Welcome to TVME!

Thank you for your interest in the competition!

You’re now steps away from completing the TVME! entry process which is simple and easy. If you have questions please feel free to contact our office by email at TVME@filmsarasota.com. Rules & Guidelines/Terms and Conditions

"TV ME!” Television Pitch/Concept Contest
OFFICIAL RULES & GUIDELINES/TERMS and CONDITIONS

1.    Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

2.    Entrants must be citizens of the United States.

3.    Entries are to be written in English, consist of dynamic pitch/concept summaries set forth in a minimum of five (5) up to a maximum of fifteen (15) double-spaced pages in length, with 1” margins top/bottom/sides, in 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font, Word or PDF document format, and all pages numbered.

4.    Each entry must first be paid for electronically.

5.    Each entrant must check the box indicated application/release form to participate. Please note no entries or materials will be returned.

6.    There is no limit to the number of entries a person or writing team may submit in any of the three categories, but each entry must have its own separate submission.

7.    Entries must be the original work of the submitting individual or creative team, and each person named on the submission must have equal share of ownership and rights, totaling 100% between those signing the form.   

8.    If a winning entry is from a team of writers, they will receive only the single prize/award.

9.    Entries must contain the following elements, but how you present these elements is up to your own creative judgment:  

a.    Summary/Description/Logline – What is the premise and theme of your concept/pitch?  What is similar to your concept that has been successful and what makes it uniquely fresh? (for example: “Slash & Burn the Midnight Oil”:  Xena Warrior Princess becomes a modern day Working Girl in New York City and the publishing world might not survive…” Any market influences or trends that prove this is a hot, high concept? Or is it targeting nostalgia? Tapping into Sci-fi meets Women’s Issues? Etc.!
b.    Regular/Recurring central characters & Guest Stars- What’s the role of each in your concept’s universe?  Tell us who we’ll be meeting and who we’ll be seeing regularly, and what they’ll be doing - how they connect to one another – why will we like or hate them? Why we will care, be fascinated, horrified or charmed?
c.    Layout/Format of your Concept- What is the structure of the episodes or special or program?  Can you compare it to existing formats (think of the styles of distinct shows in the category(ies) you choose, such as 60 Minutes, Eureka, America’s Got Talent, Jeopardy, Survivor, Cougar Town, etc.)

10.    See appropriate category for entry suitability; all genres allowed except “Adult Industry/Pornography” i.e., content may not be beyond acceptability for TV-MA rating or lower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_Parental_Guidelines).  Entries that are beyond the TV-MA rating will be disqualified without return of materials or entry fees.

11.    If an entrant wishes to submit a video clip, trailer, photography or other visual or audio media illustrating the concept, they may do so only electronically, and no such supplemental item may exceed a five (5) megabyte file size (5000K).

12.    No corrections, revisions, additions, deletions, supplemental media or other changes may be made to an entry once the submission has been paid for and electronically transmitted.

13.    Competition Entrants acknowledge and agree that all decisions of the judges and/or administrator(s) of the contest are final and will not be contested nor appealed in any manner whatsoever.

14.    Competition Entrants acknowledge and agree that, should they be selected as a winner, they will cooperate promptly with requests to provide biographical information and/or resumes as well as a current and accurate headshot photo for press use and publicity.

15.    Entry Fees are non-refundable. No Refunds will be issued for any reason.

16.    Entrants are responsible for copyrighting and WGA registration of their work, which this contest recommends be done prior to submission.
reason.
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“TV ME!” Television Pitch/Concept Contest
Contest Release

By checking box you verify and consent to the following.

1. I am at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United States.

2. I have submitted an entry to the Contest electronically and I state without exception that I own all right, title and interest to this submission and have the right to enter the submission and to win a prize without restriction, and that my submission does not infringe the intellectual property rights, privacy or publicity rights or any other legal or moral rights of any third party, including by way of example and not by limitation, any copyright, trademark or patent rights belonging to any third party, or violate applicable laws or regulations. 

3.  I agree to be bound by the Official Rules of the Contest.

4. If I am selected as a winner in the Contest, I hereby grant to both the SCFEO and/or the EDC and its agents or assigns, the right to use, publish, and reproduce, for all purposes, including publicity, promotion, and advertising, in any media, online or offline, my name, city and state of residence, photograph, likeness, and/or image, video, audio or other media on which I am interviewed or present in person or by remote connection or integrated recording, including any photograph(s) I have provided, and I further represent that I am the owner of any such photograph(s) submitted (collectively, “Publicity Materials”).

5. I waive any right I may have to inspect or approve the Publicity Materials, or the advertising or other copy that may be used in connection therewith or in the Contest overall, or the use to which the Publicity Materials may be applied. I grant to the SCFEO and/or the EDC and its agents or assigns, all right, title, and interest in any such materials for advertising, marketing, promotion, press and/or publicity purposes, as it deems fit.

6. I, on behalf of myself, my relatives, heirs, assignees, executors and administrators, hereby agree:
(i) that the decisions of any and all Contest Judges as well as the Administrator(s) of the Contest shall be final in all respects, including without limitation all decisions regarding eligibility, Contest entry compliance with the Official Rules, judging, judging criteria, verification of winners, award of prizes and the general administration of the Contest; and
(ii) to release and to forever hold harmless the SCFEO and/or the EDC and its agents or assigns, any parent organization, subsidiary and/or affiliated companies, prize suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, independent contractors and each of them and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, members, agents and employees (“Released Parties”) from all liability, loss, personal injury or death, use of Publicity Materials or damage to reputation or of any kind attributable in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to my participation in the Contest or acceptance and/or use of any prize award.

