One thing I've learned as a writer in Hollywood is that meetings are always pushed. I'll spend days, hours, minutes agonizing over my pitch for the big meeting...but then, hours before my agent calls - it's being moved to tomorrow or next week! I feel both relieved and disappointed. With that said, the powers that be have decided to extend the contest to Feb 8th 2011! The finalists will be announced on Feb 11 2011 at 6pm PST and the final pitch event will be Feb 15 2011!
The good news is that we have more producers interested in participating and you have more time to get your pitch just right and to maybe even pitch more ideas!
Good luck everyone!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Get Discovered! It’s as easy as logging into your Facebook page!
Last January Vpype held it’s first Hollywood Screenplay Pitch Contest. It was the first and only pitch contest exclusive to Facebook, which allowed users to pitch industry professionals live via webcam. Judges from MGM, Fox, William Morris Endeavor as well as many known Producers with credits that include COLLATERAL, REMEMBER ME, THE COLLECTOR, OVERBOARD and ELF. I’m proud to say that not only did the top three winners win great prizes, but also they are still currently developing their ideas with producers that judged the contest. The gains weren’t limited to the top three; in fact, many of the contestants were contacted by producers who watched their pitches.
This December we’re proud to announce the 2nd annual pitch contest! This time we’ve made a few changes. First we’ve limited the pitches to three minutes, as that’s really all the time one needs to get out what their movie is! Secondly, we’ve shortened the duration of the contest to a little over a month so we don’t lose momentum. Third, participants must submit their pitches using Vpype’s latest application, vComedy, although pitches aren’t limited to a specific genre.
Many of the judges from last year will be participating including Julie Richardson, Mac Torluccio, Christopher Lockhart, Trevor Engelson and many more.
What makes this contest special is that it’s not only free but it’s open to writers all over the world. Last year we had participants from as far as Israel to Pakistan to Italy to Australia. It really opens Hollywood to writers who don’t have the resources to live in LA.
Also, what I think makes this such a special contest is that everyone involved is really dedicated to the idea of helping aspiring writers get their feet in the door. The CEO of Vpype is also a filmmaker and understands not only the importance of the writer but also the importance of making industry contacts.
This might be a small contest, but it has provided big opportunities for many writers including Marc Maxwell recently wrote this to me, “Living in Pembroke, Kentucky feels a million miles away from Hollywood. But that's where I find myself working as a Department of Defense Guidance Counselor for the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell. As an Army Counselor, I assist our Soldiers in achieving their Adult Education goals of obtaining a degree or diploma. My writing partner, David Horne, and I started collaborating four years ago. To date, we have co-written nine sports trivia/history books through the Sports by the Numbers series, however we have always aspired to write screenplays. With me in Kentucky and Dave stationed as a civilian in Germany, the dreams of being a screenwriter were just that...dreams. Geographically, even if we had a great script, we weren't in any position to pitch our ideas. That was, until the first Vpype Hollywood Pitch Contest came to Facebook. I heard about the contest through Blake Snyder's Save the Cat website and immediately started working on our pitches. After pitching five ideas, we found ourselves with two submissions in the Top Thirty and one pitch in the Top Ten. Even though we didn't win the contest, we were contacted by a judge and Hollywood Insider to send them our completed screenplay. We continue to work with them on rewrites and have been invited to submit any future screenplays we complete. Without the Vpype contest, our screenplay may never have been seen or read by movie producers. And because of this contest our dream lives on.”
No matter where you live or what you do for a living, if you have a movie idea be sure to pitch it via vComedy before January 25th 2011! Who knows, this time next year you could be living out your dreams!
For more information join our Facebook Group, The Hollywood VPYPE Pitch Contest!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The 2nd Pitch Contest is Here!!
The Contest Begins December 15th, 2010!!
It's the same as our last contest but quicker! Rather than five minute pitches, this time your pitches must be no longer than three minutes and you only have until January 20th, 2011 to submit them!! You'll also be submitting your pitches using Vpype's newest application, vComedy http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=116718968357327
Pitches can be of any genre, just keep them under three minutes!!
Prizes include FINAL DRAFT screenwriting software and a one year first look deal with a very known producer!
