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TV Pilot Screenwriting Competition

Featuring a jury of industry professionals from top companies. The Launch Pad Pilot competition also features mentorship opportunities plus guaranteed development opportunities.

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Featuring a jury of industry professionals from top companies, the Launch Pad Pilot competition has led to dozens of writers staffed on hit shows for Netflix, CBS, NBC and more.

We’re proud to offer a Grand Prize Partnership with Citizen Skull Productions. They will listen to pitches from all Top 10 Finalists and will select one writer or project for mentorship and development.

With additional prizes and mentorship opportunities to take advantage of, our competition is poised to help break you into the business.

Plus comedy legend Spike Feresten (SEINFELD, UNFROSTED) will join us for a Q&A session with all finalists. 

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Writer Testimonials

LaunchPad was instrumental in helping submit my material and set up meetings for me as I was looking for a new manager. Their team was dedicated, enthusiastic, and tireless in their process, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their support!

Josh Chesler

Signed with a literary manager

Josh Chesler

Launch Pad has been so professional, helpful, communicative, and seems to truly care about the writers who submit their work to them! I have felt very supported throughout the process.

Allison Minick

Signed with a literary manager

Allison Minick

The Launch Pad did everything I could ask for...there's not too much else the competition could have done for me.

Taylor Hopkins

Signed with a literary manager

Taylor Hopkins

Winning Top Comedy in Launch Pad's Pilot Competition was a pivotal moment in my career-- within months I was represented by a major management company, pitching to top tier producers like Apatow Productions and Conaco. Launch Pad provided me with a huge boost, and for that I am extremely grateful!

Ivy Johnson

Signed with a manager & developing original pilot with MGM Television

Ivy Johnson

The Launch Pad Pilot Competition and its diligent team helped “Angels of War” to gain visibility and traction. I am grateful for the opportunities provided to competition winners to meet with various industry reps and producers.

Natalie Bergman

Signed with a literary manager

Natalie Bergman

Launch Pad has been an invaluable resource for reaching my career screenwriting goals.They not only provided a platform through the contest, but put me in touch with industry players, answered any questions I had, and aided my writing career with a personally-focused approach. A must-enter contest for aspiring screenwriters.

Alex Ovadal

Signed with a literary manager

Alex Ovadal

What’s great about the Launch Pad writing contest, is that you don’t have to win to come out a winner. My script Happy Little Accidents made it into the top 100 but didn’t advance further, and yet I was chosen for their mentorship program. They truly take all scripts and screenwriters into consideration and are looking for writers that are passionate and ready for the next step in their career.

Andy Erikson

Signed with a literary manager

Andy Erikson

Key Dates

All entries must be electronically submitted by midnight on their respective deadlines.

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Deadlines

Sep 20, 2024

Early

Oct 20, 2024

Regular

Nov 20, 2024

Late

Dec 20, 2024

Final

Announcements

Feb 10, 2025

Second Rounder

Feb 24, 2025

Top 100

Mar 3, 2025

Top 50

Mar 10, 2025

Top 10

Mar 17, 2025

Winner

Prizes with Results

The competition winners will receive the following prizes.

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Grand Prize

Everything the Category Winners receive, plus…

  • Development meetings with Grand Prize VIP Partner Citizen Skull Productions

Citizen Skull

Production and Management Company

Citizen Skull

Category Winners (2): Half-Hour and Hour-Long Pilot Winners

Everything the Top 10 receive, plus...

  • An additional 1:1 meeting with an industry professional
  • Each of the competition winners will be invited to an exclusive yearly virtual event where they will get the chance to meet with and pitch industry professionals from management companies, agencies and production companies in a 1:1 setting. Past participants included MGM, Scott Free, Verve, Bellevue, Lit Entertainment, WME, and more…

Top 10 Finalists

Everything the Top 50 receive, plus…

  • A guaranteed meeting with a member of the jury.
  • Receive a paragraph of written feedback from a jury member.
  • One free entry to any future Launch Pad Competition of your choosing.
  • Invite to a Top 10 only virtual Q&A event with writer & producer Spike Feresten.

