DEL SHORES FOUNDATION INC WRITERS SEARCH OFFICIAL RULES, TERMS & CONDITIONS

"Official Rules, Terms & Conditions"

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By entering the Del Shores Foundation Inc Writers Search (the "Writers Search") you agree to all of the terms and conditions listed below.

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1. ELIGIBILITY

• Entrant must identify as a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer plus (LGBTQ+) community.

• Entrant must be 18 years or older.

• Entrant must be Southern and a current legal resident of one of 15 Southern United States inclusive of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.

• Playwrights and screenwriters who have had previous worked produced professionally or by non-independent means are ineligible.
  THIS MEANS:

  • ​Playwrights must not have had a full-length play produced by a professional theatre.

  • Screenwriters must not have had a full-length feature produced.

  • Screenwriters who have had a short film produced may not compete in the short category, but may compete in the feature category. 

    Scripts submitted must NOT have been previously optioned, purchased or produced at the time of entry. Previous workshops or readings of the scripts are acceptable.

• Submission is open to full length screenplays, plays, short films and web series.

• Scripts submitted to the competition must not have received grand jury prize awards from other competitions or nationally recognized playwriting competitions.

• Family members or employees of Del Shores Foundation staff or board members are ineligible to enter.

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2. SUBMISSION

• All scripts must be in PDF format. The name of the PDF should be only the title of the script.

• All scripts must be written in English in 12-point font. Brief dialogue in another language is acceptable so long as an English translation is provided.

• All scripts should adhere to standard industry margins and format.

• All scripts must be submitted online through FilmFreeway.com.

• All submissions are final. No substitutions of pages, drafts or scripts will be considered.

• Do not submit anything with your script, any additional materials will be discarded.

• Submitting your script with a cover page with your name, script name, and contact information is recommended but not required. This may include a title, author name, WGA registration number and/or Copyright information. A single cover page does not count toward your page count. (See Category Script Length Requirements below.)

• It is not required, but we encourage writers to register their script with the US Copyright Office and/or Writers Guild of America.

• Entries will only be accepted during the official submission dates as listed on FilmFreeway.com. Scripts submitted after the final deadline date will be disqualified.

• There is a submission fee to enter the Writers Search. The fee is determined by the submission date.

• Waivers are available for financial hardship. To request a waiver please email info@delshoresfoundation.org.

• All submission fees are final. No refunds will be issued.

• CATEGORY SCRIPT LENGTH REQUIREMENTS

  • SCREENWRITING – 80-130 pages

  • PLAYWRITING – Must be full length, single or multiple acts, no musicals. 75+ minutes or 60-130 pages.

  • SHORT FILM/WEB SERIES – 8-25 pages. Web series may submit multiple episodes within the page count.

• Scripts must be the original work of the Entrant and may not be based whole or in part on any fictional or non-fictional material, published or unpublished, produced or unproduced for the which the Entrant does not have the rights.

• Neither the Del Shores Foundation nor its jurors investigate or attest to the authenticity of an Entrant’s statement of authorship or rights secured.

• By entering the competition, Entrant acknowledges they have secured all necessary rights.

• Writing teams are allowed, limited to two writers, both of whom must meet all eligibility requirements. Both must be named on the script as writers. The submitting Entrant confirms they have permission from the writing partner to submit the script.

• Multiple scripts may be entered across different categories but only one per category, and each script is required to pay separate registration fees.

• All scripts submitted will remain the property of the writer(s). Neither the Del Shores Foundation nor any of its readers or jurors and/or their respective companies assume any attachment to your work.

• Regardless of your status (Winner or Entrant), please note your script and contact information may be shared with the Del Shores Foundation and its readers, jurors and partners, and by submitting you agree with that.

• By entering the Writers Search you agree to receive competition updates by email and periodic marketing emails from the Del Shores Foundation. You may unsubscribe at any time.

