What's Happening?
Stage 32, a global entertainment community platform, has partnered with Evoke Entertainment to launch a new screenwriting contest aimed at discovering emerging romantic-comedy writers. This initiative, known as the Rom-Com Screenwriting Contest, is designed to fast-track writers from discovery to professional development and production. The contest is open for submissions in February, with Evoke participating in the final round of judging. Semi-finalists will be announced on June 19, finalists on July 3, and the winner on July 24. The winner's script will be fast-tracked into development, with Evoke packaging it for buyers across studios, streamers, and networks. Stage 32 will provide comprehensive script development support. Geoffroy Faugerolas,
head of development at Stage 32, emphasized the partnership's alignment with their mission to make the entertainment industry more accessible. Evoke CEO Stan Spry highlighted the growing demand for feel-good content and expressed excitement about finding fresh voices in the genre.
Why It's Important?
This contest represents a significant opportunity for emerging writers to break into the competitive entertainment industry. By providing a platform for undiscovered talent, Stage 32 and Evoke Entertainment are fostering a more inclusive and meritocratic environment. The initiative could lead to the discovery of new voices in the romantic-comedy genre, which has seen sustained demand from audiences worldwide. For the entertainment industry, this contest could result in fresh content that appeals to a broad audience, potentially leading to successful productions that benefit both creators and consumers. The partnership also underscores the importance of collaboration between platforms and production companies in nurturing new talent and bringing diverse stories to the screen.
What's Next?
Following the announcement of the contest winner on July 24, the winning script will enter the development phase. Evoke Entertainment will work on packaging the script for potential buyers, which could include major studios, streaming platforms, and television networks. This process will involve refining the script and preparing it for production. The success of this contest could lead to similar initiatives in the future, encouraging more partnerships between talent platforms and production companies. Additionally, the contest may inspire other emerging writers to pursue opportunities in the romantic-comedy genre, contributing to a vibrant and evolving entertainment landscape.