Spike Feresten

Writer (UNFROSTED, BEE MOVIE, SEINFELD)

Spike Feresten

Top 50

Everything the Top 100 receive, plus…

  • One year free membership to the Tracking Board.

Top 100

  • Receive brief written feedback from a competition reader.
  • Your project and writer profile will be shared and marketed to our extensive industry networks.

Additional Opportunities

Writers have launched their careers with these opportunities - yours could be next. To qualify for these prizes, entrants must select the specific add-on, or make it to the Top 10.

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TV Pilot Mentorship Program

Mentor Sharlene Martin of Martin Literary and Media Management will select one writer for three mentorship meetings.

In 2003, Sharlene Martin and created Martin Literary and Media Management. Sharlene has represented some of the top true crime books in publishing and her producing credits include: Executive Producer of Lifetime’s movie THE PREGNANCY PACT, Co- Creator/Producer of the reality series, DEADLY SINS for Discovery ID, Co-EP for EPIC MYSTERIES for Discovery ID, Executive Producer on SECRETS OF A MARINE’S WIFE for Sony Television at Lifetime, and Executive Producer for Apple TV+’s HOME BEFORE DARK, directed and executive produced by Jon M. Chu (Wicked, Crazy Rich Asians), based on her client, Hilde Lysiak, a 14-year-old crime reporter.

Sharlene Martin

Founder, Martin Literary and Media Management

Sharlene Martin

Guaranteed Development Prize

Najeeb Khuda of Endless Media will select one project to develop with the writer through a series of meetings.

Najeeb is an experienced producer, literary manager, and content strategist who has over a decade of experience in the industry working his way through various major studios such as 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and Lionsgate before launching his production and literary management company Endless Media. Through Endless Media he has produced several feature films including THE CALM BEYOND (Sony Pictures) and ASSASSIN (Bruce Willis final film) and set up numerous other projects with major companies such as Scott Free and Thunder Road. As a management company, Endless Media’s clients have set up feature and TV projects across various major studios and production companies.

Najeeb Khuda

Producer/Manager/Founder at Endless Media

Najeeb Khuda

Meet the Jury

Featuring jurors from Good Fear, Vertigo Entertainment, ColorCreative, Verve, Roadside Attractions, and more...

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TV Writer

Ali Vingiano

TV Writer

Ali Vingiano is a WGA Award-nominated TV writer who wrote on both seasons of The Morning Show (Apple TV+) and is currently developing two TV ideas and a feature for various studios and production companies. She previously produced for The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper (Comedy Central), and stars in the feature film THE END OF US, which premiered at SXSW ‘21. As a writer and director, her extensive online video work has received over 1 billion views, won Vimeo Staff Picks, and has been featured everywhere from on the front page of Reddit to NBC’s Today Show. As a journalist, she's contributed writing to Vulture, BuzzFeed, The Hairpin, and more. Born in New York City, she now lives and works in Los Angeles with her husband and their rescue dog.

ColorCreative

Chervine Naamani

ColorCreative

Chervine Naamani is a Manager and Producer at ColorCreative. Chervine has built an impressive diverse and multi-cultured list of next generation filmmakers and writers. On the film side, his clients have recently won awards at every major festival including Sundance, Cannes or SXSW and have worked with Neon, New Line, 20th and more. On the TV side, he works with multiple prominent writers writing on hit shows across all genres. Chervine spent the last 4 years as a Literary Manager at RAIN. He had started in management at Thruline, then joined Buchwald where he became the first Literary agent ever promoted at the agency and helped establish their Literary department. The son of political refugees from Iran was born and raised in Paris, France. He is a graduate of the Assas Law School in Paris. Chervine is fluent in English, French and Farsi.