7. I understand and agree that SCFEO will have my submission evaluated and judged by persons of their choosing, and I grant SCFEO the unrestricted right to do so.

8.  I understand and agree that should my submission be chosen as a winner in any category or as the grand prize winner of the competition overall, the SCFEO will provide my submission to individuals or entities in the television industry for review and consideration, and I grant SCFEO the unrestricted right to do so, with the express understanding by all parties that the content of the submission is owned entirely by me.

9.  I represent that neither I, nor any member of my immediate family, is now or was at the time of my entering the contest, an employee of SCFEO, EDC, or its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, and /or advertising and promotion agencies.

10. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties against any loss, damage, or expenses, including court costs and reasonable attorneys fees, that any of them suffer as a result of any act or omissions by me in connection with this Contest, my receipt of any prize award, and any representations made in this Release. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, I agree to return or forfeit any prize award, as the case may be, if any representation made herein is false.

11. I understand that this is a full, complete, and general release that applies to all claims, whether known or unknown, related to this Contest, to any prize award, and to my participation in this Contest, and I hereby waive any right to challenge this Release on the grounds that it is a general release and/or a release of unknown claims.

12. I have read, fully informed myself of, and fully understand all of the terms and conditions of this Release, and, except as expressly stated in the Official Rules of the Contest, no promise or representation of any kind has been made to me by the Released Parties purporting to act on behalf of the Released Parties.

13. Except where prohibited, I agree that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest shall be resolved exclusively by arbitration pursuant to the Rules of the American Arbitration Association then effective, and any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred by me with regard to the Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees, punitive, incidental, consequential or other damages. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of the Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants and the Released Parties in connection with the Contest shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of Florida or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Florida.

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Scripted

CATEGORY A:
SCRIPTED, SERIES TELEVISION
(episodic comedy, drama, hybrid genres, animation, expose’, education, stunts, etc., Up to one hour per episode format)

Unscripted/Partially Scripted Television

CATEGORY B:
UNSCRIPTED/PARTIALLY SCRIPTED TELEVISION
(episodic reality, game shows, competitions, hidden camera, skills & training [food, home improvement, etc.], talk shows, and similar or related improvised, ad-libbed, etc., up to one hour per episode format)

One-Offs

CATEGORY C:
SPECIALS: LONG-FORMAT INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS/ONE-OFFS
(concerts, award events, sports, stand alone documentaries, made-for-TV-movies/MOW, mini-series, etc., minimum one hour or longer format)

Prizes

GRAND PRIZE CATEGORY*
(Overall Best Entry in Competition across all categories/genres)
The Grand Prize Winner will receive a trip to Los Angeles to pitch the winning Grand Prize concept in person to television industry professionals.   This trip will include:
•    Roundtrip domestic airfare from winner’s United States home location to the airport nearest the presentation location in Los Angeles
•    2 Nights hotel accommodations
•    A cash award / stipend to help offset winner’s expenses
•    Two training /“practice” pitch sessions by phone or via video conference/internet with a pitch coach prior to winner’s trip
•    Press conference and Awards Presentation in Sarasota, Florida, followed by private luncheon for award-winners
•    Mounted Award certificate of achievement
•    Press and publicity disseminated from the SCFEO about  winning status
•    Gifts and prizes from sponsors

 
CATEGORY A – 1ST PRIZE*:
SCRIPTED, SERIES TELEVISION
(episodic comedy, drama, hybrid genres, animation, expose’, education, stunts, etc.,
Up to one hour per episode format)
•    Press conference and Awards Presentation, followed by private luncheon for award-winners;
•    A cash award TBA;
•    Mounted Award certificate for your achievement;
•    Press and publicity disseminated from the SCFEO about your winning status;
•    Gifts and prizes from sponsors

CATEGORY B – 1ST PRIZE*:
UNSCRIPTED/PARTIALLY SCRIPTED TELEVISION
(episodic reality, game shows, competitions, hidden camera, skills & training [food, home improvement, etc.],
talk shows, and similar or related improvised, ad-libbed, etc., Up to one hour per episode format)
•    Press conference and Awards Presentation, followed by private luncheon for award-winners;
•    A cash award TBA;
•    Mounted Award certificate for your achievement;
•    Press and publicity disseminated from the SCFEO about your winning status;
•    Gifts and prizes from sponsors

CATEGORY C – 1ST PRIZE*:
SPECIALS: LONG-FORMAT INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS/ONE-OFFS
(concerts, award events, sports, standalone documentaries, made-for-TV-movies/MOW, etc. mini-series, etc., minimum one hour or longer format)
•    Press conference and Awards Presentation, followed by private luncheon for award-winners;
•    A cash award TBA;
•    Mounted Award certificate for your achievement;
•    Press and publicity disseminated from the SCFEO about your winning status;
•    Gifts and prizes from sponsors

*The competition reserves the right to not award a prize in a category if no entry of sufficient merit is received in that category, in the sole judgment and at the discretion of the administrator of the competition.

**Dates are subject to change as circumstances dictate due to volume of entries received, judging completion, and other factors that may shorten or extend the related timeframes upon which projected dates listed herein are based.