• Entering the competition constitutes permission to use the semifinalists, finalists and winners’ names and likenesses for publicity and promotions with no additional compensation. The Del Shores Foundation reserves the right to publicize and promote any and all progress, development and success of entered projects.

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3. JUDGING

• Each round will be judged by readers and jurors selected by the Del Shores Foundation at its sole discretion.

• The Writers Search has no obligation (other than as stated in these rules or on our website) to disclose any of the following information: i) identities of readers or judges, ii) notes, feedback, or information relating to the submitted material, and/or iii) details regarding the submission review or selection process.

• No official feedback will be provided. The Del Shores Foundation explicitly disclaims any liability or responsibility for any comments, notes, or opinions expressed about a submission, whether by the Writers Search, readers, jurors or by its volunteers.

• The judges’ decision is final.

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4. WINNERS & AWARDS

• Cash Awards will be given to a single script winner in each category:

  • Short Film/Web Series – $1,000

    • Sponsored by Jae Waters in honor of Joan Furman

  • Screenwriting – $3,000 

  • Playwriting – $3,000 

• Additional Cash Awards will be given in each category:
  • Finalists - $250​
  • ​Semifinalists - $100
    • Sponsored by Kevin Hryciw

• Winners receiving cash awards are solely responsible for payment of all applicable local, state, and federal taxes.

• Semifinalists and Finalists may be announced in advance of the winners at a date to be determined.

• Finalists will be contacted to provide a closeup photo. These may be displayed with the project title on our site and on all press materials and releases.

• If a writing team wins, the award will be split evenly and issued to the two writers separately.

• The Del Shores Foundation may select an alternate winner in its sole discretion, if within two (2) days of the first attempt to contact a potential winner, the potential winner: i) cannot be reached, ii) fails to respond to the notification, iii) declines to serve as winner and/or iv) has their notification returned as undeliverable.

• If the potential winner within five (5) days of notification i) fails to return a completed affidavit of eligibility, liability/publicity release, or other document(s) as required by the Del Shores Foundation, ii) fails to provide a copy of their valid-government-issued photo identification or social security number, and/or iii) is found ineligible, an alternate winner may be selected at the Del Shores Foundation’s sole discretion.

• The Del Shores Foundation reserves the right to modify the notification and affidavit/release procedures in connection with the selection of an alternate winner, if any.

• The Del Shores Foundation reserves the right to grant less than or no awards, at its sole discretion, if a lesser number of, or no entries meet the submissions requirements and/or industry standards of excellence.

• Each winner must execute a release agreement wherein they i) warrant that they have the sole rights to their entry, ii) allow the Del Shores Foundation to publish their name, screenplay title and logline, and award won on the Del Shores Foundation website iii) submit a quote/allow us to ask for a quote/testimonial about the Writers Search and allow us to publish it on the Del Shores Foundation website and iv) indemnify and hold harmless the Del Shores Foundation, its parent company, its affiliates, and subsidiaries and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, and representatives against any claim arising out of submission of your script to the Writers Search.

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5. ADDITIONAL GRANTS ASSOCIATED WITH WINNERS

• The Del Shores Foundation will also offer grants in support of the execution and promotion of the winning script.

• SHORT FILM/WEB SERIES GRANT - sponsored by Jae Waters in honor of Joan Furman 

  • The Del Shores Foundation will offer a $2,000 grant toward the budget of producing the winning short film or web series.​

  • The winning script must be produced within one year of the announcement of the winner in order to receive the grant.

  • The grant will be provided to the writer, if the writer is also the producer of the short/film web series, or to the producer with proof of contract with the writer for producing the work.

  • Additional grant terms will be provided to the producer of the work.

• SCREENWRITING GRANT

  • ​The winner of the screenwriting award will receive airfare and accommodations for a three day trip to Los Angeles from the South to meet with production company executives on their winning script. Costs not to exceed $2,000.

    • Travel dates to be determined in conjunction with winner, executives and Del Shores Foundation schedules.

