Let me preface by saying, we’re Killer Shorts — a niche screenwriting competition which only accepts horror short screenplays up to 20 pages in length or short stories up to 6,000 words. We’re not claiming to be the Nicholl, or AFF, or any of those other top tier screenwriting contests.
That said, we’re one of the few short screenplay competitions with literary managers on the jury, and we do everything in our power to connect our #killeralum with the industry, boost their confidence, and facilitate networking. We’re proud to say that previous Killer Shorts finalists and winners have signed with reps, entered writing rooms, been accepted to film schools/fellowships, and collaborated with each other to produce their films! So, we’re kinda cool.
Now, you want to know why your script didn’t advance in Killer Shorts (or how to make sure it does next season). So, let’s get into some of the most common reasons why some scripts score lower and therefore don’t advance. And instead of going from #6 to #1, let’s just skip to the #1 reason your script in particular did not make the cut, because the answer is almost always this:
OTHER SCRIPTS SCORED HIGHER
Say it with me now.
Other scripts scored higher.
That is a hard pill to swallow for some writers. I know because I get the emails (only from men, by the way). It seems truly unbelievable. How could it be? Other scripts scored higher. Yeah, right. But statistically speaking, in Season 4 alone, we received 1,033 submissions. We have 140 quarterfinalists (this is encompassing both categories). Therefore, those 140 scripts scored higher than 893 others.
893 screenwriters received a rejection email. And please know, I hate sending those emails. As a screenwriter myself, I know how disappointing it can be. But it’s something you need to get used to if you’re going to 1) be a screenwriter and 2) enter competitions. Because no matter where you rank amongst your competitors, there will always be other scripts that score higher. (unless you win!)
If you want to know why your script might have lost points, consider purchasing our Short Script Coverage service on Coverfly. You’ll receive actionable feedback within 7 days, plus it can even boost your Coverfly score and get you on the Red List if you receive a coveted “Recommend” rating.
THE VARIABLES, MAN!
Damn those variables!
This is a common source of confusion amongst screenwriters, so let’s shed some light on it.
“Well this script WON at Grandpa Jed’s Super Screenwriting Competition! Yet it didn’t even place in Killer Shorts? You guys suck! You’re sad and stupid.”
– That guy who keeps emailing me every year with his long list of accolades.
Congratulations! Your script is doing well, we love to see it. We started this contest to motivate writers to write, and to help shine a spotlight on some killer scripts. Sometimes scripts that only make the quarterfinals in Killer Shorts go on to win other contests! And we are happy for those writers! Genuinely!
Now, I mean no offense to Grandpa Jed or his contest, but I am willing to bet that your horror short script was only going up against a handful of other horror short scripts because they take all genres. So out of 100 scripts, your script scored high enough. Another possibility (guaranteed, really) is you were competing against different scripts that were submitted to that different competition. You were the best of that batch. (This is a good argument for entering multiple screenwriting competitions…)
But Killer Shorts only takes horror short scripts, so now you are competing against over a thousand other horror shorts. In addition to that, our readers are well versed in horror screenplays and films. They live and breathe horror, and they’ve been reading for us for years. So not to toot our own horns, but yeah, we really know horror shorts. The good news is, the cream usually rises to the top, so if your script truly is incredible, it should place highly in most places. Just keep putting it out there.
“Well my script placed in the semifinals last year and this year it only made it to the quarterfinals, how do you explain that?”
– Disgruntled and confused #killeralum
Every year you are going up against a different pool of submissions. There will be a few repeat entries from years past, but it’s mostly new stuff. This is why I do recommend re-entering Killer Shorts with the same script, especially if you placed in the Semi-Finals previously… you might have just missed the Top 10 last year, but this year? Who knows… (If you didn’t place, it’s up to you, but I’d suggest trying with a new script instead.)
I’d like to close this section with a football analogy because I think it might be good for SEO. Think of it this way…It’s kinda like how the Buffalo Bills can beat the Miami Dolphins one week, but then lose to the Cincinnati Bengals the next. Different teams, different locations, different competition…. and don’t get me started on the script readers who are human beings with different tastes, experiences and points of view! Ugh, so many variables!