We will be announcing our judges soon!
It's the same as our last contest but quicker! Rather than five minute pitches, this time your pitches must be no longer than three minutes and you only have until January 20th, 2011 to submit them!! You'll also be submitting your pitches using Vpype's newest application, vComedy http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=116718968357327
Pitches can be of any genre, just keep them under three minutes!!
Prizes include FINAL DRAFT screenwriting software and a one year first look deal with a very known producer!
We will be announcing our judges soon!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Judges For The Contest!!!
Academy Award nominated judge: Producer
Alexandra Rose whose credits include NORMA RAE, OVERBOARD, FRANKIE & JOHNNY. Ms. Rose is an excellent evaluator and champion of aspiring talent.
She is committed to mentoring young filmmakers.
TONY SAFFORD
Executive VP of Worldwide Acquisitions for Twentieth Century Fox, a position which combines both creative and business skills to acquire film projects for all Fox divisions, domestic and international, including Fox Searchlight. Recent acquisitions include SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, THE WRESTLER, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, and ONCE. Prior to joining Fox in 1996, he was Senior VP of Acquisitions at Miramax. Before this he was an acquisitions executive at New Line. Between 1985 and 1990 he was the Program Director of the Sundance Film Festival.
Ross Siegel
Ross Siegel has been the Director of Creative Affairs at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM), one of two production executives overseeing the studio’s slate of Direct-to-DVD movies from development through distribution, since May 2007. Some of the films Ross has overseen include INTO THE BLUE 2: THE REEF, PICTURE THIS (which starred Ashley Tisdale), LEGALLY BLONDES, HIT & RUN, among others. Future films Ross is currently overseeing include remakes of BACK TO SCHOOL and MR. MOM, as well as a reinvention of the horror classic, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. Prior to joining MGM, Ross was Director of Development from 2004 to 2007 at the production-management company Guy Walks into a
Bar, which produced ELF starring Will Ferrell and MEET DAVE starring Eddie Murphy during his tenure. He also set up several other projects while Director of Development, including CRISIS CONTROL at ABC/Touchstone, CAMP SACHEM at Revolution Studios, and OXLEY’S ROAD at Lakeshore Entertainment.
Christopher Lockhart
Christopher is the Story Editor at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, where he finds projects for "A" list actors including Denzel Washington, Steve Martin and Mel Gibson. He lectures on screenwriting around the country and has been featured in THE WRITER magazine and Fox Morning News. His writing workshop, “The Inside Pitch,” was filmed for local television and earned him a Los Angeles Area Emmy nomination. He co-produced the horror film THE COLLECTOR, which was released nationwide in July, and is writer/producer on a feature length documentary called MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS (in post production). Chris has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU’s film school.
Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton
The writers of SAW IV, V, VI, FEAST and THE COLLECTOR. Marcus and Patrick were winners ofProject Greenlight. Marcus is also the director of The Collector
TREVOR ENGELSONTrevor is Producer on the 2010 release of REMEMBER ME at Summit Entertainment starring Robert Pattinson, Pierce Brons
on and Leena Olen, directed by Allen Coulter. He also is an Executive Producer on the 2009 release of ALL ABOUT STEVE at Fox 2000, starring Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper. Trevor was a Co-Producer on LICENSE TO WED for Warner Bros which stars Robin Williams, Mandy Moore and John Krasinski and was directed by Ken Kwapis. Alongside his partner, Nick Osborne, he also received an Executive Producer on ZOOM for Sony which starred Tim Allen, Chevy Chase and Courtney Cox, and a Co-Executive Producer on ABC Family’s Christmas comedy MARY CHRISTMAS. Underground Films has a diverse set of projects set up at different studios and financiers including RAJ REDDY PALACE PEACOCK at Warner Brothers, the CLASS ACT, with Halle Berry attached to star at Walden, SOCCER MOM at New Line, TALES FROM THE WISHWORKS FACTORY at Universal and ANIMALS at Sony. Trevor grew up in Great Neck, New York. Graduated from USC undergrad in 1998. Worked at Endeavor as an trainee before joining Nick as his assistant initially at his earlier company O/Z Films. O/Z had a first look deal with Phoenix. In 2001 O/Z Films, metamorphisized into Underground Films and Management. One company dedicated to producing quality films and finding and managing the careers of talented clients.
www.undergroundfilms.net
JULIE RICHARDSON
Ms. Richardson’s strong relationships span the entire entertainment industry. She has worked or is working with such renowned filmmakers as Frank Darabont (GREEN MILE, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION), Michael Mann (HEAT, MIAMI VICE), Peter Medak (RULING CLASS, ROMEO IS BLEEDING), and Randall Wallace (BRAVEHEART, WE WERE SOLDIERS), as well as best-selling authors John Farris and Dr. Lois Frankel.