    • The Screenwriting Award winner grants the Del Shores Foundation the right to submit their winning script to production companies and executives for potential meetings.

    • Additional grant terms will be provided to the winner.

• PLAYWRITING GRANT - sponsored by Dennis Frisman

  • The Del Shores Foundation will provide a grant of $10,000 to the budget of the production of the Del Shores Foundation theatre company partner that produces the first professional production of the winning play.

    • If no Del Shores Foundation theatre partner can take advantage of the grant to produce the world premiere, it will be made available to other professional theatre companies.​

  • The Playwriting Award winner grants the Del Shores Foundation permission to submit the winning script to theatres and theatre partners for consideration for producing the script in conjunction with receiving the Playwriting Grant.

  • The Playwriting Grant is awarded to the producing theatre company partner.

  • The Playwriting Award winner will have consultation rights with the potential theatre producer recipient of the Playwriting Grant.

  • The licensing of the play for the production will be between the writer and the theatre company and the grant is dependent upon agreement between the writer and the producing theatre company.

  • THEATRE COMPANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

    • Theatre company must have been in existence for at least one year.

    • Theatre company must have proof of production of at least two professional productions.

  • Additional grant terms will be provided to interested theatre companies.

• STAGE READING SERIES GRANT ​

  • The Del Shores Foundation will provide a grant for a theatre partner to produce a one-night stage reading of any of the finalists in the Play category. There is one grant available per finalist script. $750 available for the reading and $750 to provide travel and accommodations for the finalist to attend the reading for a total grant of $1,500 per script. If multiple theatre partners are interested, the decision will be made with the finalist.​

  • One reading sponsored by Philip Wm. McKinley & David A. Manning, McKinley/Manning Foundation

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6. PROPOSED DEL SHORES WRITING FESTIVAL

• The Del Shores Foundation intends to present a Del Shores Writing Festival in 2023.

• Winners in all three categories may receive a stage reading of their winning script at the Del Shores Writing Festival.

• All winners grant the Del Shores Foundation a non-exclusive gratis license to produce a single, public and ticketed stage reading of their winning script at the Del Shores Writing Festival.

• Winners may be provided a travel and accommodations stipend to attend the Festival.

• Casting for each staged reading will be conducted by the Del Shores Foundation in advance of the stage reading. Cast members and directors for each staged reading will be selected at the Del Shores Foundation’s sole discretion. Each winner acknowledges that one performer may perform the role of more than one character in that winner’s script.

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7. RIGHTS RESERVED

• The Del Shores Foundation has the right to change any information contained in these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions (including award dates, venues, events, presentation format, awards and eligibility requirements) without further notice.

• Void where prohibited by law.

• Decisions made by the Del Shores Foundation are final in all matters, including interpretation of these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions and cannot be appealed.  No substitutions of the Awards are offered.

• Any expenses not specifically set forth herein are the sole responsibility of the finalists and the award winners (as applicable.)

• By entering, each Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Del Shores Foundation has the non-exclusive, irrevocable, and royalty-free right to make use of that Entrant’s submission for judging purposes and to perform and publicize that entrant’s work as a stage reading as further described in the PROPOSED DEL SHORES WRITING FESTIVAL section above.

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8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

• Each Entrant represents and warrants the following:

  • The entry is submitted voluntarily and is not submitted in confidence, and no confidential relationship between the Entrant and the Del Shores Foundation is intended to be created by these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions or the submission of the entry.

  • The work is not public domain.

  • The work does not violate the rights or common law, statutory or otherwise, of any person or entity.

• The Del Shores Foundation shall have the right to disqualify any submission, which, in its sole judgment violates the representations and warranties contained herein.