TURNS OUT I’M A VAMPIRE. THE END!
Hey, that’s a good title! It’s also a super overused twist in horror short screenplays. And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it, because when it’s done well, it can be awesome. We’ve got a few of these in the quarterfinalists this year!
But I think you’d be surprised how many of the same concepts we receive every year. Werewolves in high school. Cannibals at the dinner table. Dopplegangers on the skytrain. Serial Killers in the woods. And the classic, ‘they were vampires all along’.
It’s increasingly difficult to be original these days but you must try harder. Because if I read a script that makes me go “well I’ve never seen that before”, chances are, I’m going to advance it to the next round. Even if it’s got a typo on the first page (I loathe typos!) or a very vague character age range (pet peeve! just say how old they are!).
And as Garth touches on in his amazing article I Read 200 Killer Shorts Submissions, And Here’s What I Want You To Know. Here’s an excerpt:
If your twist adds to the substance of the script or provides greater meaning to the narrative beyond just having a twist, it’s not a problem. Maybe it contributes to an arc or informs the subtext. However, it becomes an issue when the turning of the tables happens and then the script just ends or we learn nothing new after it happens. You’re not standing out because so many other writers are doing the exact same thing, and even if they weren’t, you’re not giving me anything I can sink my teeth into.
– Garth Ginsburg
Turning the tables is not enough. Read his article for more on that.
THE MONSTER IS NOT WELL DESCRIBED
You have a monster — someone turns into a wolf, or a blob, or a creature who steals eyes — but you never really describe in detail what this monster looks like. As the reader, we struggle to visualize it. So much time was spent leading us up to this moment, and then we get one sentence to describe the monster? It’s a real let down. And sometimes, it’s just enough to make you miss the quarterfinals.
(Did you find this paragraph lacking in detail? Frustrating, right?)
FEELS MORE LIKE A PSA THAN A SHORT FILM
This might ruffle some feathers, but I need to say it.
The goal with these short scripts is to see them produced into short films. And the goal with short films is to screen them at film festivals. So we ask ourselves, would anyone want to see this on the big screen?
People are angry with the world right now. I get it. I’m angry too. And a wise writer once told me, you should take something that gets you riled up and write about that.
But when a script feels like the writer is shoving their message down my throat, pointing their finger at me the reader and telling me that I’m the reason for all the bad things happening in the world… it’s not a good time. I’m not saying reading horror scripts should be a pleasant experience, but they should have a narrative we can follow. There should be a story, with a theme, and a message effortlessly woven in.
If you intended your script to be a political ad, I’m sure there’s a place for those, but unfortunately it’s not the best fit for our contest.
IT’S THE OPENING TO YOUR FEATURE SCRIPT
We can tell! The ending is super abrupt. Please stop trying to trick us.
It needs to work as a short film on its own, with a beginning, middle and end.
BULLET POINTS
Here’s some other reasons you might have been dinged on your scorecard:
- too prosey
- incorrect formatting
- too many typos
- twist takes too long to reveal
- clumsy grammar
- show don’t tell
- things get sloppy and feel rushed towards the end
- ending is predictable
- clarity issues
- not horror enough (this is a big one!)
- disqualified for being over
2520 pages or using copyright characters
But wouldn’t it be nice to know what the reason actually was? Purchase Short Script Coverage today and we will shed some light on what our readers really think about your horror short screenplay.
IN CONCLUSION
There is one thing I didn’t cover here and that’s the possibility that we got it wrong. Mistakes can happen. I read the majority of the highest rated scripts to ensure nothing slips through the cracks but I can’t read them all. That’s why it’s important to have quality readers that you can trust. We pay our readers, and they’ve stuck with us through the years (they must enjoy it). They’re really awesome people who take their job seriously. But nobody is perfect and it’s entirely possible you got the wrong reader on the wrong day. This can happen with any competition.
We are humbled and honored that you shared your work with us. We hope this article will be helpful as you work on revising your existing scripts or start outlining something new for Season 6. And don’t forget to order our new Short Script Coverage if you’d like some helpful notes and advice.