Having developed a vast slate of premiere film and television properties, Ms. Richardson sold A RHINESTONE ALIBI to Paramount. Her current development slate includes FACT CHECKER, with Natalie Marciano and Michelle Chydik’s 26 Films (STARTER FOR 10, THE WEDDING DATE), SNOW JOB, by John Robert Marlow.
JANET JEFFERIES - Producer at A Band Apart who has produced such wonderful films as PULP FICTION and INGLORIOUS BASTARDS!!
GEORGE COLLINS, Literary Manager at Infinity Management whose clients wrote the HOTTEST PILOT on CBS, "SHIT MY DAD SAYS" starring William Shatner. Yes, based on the tweet "Shit My Dad Says." Congratulations, George!
Mac Torluccio - Creative Executive Intrigue Entertainment
Anne Lower - consultant, Save the Cat! Enterprises. Script consulting.
Cindy McCreery - a graduate of the Walt Disney/ABC Feature Writing Fellowship program for the 2002-2003 year. Her script POWDER PUFFS got her into the program and was sold to Disney after she finished the fellowship. After the sale of POWDER PUFFS Cindy immediately wrote and sold her next feature spec script, SOCCER MOM to New Line Cinema. In the fall of 2005 Tollin Robbins and Josephson Entertainment approached Cindy with the true story of Maria Pepe, the first girl to play in the Little League. Cindy came up with a pitch with the producers and sold the pitch to Nickelodeon Films. In 2006 National Geographic Films hired Cindy to rewrite ELEPHANT WILD and later in 2007 in partnership with Warner Brothers, they hired her again to develop and write FREE WILLY: ESCAPE FROM PIRATES COVE which will be released in March of 2010. Also in 2007 Cindy sold a pitch of a revamped BABY BOOM for MGM. In late 2008 Disney Channel hired her to adapt the book, RISING STAR into a Disney Channel Original movie. She is also a screenwriting professor at UCSB.
Stay tuned as we are currently confirming many more A-List Pros!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Welcome to the contest!
Producer Julie Richardson welcomes you to the contest using the Facebook Application VPYPE Broadcaster!
Click on this link to view!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Get discovered! It’s as easy as logging onto your Facebook account!
VPYPE’s Screenplay Pitch Contest: Pitch Your Script via Facebook to Industry Insiders for Free
Contestants Invited to Submit Movie Ideas
Contest Runs February 23 – April 15, 2010
Submissions run February 23, 2010 – April 15, 2010
Top ten finalists announced April 26, 2010
Final pitch event May 1, 2010 6pm (PST)
Winners announced May 3, 2010
Milpitas, CA – February 23, 2010 – Vpype, a social video company today announced the first live Screenplay Pitch Contest on Facebook. The contestants will be competing for the opportunity to have their screenplay reviewed by industry decision makers with the power to Greenlight their creative visions.
This is a five-minute pitch contest using the Vpype Live Broadcaster Application on Facebook.
To enter it’s as easy as these three simple steps:
1. Join The Hollywood VPYPE Pitch Contest group on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=259144206323
2. Visit the Vpype Live Broadcaster Application on Facebook and click on “go to app” http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=126457550345&ref=ts
3. Once you’re at the app, click on “Start Your Show”. Be sure to share with “everyone” and add “Pitch” to your show name! Now, record your five- minute pitch!
Submissions for the competition begin February 23, 2010 and end at midnight on April 15, 2010.
“The revolutionary VPYPE broadcasting technology connects creative minds from around the country and provides aspiring screenwriters with the invaluable opportunity to get their script in front of an elite group of studio decision makers,” said Julie Richardson, Producer of Collateral and host of the contest events.
