A question about the Red Planet thingy...

You know that Red Planet 1 hour script contest?

Well, Ive been thinking....

When it says the winner will get "£5000 and a script series commission"...

...does it mean that, ALL you get for the whole series is that £5000?

If so, it's not really that good, coz, for example, isn't the going rate for each 1 hour episode at least two grand, so, thus, a complete 13 episode series should net the writer well in excess of £26000.

So, what do you think?
Will it be a prize of £5000, plus a fully paid series commission?

or....

Will it be a prize of £5000, plus a series commission with no pay?
...with them saying "No, of course we're not going to pay you! Be thankful we're making the damn series."

A tad more than 2k for an hour drama.

But the series commission is for one of their existing shows not the one being submitted.

"But the series commission is for one of their existing shows not the one being submitted."

Not sure I follow you there?
They give you a commission of their shows?

So would they pay you for the rest of the series?

I would email them, but I don't wanna come across as pretentious. lol

Err yes. A commission to write an episode of one of their shows. Either one pre-existing or maybe one they are developing. I'm not sure it would be an hour long commission mind.

Quote: Marc P @ July 26 2008, 4:25 PM BST

A tad more than 2k for an hour drama.

But the series commission is for one of their existing shows not the one being submitted.

View original

I didn't realise that. You mean to write for something say like Casualty?

Anyway - well worth it to get yourself known.

Quote: David Chapman @ July 26 2008, 4:33 PM BST

I didn't realise that. You mean to write for something say like Casualty?

Anyway - well worth it to get yourself known.

View original

Well Red Planet don't do Casualty but they do do Holby Blue which is set round the corner from it.

They do that a lot with the show 'Doctors'.

So..... are you saying that the script WE submit is just a "calling card" , just to show off our talents?

It reads as "send in a pilot and winner gets a series made."

Doctors is a top show. Half Soap half play for today. Brilliant for new and not so new writers alike. But as far as I am aware Red Planet have nothing to do with the show!

A tad misleading methinks

Oh yeah, I didn't mean 'they' as in Red Planet!

Quote: Mikey J @ July 26 2008, 4:38 PM BST

A tad misleading methinks

View original

Read it again. LOL

Actually I spose I better try and find and read it myself.

No.. it's what I said.

"Should your entry be successful in the first round, we will contact you requesting the rest of the script - so have those next fifty or so pages ready to send!"

See.. that above line makes it look like they are interested in your script.

So, I guess your script is a calling card then.

They could say; "Nice script! Here's an outline of a storyline for Holby Blue. Get writing."

Yes the prize is 5K. Then you get a script commission which you will be paid for again. Maybe Holby Blue, maybe something else. They will have no obligation to use said script.

Hmm. Yeah, I guess.

I WAS going to submit my pilot for a 13 part drama I'm working on.
I'll shelve that and save that for another opportunity.

I won't bother now. I'll just submit something else, if it's just to show off skills.

And, I supose it's actually a good thing to add to one's CV.