Vertigo

Dan Kavanagh

Vertigo

Dan Kavanagh joined Vertigo Entertainment in 2019. Since then, he’s worked to identify projects that have sold to Charter, Sony and Village Roadshow among others, while contributing to the development of shows at every major streamer, including Warhammer at Amazon. Previously, he served as Development & Production Coordinator at AMC Networks’ Shudder and Sundance Now, where he helped launch their reboot of Stephen King and George Romero’s Creepshow, which is now in its fourth season.

Good Fear

David Baggelaar

Good Fear

David is a Los Angeles native and graduate of San Diego State University where he received a degree in psychology, which has proven to be helpful in this business. After moving back to LA, he worked as a Production Assistant in commercials and indie film before landing at Benderspink in 2012 where he remained as the company transitioned to Good Fear in 2016. On the production side, he’s worked in some capacity on New Line’s WE’RE THE MILLERS, HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 and VACATION, Disney’s MULAN, and A24’s UNDER THE SILVER LAKE. As a manager, he has built a portfolio of film/tv writers, filmmakers, and IP creators. His clients have worked at most of the streaming platforms, networks, and film studios. David strives to develop his clients work and find the best place for their project/talents to thrive, pushing his clients to find the balance between art and commerce, and he is always on the lookout for noisy voices.

Verve

Davina Hefflin

Verve

Davina is a TV Literary Agent at Verve and previously worked in the lit department at Gersh. Davina has dedicated herself to identifying Black/diverse, Female, and LGBTQ+ voices, building creatives up and helping them tell new stories that will have a positive and lasting impact on the audience.

Runyon Media

Josh Marks

Runyon Media

Josh Marks is a manager/producer at Runyon Media. Prior to founding Runyon Media, Josh was a literary manager with Untitled Entertainment and with Entertainment 360 (LADY BIRD, THE TERROR, THE FALL GUY, BRUISED) before that. He began his career as an agent trainee at UTA (United Talent Agency). In 2023, Josh left Untitled to launch Runyon Media, a new entity dedicated to financing, production and literary management. His clients have showrun and/or written for premium series on major networks and streamers in addition to writing and directing features for major theatrical and streaming studios. Client credits include: SUITS, SNOWPIERCER, ANIMAL KINGDOM, BORAT, THE OTHER TWO, PALM TREES AND POWER LINES, DEPARTURE and more.

Marathon Management
Lameese Hassen

Lameese Hassen

Marathon Management

Born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Lameese came out to Los Angeles five years ago to pursue the entertainment industry. She began as an assistant to Jai Khanna, a former manager at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, under their finance-production company, Oakhurst Entertainment. Lameese is currently a Junior Manager and Executive Assistant to Robert Lazar at Marathon Management.

Producer

Megan Yeargin

Producer

Megan Yeargin is an experienced creative producer, who most recently led development for showrunner Brad Falchuk's overall deal at Netflix, encompassing a wide range of genres and formats in film, scripted TV and, unscripted TV. Most recently she co-produced the upcoming Netflix series, THE BROTHERS SUN, starring Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.

Running Woman

Ryan Cunningham

Running Woman

RYAN CUNNINGHAM (she/her) is a queer writer/director and Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer. She's EP/Director on the docuseries EXPECTING AMY (HBO Max) about Amy Schumer’s pregnancy, and the standup specials ILANA GLAZER: THE PLANET IS BURNING (Amazon), and CLUB CUMMING PRESENTS A QUEER COMEDY EXTRAVAGANZA! (Showtime), hosted by Alan Cumming. Ryan recently completed production on her feature directorial debut, LONE WOLVES, set to release in 2024. In 2023, she also directed Sam Morrison’s critically acclaimed and award-nominated SUGAR DADDY for its extended off-Broadway run at Soho Playhouse in NYC and sold-out run in London at Soho Theatre. She is currently directing a monthly run of the live show SAMANTHA BEE PRESENTS WITS END, a comedy trivia game show with such guests as Eugene Mirman, David Cross, John Hodgman, Phoebe Robinson, Sam Morrison, Dylan Adler, Wyatt Cenac, Martin Urbano, Jon Glaser, and Samantha Bee. Select TV producing credits include BROAD CITY, INSIDE AMY SCHUMER, SEARCH PARTY, THE LAST O.G., and ZIWE.