A-List industry professionals from Fox, MGM, William Morris Endeavor and other top rate production companies will review each and every pitch before narrowing it down to ten finalists. For more information on the judges go to http://hollywoodvypyepitchcontestt.blogspot.com/.
Each contestant is allowed to record as many five-minute pitches as they’d like, but if submitting multiple pitches, each one must be posted separately. By posting their pitches, they’re also agreeing to the terms of our waver, which can be reviewed at http://hollywoodvypyepitchcontestt.blogspot.com/2010/02/to-enter-contest-join-our-facebook.html
The five-minute pitches must be in English using the Vpype Broadcaster Application template designed for the contest. Each pitch will be judged on their originality, commercial viability and the writer’s unique point of view. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for aspiring screenwriters to get that meeting they’ve always dreamed of!
On April 26th, 2010 the top ten finalists will be announced on the Contest Group page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=259144206323.
The ten finalists will be given their specific slot for the live pitching event finals to be held on May 1st, 2010 at 6pm PST.
Using the Vpype Live Broadcaster Application, each finalist will pitch their five-minute script idea to the panel of judges who will provide live feedback. The judges will then choose the top three winners who will be announced on the group page on May 3rd, 2010.
“Vpype is thrilled to provide a way to open doors for fresh and emerging screenwriting talent,” said Shoeib Yunus, founder and CEO, Vpype. “This contest represents my love of the movie industry and commitment to advancing creativity in the industry at large.”
Prizes include Final Draft Version 8 Screenwriting Software and Save The Cat Screenwriting Structure Software. The grand prize includes a free consultation with a Save The Cat professional script consultant and the opportunity to submit their screenplay for consideration by our judges!
For more details and to enter the contest, join the group on Facebook, The Hollywood VPYPE Pitch Contest at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=259144206323.
Also check out our blog at http://hollywoodvypyepitchcontestt.blogspot.com/.
About Vpype:
Vpype is a social video company committed to helping people tell their story to the world. Based in Milpitas, Calif., the company was founded in 2009 by entrepreneurs with expertise in video technology, consumer and enterprise software as well as broadcasting and entertainment. Visit www.vpype.com, our Facebook Fan Page or Facebook Application for more information.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Judges For The Contest
Here's a list of just some of the judges that will be reviewing the pitches for the contest and who will be participating in the live pitching finals on May 1st! Stay tuned as we announce more A-List judges in the coming weeks!
TREVOR ENGELSON
TONY SAFFORD
Executive Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions Tony Safford is head of Worldwide Acquisitions for Twentieth Century Fox, a position which combines both creative and business skills to acquire film projects for all Fox divisions, domestic and international, including Fox Searchlight.
Recent film acquisitions include Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler, Little Miss Sunshine, and Once. Prior to joining Fox in 1996, he was Senior VP of Acquisitions at Miramax. Before this, he was an acquisitions executive with New Line Cinema. Between 1985 and 1990, Tony was the Program Di
rector of the Sundance Film Festival. He also worked at the American Film Institute (Washington, D.C.) and Walker Art Center (Minneapolis). He has a B.A. and M.A., respectively, from U.C.S.B. and the University of Iowa.
Ross Siegel
Ross Siegel has been the Director of Creative Affairs at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM), one of two production executives overseeing the studio’s slate of Direct-to-DVD movies from development through distribution, since May 2007. Some of the films Ross has overseen include INTO THE BLUE 2: THE REEF, PICTURE THIS (which starred Ashley Tisdale), LEGALLY BLONDES, HIT & RUN, among others. Future films Ross is currently overseeing include remakes of BACK TO SCHOOL and MR. MOM, as well as a reinvention of the horror classic, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. Prior to joining MGM, Ross was Director of Development from 2004 to 2007 at the production-management company Guy Walks into a
Bar, which produced ELF starring Will Ferrell and MEET DAVE starring Eddie Murphy during his tenure. He also set up several other projects while Director of Development, including CRISIS CONTROL at ABC/Touchstone, CAMP SACHEM at Revolution Studios, and OXLEY’S ROAD at Lakeshore Entertainment.
