Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting deadline: 2 days

A quick reminder the deadline for the Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting is in 2 days (May 1). If you go here, you can see live-time stats comparing the number of entrants this year to last. Unless there is a mad rush of submissions over the next 60 hours or so, it appears there may be fewer entrants in 2013 than 2012.

I am in no way affiliated with the Nicholl, but having known many winners including my interviews with all of the 2012 honorees, it’s safe to say this is the most influential of all screenwriting competitions.

That said I continue to look for alternate ways for Hollywood outsiders to break into the business through their screenwriting. That’s why I created The Quest Initiative, a chance for a select group of writers to go through a unique 24-week screenwriting program, theory and practice, ending up with an original screenplay and a chance to have it sent out to reps — all for free.

That’s also why I’m quite interested to see how the Black List script hosting service plays out. To be clear: I receive no benefit from that, my support for it is based on how it’s constructed and how it works, perhaps the most transparent and cost-efficient way for a writer from anywhere in the world to get their completed script in front of potentially 1,500 industry insiders. It worked for Ireland-based writer Declan O’Dwyer who recently set up his script “Broken Cove”. Plus at least a dozen more writers I know of who have made deals and gotten representation by using the Black List site.

The Nicholl. The Black List site. The Quest Initiative. It’s an exciting time, more opportunities than ever for screenwriters anywhere to access Hollywood.

The key as always: Write a great script!

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