1) All submissions must be postmarked by deadline. The Competition reserves the right to extend the deadline.

2) Submitted screenplays must be the unproduced, unoptioned, and wholly original work of the writer(s). There must be no dispute about the ownership of submitted screenplays or the writers’ right to submit screenplay. Submitted teleplays will adhere to the industry “spec script” practice of being a derivative work based on a pre-existing television series, however submitted teleplays must contain original story and dialogue. For teleplays, any characters created by the writer(s) must be wholly original work. Pilots for unproduced television shows or episodes of an unproduced series will not be accepted.

3) Scripts by more than one writer are eligible, but only one prize will be given and it will be the writers’s responsibility to distribute the prize. If writers of a script are unable to agree on the distribution of a prize, their script will be disqualified.

4) All writers of submitted scripts must be at least 18 years of age.

5) Writers of submitted scripts must not have earned more than $8,000 (in cash or other consideration) for writing services for film or television. Furthermore writers must not have won a fellowship or writing contest that includes a “first look” clause.

6) Scripts must be in English, printed single- or double-sided on 3-hole white paper with the pages numbered and with the title (for TV specs include name of show), name of writer(s) and contact information on the title page. Font must be 12-point Courier, Courier New or Courier Final Draft. Feature screenplays must be between 85-140 pages and in standard spec screenplay format, fastened with 2-3 brads with (optional) blank cardstock covers. Short screenplays must be 20 pages or less, fastened with 2-3 brads or 1 staple. Teleplays for hour-long series must be between 50-70 pages. Teleplays for half-hour shows must be between 25 and 55 page (more than 40 only if double-spaced dialogue). Online submissions must be in either Movie Magic, Final Draft, PDF or RTF format. It is preferable but not mandatory that the file has the title page as the first page of the file.

7) Hard-copy submissions must contain eligible scripts(s), a signed, initialed and completed application, entry fee (check, money order or credit card information), and, if you want notification that we have received your materials, a self-addressed-stamped postcard. Hard-copy submissions must be mailed (USPS, UPS, etc…) via a delivery method that does not require a signature. Online submissions must contain eligible script (as a Movie Magic, PDF, RTF or Final Draft file), valid credit card information and a valid email address. Confirmation of receipt of online submissions will be only done via email.

8) Employees, contractors, or immediate family members of principals of Creative Screenwriting, The Screenwriting Expo, and their parent company Inside Information Group, Ltd. may not submit screenplays. Scripts and writers that have won a cash prize from any previous Expo Screenwriting Competition are ineligible.

9) Please read and understand these Rules and Regulations. Failure to adhere to The Contest guidelines will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

10) Judging will be performed by trained readers and industry professionals. The finalists’ scripts will be read by industry professionals. The decisions of the Judges will be final.

11) The 2008 Screenwriting Expo Screenplay Competition may substitute alternative prizes of equal or greater value in place of previously announced prizes.

12) Entry fees are nonrefundable. Make your check payable to Inside Information Group, Ltd..

13) Questions regarding The Screenwriting Expo Screenplay Competition should be directed to:  contests@screenwritingexpo.com

14) “Trip to Los Angeles” is defined as a continental U.S. round-trip plane ticket (maximum price: $350) to Los Angeles for one writer on a major airline, 4 nights accommodations at Expo Hotel (not including any additional charges incurred there), and free entrance to the Expo.

15) No writer will win more than one of the following categories: Action-Adventure, Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Family, Animation, New Visions Prize, Grand Prize, Runner Up in Main Category. Winners of the Writers Boot Camp Think Tank prize, the Kersey Management Spec Prize and the Duke City Shootout Prize will be selected by the principals of each respective company and may coincide with writer(s) who have won another prize in the Expo 6 Screenplay Competition.

16) All winners will be responsible for their own U.S. income tax withholding.