encourage animators, storyboard artists and photographers to take elements of existing test movies and add their own visuals. (Be sure to designate them as revisions when you upload). There are some great table reads, for example, that could be used as soundtracks.
  • Whenever possible, cut words that aren’t dialogue.
    Title cards and onscreen text work better than reading jargon-y slug lines, such as “INT. OFFICE – DAY” or “SMASH CUT TO …” . If you need to read descriptions, please keep them as brief and engaging as possible. You don’t need to tell us what the actors are doing – especially if we can see them doing it. It’s OK to alter the script as you go. When you bring a director, actors and other creative people into a process, creative stuff can happen, and the result might not exactly match the words on the page. And that’s OK.
  • Make sure you have the rights to everything in your test movie.
    You can use music and other images that you create yourself or that you ask someone to create for you. However, if someone creates something for you or appears in your test movie, you should have them sign a release. (See sample release forms in Help.) You also can license music and stock footage from companies, but you will need to get a written license agreement and ensure that you obtain rights broad enough to permit use in revisions of your test movie and distribution of your test movie (and any revisions of it) by any form of distribution.

Summary of Key Contest Rules

  • You must be at least 18 (or the age of majority where you reside).
  • Your test movie must complete its upload and processing by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the last day of the contest entry period. This could take hours, and possibly more than a day, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time.
  • Only movies between 70 and 180 minutes long are eligible for contest awards.
  • A total of 20% of the Best Movie award is offered to eligible scripts that meaningfully contribute to the winning movie.
  • A test movie in this month's contest will also be considered for subsequent contests for which it is eligible.

Two Best Dialogue Track Awards: $5,000 Each

Creating a Dialogue Track

A dialogue track is a recording of the dialogue of a script. It should not contain any descriptions or slug lines (like INT. OFFICE, DAY). And it should not include music or sound effects, even if they are part of a character’s action, like applauding. Do not overlap any of the characters’ lines or voices. Each line should be an independent cue separated by silence.

There is no minimum length for a dialogue track, as long as substantially all of the dialogue for each character is voiced. And remember: Quality is important – in terms of sound and performance. The actors don’t need to be pros, but they should be able to convey the emotions of the story in an engaging way. The idea is that these tracks can go on to become key components in fully realized test movies, which are visual rough drafts of a script.

Summary of Key Contest Rules

  • You must be at least 18 (or the age of majority where you reside).
  • Your dialogue track must include a reading of the dialogue of the script. It must not include non-dialogue elements such as descriptions of action, music or sound effects.
  • Your dialogue track movie must complete its upload and processing by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the last day of the contest entry period. This could take hours, and possibly more than a day, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time.
  • A total of $500 of the Best Dialogue Track award is offered to eligible scripts that meaningfully contribute to the winning dialogue track.

Two Best Script Awards: $20,000 Each

Summary of Key Contest Rules

  • You must be at least 18 (or the age of majority where you reside).
  • Your script must complete its upload and processing by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the last day of the contest entry period. This could take hours, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time.
  • Only scripts between 85 and 160 pages long (in standard script format) are eligible for contest awards.
  • An eligible original script for a project will receive at least 50% of the Best Script award if the winning script is selected from that project.
  • A script in this month's contest will also be considered for subsequent contests for which it is eligible.

One Script Spotlight: Zombies vs. Gladiators Rewrite Award: $10,000

Michael Weiss and Gregg Ostrin, who wrote ZvG: Zombies Vs Gladiators, have opened the script up for collaboration, which means anyone can upload their own revised version. They’re looking forward to seeing what other writers bring to the ancient Roman table.