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9. INDEMNIFICATION

• By submitting material to the Del Shores Foundation Writer Search, the Entrant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Del Shores Foundation, its employees, directors, representatives, partners, readers, jurors and affiliates from any liability, claims and damages in connection with the submission and from any fees and expenses, including, but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

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10. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER

• All entries must be completed in full in order to be eligible. Any attempted form of entry other than as described herein is void. Entries generated by a script, macro, or other automated means will be disqualified. No mechanical reproductions, alterations, or forged entries allowed. The Del Shores Foundation reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process.

• Any person who supplies false information, enters by fraudulent means, or is otherwise determined to be in violation of these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions in an attempt to obtain an award will forfeit the award won and may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Entrant further agrees to not knowingly: damage or cause interruption of the Writers Search; prevent others from entering the Writers Search; or obtain or modify another user's account information without their consent.

• The Del Shores Foundation is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, destroyed, forged, damaged, tampered with, mass machine generated, unintelligible, incomprehensible, or misdirected entries otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions, or mail related to or resulting from participation in the Writers Search.

• The Del Shores Foundation is also not responsible for Internet traffic congestion, technical, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed software transmissions which may limit an entrant’s ability to participate in the Writers Search, or damage to user’s system as a result of participation in the Writers Search or of downloading any information necessary to participate in the Writers Search.

• The Del Shores Foundation reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or modify the Writers Search if the Writers Search is not capable of running as planned, including, without limitation, any computer virus, malfunction, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure, or other cause beyond its control which corrupts, threatens, or adversely affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper operation of the Writers Search.

• As a condition of entry, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions and the decisions of The Del Shores Foundation. Except where prohibited by law, by entering this Writers Search, you consent to (i) the use of your name, voice, picture, likeness, image and biographical data, and/or any other information contained in your entry in advertising, promotional, and marketing materials by The Del Shores Foundation worldwide in all media now known or hereafter discovered (including the Del Shores Foundation website) without additional compensation, notice, approval, or review and (ii) the modification, editing, adaptation, electronic alteration, use, assignment, and/or disposal of online entries however it sees fit and for any purpose without any notice or compensation to you or any third parties.

• By entering this Writers Search, Entrant agrees to waive any right to claim ambiguity with these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions. Entrant acknowledge that if they are chosen as a winner, certain of your personally identifying information may be disclosed to third parties at least as required by law, including, without limitation, on a Winners’ List.

• All Award claims and documents provided by the winners must be verified by the Del Shores Foundation. Each winner, by acceptance of an Award, agrees to release the Del Shores Foundation from and against any and all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, death, disability, attorneys’ fees, costs of litigation and settlement, as well as damages or losses to persons and property that may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, redemption or use of an award, or while traveling to and/or from a location to obtain or use an award.

• The Del Shores Foundation does not make any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to the use of any Award, including, without limitation, quality, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. Further, no responsibilities are accepted for any additional expenses, omissions, delays, re-routing, or acts of any government or authority.

• The Del Shores Foundation shall not be liable to any winner or any other person for failure to supply any Award or any part thereof, by reason of any acts of God, any action(s), regulation(s), order(s), or request(s) by any governmental or quasi-governmental entity (whether or not the action(s), regulations(s), order(s), or request(s) prove(s) to be invalid), equipment failure, terrorist acts, earthquake, war, fire, flood, explosion, unusually severe weather, hurricane, embargo, labor dispute or strike (whether legal or illegal), labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, work slow-down, civil disturbance, insurrection, riot, or any other cause beyond The Del Shores Foundation’s sole control.

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11. GOVERNING LAW

• The Writers Search and these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions will be governed by the laws of the State of California, USA without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. The California state and federal courts located in Los Angeles, California shall have exclusive jurisdiction in the event that any dispute arises regarding the Writers Search or the Award. Any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Writers Search or any Award shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. Any and all claims shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Writers Search, but in no event attorneys’ fees. Entrants hereby waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental, and consequential damages, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.

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12. WINNERS’ LIST

• A Winners List will be published here on the website.