WRITER'S GUIDELINES

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE SEASON FIVE PLAYOFFS!  CASH PRIZES!

 

WHAT DO I WRITE?

• We are looking for episodic serials of any genre, both comedy and drama.
• Each episode should not be more than TEN MINUTES long.  (Suggested: 8 pages)
• Make sure that each episode has a “hook” or “cliffhanger” that makes the audience want to see more. Remember- you only have eight pages to win them over.
• While each episode is part of an ongoing story, make sure they can stand on their own.
• We would prefer the serials be open ended, so that they could continue as long as the audience wants it to.
• The pieces do not have to be world premieres.
• Avoid writing a tech heavy play - You will have a maximum of 1/2 hour of tech the day of the performance.

 

HOW DO I SUBMIT?

• Submit the first episode electronically to , along with a paragraph on where you in general see the story going in following episodes. While we only ask for the first installment, we STRONGLY encourage you to write the second as well- if your story is voted to move on, you have ONE WEEK before your second episode premieres.
• We are always accepting submissions.
• Feel free to send multiple submissions.

 

HOW ARE PLAYS PICKED?

• New pieces will be announced at least two weeks before their premiere.
• A writer can only have one serial running at any given time

 

HOW ARE THEY PRODUCED?

• Writers are responsible for producing their plays, including finding actors and a director.  However, the Serial Killers producers are happy to help writers find people they need.
• Actors can only perform in two pieces on any given night.
• On the day of the performance, each play will receive 1/2 hour in the space to Tech and 1/2 hour of rehearsal. Directors are STRONGLY encouraged to rehearse outside of the theater, or book space in the theater to rehearse, during the week.

 

HOW DOES A STORY CONTINUE?

• At the conclusion of the show, the audience will vote on the three storylines they would like to see continue the next week. Those three then have ONE WEEK to put together their next episode.
• We encourage the writers to continue to produce as long as the audiences want to see the serial continue. However, if it arises that the writer is unable or unwilling to continue, then we would encourage the handing over of the serial to a different writer. If that is not an option, then we ask for two weeks notice. And if that’s not possible, then- we’ll just figure something out.

Our fifth season begins September 19!

Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

From May 22 - June 26, 2010, there will be a six-week playoff: 16 serials will go head to head in a battle royale!

How do you qualify for the playoffs?

AUTOMATIC BIDS: the 8 longest running serials from this season PLUS any serials still alive at the end of the regular season.

AUDIENCE CHOICE: online voting will fill out most of the rest of the playoff slate, plus there will be one Producer's Choice.

The first weekend is "Wild Card weekend" - the 8 audience choice/producer's choice/final surviving serials will go head to head, with the top 2 vote-getters moving on to the next week to battle the 8 longest-running serials.  From there on in, two serials will be eliminated each week until we have a champion.

The time limits for the playoffs will increase as the playoffs advance.

Week One:    8 serials    5 mins ea ("Wild Card Weekend" - only two will survive!)
Week Two:   10 serials    5 mins ea (the two survivors plus the Top 8 longest running)
Week Three:  8 serials    5 mins ea
Week Four:   6 serials    7 mins ea
Week Five:   4 serials   10 mins ea
Week Six:    2 serials   15 mins ea

PRIZES:

                FIRST PLACE:        $750
                SECOND PLACE:   $250