Here’s some of what the Amazon Studios Story Department had to say about the project: “ZOMBIES VS. GLADIATORS is an exciting and well-written script that cleverly combines the heretofore separate worlds of zombies and ancient Rome. The promise of exotic mysticism, bloodshed, muscled warriors covered in blood, end-of-the-world stakes, and general fright is clear and in large part fulfilled. The structure is great and the story is tight. There’s no flab as we set up the villain, the hero and the supernatural threat, and as the zombie scourge rolls out across the city. In addition, the prospect of a series of ancient world undead pictures is exciting, and could speak to the same broad audience that found THE MUMMY so appealing. While ZvG is a lot of fun as it is, there may be opportunities to make it even more compelling. The setting, the elephants, the destruction of the city, the Roman army and all the zombie action could make this the most expensive zombie movie of all time. This means that ZvG has to reach beyond the story conventions (and audience) of a zombie genre picture in order to get the big, global audience it needs.”

Summary of Key Contest Rules

  • Your script must be based on, or a revision of, ZvG: Zombies Vs Gladiators, available at http://studios.amazon.com/projects/2909.
  • To be eligible, your entry must be uploaded between June 27 and August 31.
  • Your script must complete its upload and processing by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the last day of the contest entry period. This could take hours, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time.
  • Scripts that are based on, or a revision of, ZvG: Zombies Vs Gladiators and that are submitted between June 27 and August 31 are ineligible for the Best Script awards for June, July and August.
  • Only scripts between 85 and 160 pages long (in standard script format) are eligible for contest awards.
  • You must be at least 18 (or the age of majority where you reside).
Share:

More Information

Guest Judges

$20,000 Best Script Award

Main1323990643._sx60_sy60_

Ed Saxon


Edward Saxon, an Oscar winner, is a graduate of the USC Peter Stark Producing Program. He received his undergraduate degree at McGill University.

His credits include producing The Silence of the Lambs, which swept Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture at the Academy Awards. He also produced Philadelphia (which won two Oscars, including Best Actor for Tom Hanks), Adaptation, nominated for 4 Oscars—including Best Supporting Actor winner Chris Cooper—and the Oscar-nominated documentary Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation.

Most recently, he has been a producer on Enlightened, an upcoming HBO comedy series. He produced Sam Mendes's Away We Go at Focus Features in 2009, and Our Family Wedding at Fox Searchlight in 2010, which stars Forest Whitaker and America Ferrera.

Past credits include Tom Hanks' directorial debut That Thing You Do!, Ulee's Gold, Devil in a Blue Dress, Beloved, Fast Food Nation, Something Wild and Miami Blues.

Saxon is a founding Advisory Board member of the Independent Film Channel, and is a mentor for the Sundance Institute, Producer's Guild, and Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program at USC. He also has extensive experience working in Haiti both as a documentary filmmaker and as an activist. Saxon is married to the artist Kirsten Coyne. They have two young daughters and live in Los Angeles.

 

$20,000 Best Script Award

Main1313714895._sx60_sy60_

Josh Oppenheimer


Joshua was born in New York City and raised in Westchester County, just outside the metropolitan area. He graduated from Northwestern University, majoring in Film and Theater.

Josh then went on to receive a Master’s Degree in producing from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema/Television. His two master’s theses (Dog Daze, starring Olivia D’Abo and Billy Cusack, and Recon, starring Peter Gabriel, Charles Durning, and Elizabeth Pena) were screened around the world at such events as the Hamptons Film Festival, the Edinburgh Film Festival, and the Venice Film Festival, among others.

Josh then partnered with fellow USC alumni Thomas Dean Donnelly in 2002 to write and co-executive produce the two-hour pilot Thoughtcrimes, starring Navi Rawat, Joe Flanigan, and Peter Horton, for USA Network. In the following year, the pair had two scripts of theirs produced; Sahara, starring Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, Steve Zahn, and William H. Macy, for Paramount Pictures, and A Sound of Thunder, starring Sir Ben Kingsley, Ed Burns, and Catherine McCormack, for Warner Bros. They also wrote Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, starring Brandon Routh and Sam Huntington, based on the popular comic book and produced by Hyde Park and Platinum Studios.

Upcoming productions include the adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s Conan The Barbarian, starring Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, and Stephen Lang, as well as Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, based on the best-selling video game, with Neil Burger attached to direct. They are also writing Doctor Strange for Marvel Studios, and Voltron for Relativity.

Joshua lives in Los Angeles with his wife Lucy and their two daughters Olivia and Juliana.