The Buck Stops Here

Hello, everyone. For any of you who may be following the online controversy, aspersion has been cast upon the first round judging criteria and methodology of The Silver Screenwriting Competition. Some of the rumors have been wild and some wildly inaccurate but the bottom line is with a competition that has grown as quickly as ours has, we do need to take a look at methods to depersonalize and mechanize the first round judging. We’ve gone from a very mom-and-pop business to one much, much larger and comprehensive. With that growth comes more responsibility and constant re-evaluation of how we get our judging done.

It doesn’t matter how these rumors got started, by whom or for what reason, what matters is that I am the boss and I take responsibility for what is said – good and bad. I stand by my competition, my script coverage business, each and every reader and judge whom I employ. I only work with the best and the long history and reputation we have at The Script Department attests to that.

But one thing is crystal clear: The Silver Screenwriting Competition has grown exponentially and it’s time for us to address first round judging in a new way. Anyone who has spent two minutes or less with me personally knows that I am a professional and one of the kindest, most honest people you will ever meet in your life. Unfair and untrue accusations hurt more for that reason. But I do see that mistakes were made and I do not shy away from my responsibility to every writer who submitted. It is our intention at the Silver Screenwriting Competition to be as thorough and professional as any other competition out there if not better. This controversy has raised the bar for all first round judging everywhere.

If you have concerns about the competition, you are welcome to call my private office number (323-300-6051) between the hours of 10am and 4pm Monday – Friday and have a dialogue with me. If any entrant would like a full refund, you will receive it promptly. If you would like to send me your script and discuss it over the phone or Skype, I am at your service. You can email me by clicking HERE.

Please note: I will be out of town from September 2 – 6 for the Labor Day weekend.

We are announcing the top 10 scripts tomorrow, on schedule, and each and every one of us here, but primarily me, Julie Gray wants to let you know that we run this competition with heart and integrity and if a reader was publicly bitter about the process, if some of you have been misled to think that your entry fee is a coverage fee rather than an administrative fee, it is my responsibility to make that right. It is more important to me to run both my personal and business affairs with integrity than it is to wonder who is saying what and what their agenda is. I have one agenda: to do right by every writer who entered. I do not give credence to malicious rumor, only to the essence hidden within them - something needs to change.

Again, please call 323-300-6051 or email mefor a full refund or with any questions or concerns you may have.