UCLA Extension Writers' Program

The UCLA Extension Screenplay Competition

A big round of applause, please, for our three outstanding Screenplay Competition Finalists (in alphabetical order): Greg Amici, Elissa Matsueda, and Terrence Michael.

Mentors Chrysanthy Balis, Keith Giglio and Steve Mazur (respectively) made their decisions after a close reading of, and much discussion about, the 10 excellent scripts that made up this year's semi-finalists. Greg, Elissa, and Terrence will now spend the next several weeks working closely with their mentors to whip their scripts into tip-top shape. In mid-September, three industry professionals will read the three scripts and award lst, 2^nd, and 3^rd place honors.

Here are the loglines of our three finalists:

"Rhythm of Life" by Greg Amici (Dramedy), is a dark comedy about a Polish country girl who achieves a modified version of the American dream via an unexpected path when she falls in love with and marries an orthodox man.

"Happy for You" by Elissa Matsueda (Comedy), features three interlocking stories involving people who feel like they are being left behind or falling behind.

"The Girl with Something Extra" (re-titled) by Terrence Michael (Comedy), is a dark comedy about a boy who is raised as a girl and whose search for love takes a surprising turn.

Enter the UCLA Extension Screenplay Competition this September and next year, this could be you! Read on for details.

The UCLA Extension Screenplay Competition is a fresh and exclusive opportunity for three outstanding Writers' Program students to gain industry exposure, individual mentoring and training, and cash prizes. Winners receive $1,000 (1^st place), $500 (2^nd place) and $250 (3^rd place); a guaranteed read by an agent, producer, and/or creative executive; and a one-on-one script consultation ($700 value) with a professional screenwriter prior to the final judging.

The competition is intended to recognize the highest levels of Writers' Program students' skill and craft. In addition to training writers to write to the best of their abilities, the Writers' Program takes enormous pride in the numbers of their students who have succeeded in the industry. Many writers, including Stuart Beattie (Derailed, Collateral, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), Allison Abner (The West Wing), Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil, Grumpy Old Men), and David Self (Road to Perdition, Thirteen Days), have developed exciting careers. We hope this new contest will bubble up and give exposure to even more Writers' Program student talent.

Contest applicants must have completed three screenwriting courses in the Writers' Program in the 24 months prior to the competition deadline each year in order to qualify. Applications are available in September for the subsequent year's competition. Completed applications must be accompanied by a form signed by an instructor verifying that the script was developed in a Writers' Program course. Winners are announced in September.

Click here for a list of previous winners of the UCLA Extension Screenplay Competition.

For more information on how you can get one step closer to Hollywood, contact Chae Ko at (310) 206-2612 or cko@uclaextension.edu or Hillary Hintzen at (310)206-1542 or hhintzen@uclaextension.edu.