Roadside Attractions

Ryan Paine

Roadside Attractions

Ryan Paine is Roadside Attractions’ Director of Development. Paine works across the company’s creative slate in both film and TV, and his role is to identify promising projects, negotiate rights deals and talent deals, develop creative materials, secure production financing, and oversee projects throughout production. Paine most recently executive produced the comedic drama SHORTCOMINGS, which marks actor Randall Park’s feature directorial debut and is based on the same-titled graphic novel by New Yorker cartoonist Adrian Tomine. Paine has a B.A. from Brown University. He was born and raised in Florence, Alabama, and he currently resides in West Hollywood.

Scott Schulman Management

Scott Schulman

Scott Schulman Management

Scott Schulman is a Literary Manager who has staffed many writers. One of his clients sold one of their pilots to Netflix in 2022. He also went on to sell 2 more movies that year. He got his start working at Fremantle in business affairs in both scripted and non-scripted television. He then went to A3 Artist Agency for a year as a junior agent in below the line packaging. Scott then pivoted to management and joined More/Medavoy. Scott went off and started Schulman Management in 2018. He began representing actors and then transitioned to signing writers/directors/producers. He currently has a roster of emerging voices and is adamant about breaking the barrier for women by helping get their voices heard. He is currently doing business with 21 Laps, Sugar 23, Phoenix Pictures, Omaha Productions, Harpo, Yoruba Saxon, Megamix, Boatrocker, Mar Vista, CBS and Netflix. Scott served on the Board of Directors for the entertainment organization, HRTS Associates and was also nominated as a Visionary of the Year candidate in 2022 by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Scott also sits on the Los Angeles Hofstra University alumni chapter which mentors emerging industry talent.

Development

Tyler Vendetti

Development

Tyler was recently a Manager of Development at ITV Studios America, ITV Studios’ LA-based independent scripted television operation. Previously, she served as a WPA on a number of productions including SWAMP THING for DC Universe and DEAD TO ME for Netflix. She holds a B.A. in English and Film & New Media from Wheaton College (Massachusetts) and is an alum of the NBCUniversal Page Program.

Industry Trusted

“Writers are an integral part of my team and without them I would not be able to do my job, so to be able to work with Launch Pad and provide a new and innovative way for them to get their work out in the world is truly exciting.”

Ridley Scott

Director & Producer, NAPOLEON | THE MARTIAN | GLADIATOR

Ridley Scott

“I’ve so enjoyed taking part in the Launch Pad Competition jury over the last two years. The caliber of talent and wealth of imagination on display is inspiring, and the competition provides the authors with a platform to showcase their incredible work. I look forward to charting each of the nominees’ trajectories!”

Emily MacDonald

Agent, 42 Management & Production

Emily MacDonald

“The numbers speak for themselves. Beyond the massive amount of writers who have landed reps from Launch Pad, no other has led to more sales and bidding wars in existence. And beyond that, the success isn’t just here, but these scripts have landed on every major end of year list. This place starts careers!”

Brooklyn Weaver

Manager/Producer, Energy Entertainment

Rules & Guidelines

Have more questions? Send us an email.

Selection Criteria

The winners will be chosen based on the following criteria:

  1. The originality and commerciality of the premise.
  2. The effectiveness of the plot and structure in serving that premise.
  3. The professional quality and creative use of the writing, formatting and presentation.
  4. The use of dialogue to advance the character, story and entertainment value of the project.
  5. The originality, believability and emotional investment in the characters and their impact on the overarching story and themes.

