RoughCut.com's Screenplay Challenge Draws Over 1000 Screenwriters

Posted on September 8, 1998

Imagine a story set in a 22nd century techtropolis called Cinnabar, where a 211-year old man of mysterious origin enlists the aid of a public inquisitor to solve his own murder. Aspiring online screenwriters are currently developing this sci-fi thriller with the help of Rough Cut and New Line Cinema. Since the July 17th launch of the Screenplay Challenge, over 1000 screenwriters have contributed entries.

For the last five weeks, Rough Cut.com has hosted the Screenplay Challenge, a ten week online round-robin screenwriting project that allows contributors to continue an original screenplay started by professional screenwriter David S. Goyer (Blade, Dark City, The Crow: City of Angels). After the 9th chapter is submitted, Goyer will return to complete the screenplay.

To date, Rough Cut has received more than 1000 submissions typically ten pages in length. Each week, a winner is selected from the submissions and posted online. The winners receives a weekly prize of $100.00 and the opportunity to win a state-of-the-art laptop to continue their screenwriting endeavors.

"We are overwhelmed by the positive response to this contest. In fact, it has been so successful that we had to rearrange schedules internally to judge all of the responses," says Andy Jones, editor-in-chief of Rough Cut.com. "The Screenplay Challenge has shown us just how creative the Web community can be."

Due to the success of the Screenplay Challenge, TNT has announced that Rough Cut.com will continue to host this event in the future with other professional screenwriters, exploring other film genres.