AFF Screenwriting Contest Results
Back in June I announced that my team and I had submitted our pilot script for a middle-grade animated TV series to the Austin Film Festival. This is the biggest screenwriting contest in the country, and it’s so well-respected that even just making it to the second round is a huge deal. It earns you respect in the industry, eyes on your project, a second look or a longer look. I’ve been trying very hard not to think about it too much.
So when I found out we made second round, I squeaked. Then I squealed. Then I started laughing semi-hysterically and melted out of my chair.
No, I’m not kidding.
This is the greatest achievement of my writing career so far. Hands down.
It feels amazing, that we worked so hard on this project for the last year and are seeing the results of that begin to come to light. I’m so proud of my team, and so proud of myself, and so proud of this project. We’re now working on our pitch materials, and plan to have them ready for the Austin Film Festival. Second Rounders get a lot of additional access to the conference, panels, and industry professionals. We’re going to have the opportunity to talk to writers for huge blockbuster movies and acclaimed TV shows, producers who worked on some of the most well-known titles in the world. It’s poor form to run around pitching your project to anyone you can get within 6-feet of, but it’s quite common for people you talk with to ask about what you’re working on, and ask to follow up with pitch materials if they’re interested in the project and think they may want to work with you or connect you to someone who will.
I’m still figuring out how I’m going to make it happen—I’m on a tight budget at the moment and even with the Second-Rounder discount conferences are expensive—but I’m determined to pull it off. I think if I missed this opportunity I would always regret it.
They have already selected the finalists for the conference, so don’t expect any more news on that front. What you can look out for is more news about The MisHEADventures of the Headless Horseboy.
We’re just getting started.