Initial reads will be completed by professional industry readers, after which the top scored scripts will be named to a Second Round and then narrowed down to a list of 100 finalists. Our internal team of readers will read all remaining submissions to allow for extensive internal discussions over the relative merits and weaknesses of each project. At this point, writers may be asked to submit supplemental information (a brief bio, a bible for their tv pilot, etc.) to assist in the decision making process.

Further rounds of internal reading and discussion, as well as consultations with our signing and development prize partners, narrows the finalists down to 10, at which point our panel of industry judges read the scripts and determine our winners.

Any entrant may be deemed ineligible at the sole discretion of Launch Pad. We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.

Rules

  1. All scripts MUST BE submitted as a PDF.
  2. All pilot scripts must be under 70 pages (any script with more than 70 pages will be charged an additional $1 per page) 
  3. Do not submit any form of pitch document with your pilot script.
  4. Do not include any identifying information (name, address, etc) on any page of your submission EXCEPT for the Title Page, which will be removed before sharing with readers to preserve anonymity. As such, the Title Page can include any information you would like. 
  5. Scripts with multiple writers are allowed (however, all entry fees must be paid under one account and all prizes to be shared among writing partners).
  6. All submissions must be the sole property of the writer(s). Any submissions of existing characters and or stories not in the public domain, as well as any intellectual property that the writer does not own will be disqualified.
  7. Pilots with a prior option are allowed, but at the time of submission and for the duration of the contest, must remain exclusively the writer’s property.
  8. The only scripts not allowed to be entered are those which have already sold, been produced, have previously earned our “TB Recommends” or “Launch Pad Recommends” honors, or received a Top 50 placement in a previous Launch Pad competition, regardless of format.
  9. The Launch Pad uses Coverfly to manage our submissions and reads. Updated drafts will be accepted for a limited time through the Coverfly website only for a $6 fee.
  10. The Launch Pad and all judges/readers will utilize whatever criteria they deem appropriate in deciding a winner.
  11. All scripts will remain the property of the writer(s) throughout the contest (at no point will anyone from the judge’s panel, or Launch Pad ever attach themselves to your work without your consent).
  12. Entrants may be contacted as a result of the contest by Launch Pad, its partners, the judging panel or other industry professionals in regards to representation, production, sale and/or option of the entered work.
  13. Entrants are under no obligation to sell their work or otherwise attach themselves to representation in any form – this includes the guaranteed option and guaranteed signing add ons
  14. General script entries will not receive feedback, however, you can opt to upgrade and receive feedback on your script submission.
  15. The contest is open to entrants who will be 18 or older at the time of the winners announcement. It is an international contest and open to entrants worldwide.
  16. The Launch Pad reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to change or modify these terms at any time without notice.
  17. By entering this competition, you agree to receive periodic emails from The Launch Pad and The Tracking Board. You may unsubscribe to these at any time.
  18. All entrants understand and agree to allow Launch Pad to post details on their script (title, writers name, logline, genre, and competition details) as well as regarding the writer (biography, picture) to their site, or sister site to help promote the entrants’ work.
  19. By entering the competition, entrants are acknowledging their eligibility for the competition. The vast majority of entrants enter in good faith, and validating everyone at the entry stage would be inefficient and take away from efforts reading and finding the best scripts. Therefore, we check eligibility at the Top 100 Finalist stage, which allows us to confirm eligibility prior to winner selection. If an issue comes to our attention earlier, we will address eligibility issues in earlier rounds on a case-by-case basis.
  20. All purchases and submissions are final. No refunds will be issued.
  21. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
  22. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to LaunchPad and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of a entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
  23. Employees of the Launch Pad and their immediate families are ineligible to participate in this contest. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified.
  24. You agree to release and hold harmless LaunchPad, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, prize contributors, judges, readers, sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising, or promoting the competition, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s entry, participation in the competition and/or acceptance or use or misuse of prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the LaunchPad and its sponsors, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the competition and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Prize.

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