Christopher Lockhart
Christopher is the Story Editor at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, where he finds projects for "A" list actors including Denzel Washington, Steve Martin and Mel Gibson. He lectures on screenwriting around the country and has been featured in THE WRITER magazine and Fox Morning News. His writing workshop, “The Inside Pitch,” was filmed for local television and earned him a Los Angeles Area Emmy nomination. He co-produced the horror film THE COLLECTOR, which was released nationwide in July, and is writer/producer on a feature length documentary called MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS (in post production). Chris has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU’s film school.
Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton
The writers of SAW IV, V, VI, FEAST and THE COLLECTOR. Marcus and Patrick were winners of Project Greenlight. Marcus is also the director of The Collector
TREVOR ENGELSONTrevor is Producer on the 2010 release of REMEMBER ME at Summit Entertainment starring Robert Pattinson, Pierce Brons
on and Leena Olen, directed by Allen Coulter. He also is an Executive Producer on the 2009 release of ALL ABOUT STEVE at Fox 2000, starring Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper. Trevor was a Co-Producer on LICENSE TO WED for Warner Bros which stars Robin Williams, Mandy Moore and John Krasinski and was directed by Ken Kwapis. Alongside his partner, Nick Osborne, he also received an Executive Producer on ZOOM for Sony which starred Tim Allen, Chevy Chase and Courtney Cox, and a Co-Executive Producer on ABC Family’s Christmas comedy MARY CHRISTMAS. Underground Films has a diverse set of projects set up at different studios and financiers including RAJ REDDY PALACE PEACOCK at Warner Brothers, the CLASS ACT, with Halle Berry attached to star at Walden, SOCCER MOM at New Line, TALES FROM THE WISHWORKS FACTORY at Universal and ANIMALS at Sony. Trevor grew up in Great Neck, New York. Graduated from USC undergrad in 1998. Worked at Endeavor as an trainee before joining Nick as his assistant initially at his earlier company O/Z Films. O/Z had a first look deal with Phoenix. In 2001 O/Z Films, metamorphisized into Underground Films and Management. One company dedicated to producing quality films and finding and managing the careers of talented clients.
www.undergroundfilms.net
JULIE RICHARDSON
Ms. Richardson’s strong relationships span the entire entertainment industry. She has worked or is working with such renowned filmmakers as Fr
ank Darabont (GREEN MILE, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION), Michael Mann (HEAT, MIAMI VICE), Peter Medak (RULING CLASS, ROMEO IS BLEEDING), and Randall Wallace (BRAVEHEART, WE WERE SOLDIERS), as well as best-selling authors John Farris and Dr. Lois Frankel.
Having developed a vast slate of premiere film and television properties, Ms. Richardson sold A RHINESTONE ALIBI to Paramount. Her current development slate includes FACT CHECKER, with Natalie Marciano and Michelle Chydik’s 26 Films (STARTER FOR 10, THE WEDDING DATE), SNOW JOB, by John Robert Marlow.
Mac Torluccio - Creative Executive Intrigue Entertainment
Anne Lower - consultant, Save the Cat! Enterprises
Cindy McCreery - a graduate of the Walt Disney/ABC Feature Writing Fellowship program for the 2002-2003 year. Her script POWDER PUFFS got her into the program and was sold to Disney after she finished the fellowship. After the sale of POWDER PUFFS Cindy immediately wrote and sold her next feature spec script, SOCCER MOM to New Line Cinema. In the fall of 2005 Tollin Robbins and Josephson Entertainment approached Cindy with the true story of Maria Pepe, the first girl to play in the Little League. Cindy came up with a pitch with the producers and sold the pitch to Nickelodeon Films. In 2006 National Geographic Films hired Cindy to rewrite ELEPHANT WILD and later in 2007 in partnership with Warner Brothers, they hired her again to develop and write FREE WILLY: ESCAPE FROM PIRATES COVE which will be released in March of 2010. Also in 2007 Cindy sold a pitch of a revamped BABY BOOM for MGM. In late 2008 Disney Channel hired her to adapt the book, RISING STAR into a Disney Channel Original movie. She is also a screenwriting professor at UCSB.
We are currently confirming many more A-List Pros!
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