“Come Into the Bowl! Halfway Through the Competition, Prizes and Investors Are Waiting!”
First “Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup” Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition Reaches Midpoint
July 30, 2024
The inaugural “Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup” Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition has officially reached the halfway point. While many entries have already been submitted, the organizing committee has received numerous inquiries from prospective participants about submission rules and procedures. To clarify the details, our reporter Fanyu conducted an online interview with Dr. Li Xian, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, answering the most frequently asked questions.
Why Launch This Competition?
Dr. Li explained that the rapid growth of the internet, short videos, and portable HD devices has made micro-series a rising phenomenon in global film and television culture. “This competition aims to promote innovation in micro-series while giving writers a platform to showcase their talents,” he said. Organized by the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S., hosted by Dreamood Pictures, and co-organized by the World Chinese Microfiction Research Association, the event seeks to discover outstanding scripts and compile winning entries into an anthology titled Winning Works of the First ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition. Dr. Li also emphasized that the initiative hopes to support the production of winning scripts into fully realized micro-series.
What Makes This Competition Unique?
According to Dr. Li, the competition stands out in three key ways:
It focuses specifically on “micro-series for film and television,” defining the type of eligible submissions.
It emphasizes the “literary script” as the required format.
Unlike many other competitions, it offers cash prizes and invites Hollywood investors to review submissions and potentially invest in production.
“Micro-series production shifts the focus from directors to writers, highlighting the scriptwriter’s central role,” Dr. Li noted. “Having been a full-time TV drama writer in China, I have a deep passion for scripts. Launching this competition on a global scale reflects that passion.”
Prizes and Investment Opportunities
The competition will award:
First Prize: $1,000 (1 winner)
Second Prize: $500 each (2 winners)
Third Prize: $300 each (5 winners)
Special Awards: Best Newcomer, Best Creativity, and Excellence Awards (20 recipients, certificates only)
Dr. Li clarified that submission of entries implies consent to allow the organizers to publish, promote, and disseminate works online. Winning works may also be translated into other languages. If a script is adopted by a production company, authors negotiate fees directly with the company; prizes from the competition are independent of any production contracts.
Themes and Eligibility
Participants may choose from five themes reflecting current micro-series trends:
Triumphant Comeback: Overcoming adversity and achieving success.
Personal Growth: From ordinary to extraordinary through character development.
Romantic Love: Exploring the complexity of love through passion and enduring relationships.
Feminism: Characters pursuing equality, freedom, and empowerment.
Cultural Clash: Depicting cross-cultural encounters, conflicts, and reconciliation.
The competition is open globally, with submissions accepted in Chinese or English. More than 30 literary organizations worldwide support the event, including associations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Ensuring Quality and Authority
To guarantee fairness, top industry experts have been appointed as advisors, including acclaimed writers, professors, producers, and executives from the film and television sector. Notable advisors include Ye Xin, Cao Wenxuan, Lisa Yang, and Liu Siran. Their involvement ensures the competition maintains the highest standards of credibility and authority.
Submission Requirements and Deadline
Entries must be original and include:
A synopsis under 2,000 words
Character bios
Scripts for 20 episodes
Each episode should run 1–2 minutes, with 60–80 episodes in total, not exceeding 90 minutes. Submissions are accepted from May 15 to August 30, 2024. Dr. Li encouraged aspiring writers: “This is the chance to turn your scripts into micro-series, produce them, and share them with the world. As M&M’s says: ‘Come into the bowl!’”
How to Submit
Participants can submit entries via the QR code for the competition and send all documents to: support@chinesewritersusa.org
Brief News
Rising with the Times: Unveiling the Secrets Behind the Popularity of Micro-Series
To support the success of the competition and to clarify the concept of micro-series scriptwriting for a wider audience, the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. hosted a 2024 Film & TV Forum featuring a keynote by Eno Q, permanent member of the association, screenwriter, producer, and Vice Chair of the Competition Organizing Committee as well as President of Dreamood Pictures. Her lecture, titled “Decoding the Creative Secrets of the ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Competition: Insights into Micro-Series Scriptwriting”, provided a comprehensive guide to creating micro-series.
The forum was moderated by Mr. Ren Guoping, member of the Association’s Arts Committee for Fiction and Film & TV, with technical support from Dr. Shi Deliang. Dr. Li Xian, Chairman of the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S., opened the forum with a concise overview of the significance of both the forum and the global micro-series scriptwriting competition.
Eno Q captivated the audience with her energetic and articulate presentation, covering six key areas:
Genres and Themes of Micro-Series
Business Models for Micro-Series
Script Structure for an 80-Episode Micro-Series
Plot Twists in Single Episodes
Character Development in Micro-Series
Localization of Micro-Series for U.S. Audiences
She shared her years of experience in micro-series scriptwriting, production, and industry insights, offering forward-looking perspectives on the development of the micro-series market.
Particularly noteworthy were her detailed explanations on scriptwriting techniques such as story progression, character design, and character arcs, as well as series-level strategies including cultural adaptation and adaptation strategies.
The lecture lasted over two hours, with active participation from the audience, who asked questions and discussed creative challenges. Eno Q answered each question thoroughly, demonstrating both her expertise and her generosity in sharing knowledge.
Her professional approach and candid sharing of creative strategies received unanimous praise from participants.
Watch the Forum Video:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ufg4eCEva/?vd_source=529e269d7cc6736762dc5717465ee641
Rising with the Times: Unveiling the Secrets Behind the Popularity of Micro-Series
On June 8, 2024, at 5:00 PM PST, the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. held its 2024 Film & TV Forum on ZOOM, themed “Decoding the Creative Secrets of Micro-Series: Insights from the ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Competition”.
In the past two years, with the rise of internet short videos, micro-series—a new format emerging on social video platforms—have become immensely popular.
To promote innovation in micro-series and provide literature enthusiasts with a platform to showcase their talents, the first Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition (“Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup”), jointly organized by the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S., Dreamood Pictures, and the World Chinese Microfiction Research Association, began accepting submissions on May 15, 2024.
The competition features five thematic categories:
Triumphant Comeback: Stories of setbacks and adversity, rebirth and triumph. Protagonists rise like a phoenix even in the darkest moments.
Personal Growth: Journeys from ordinary to extraordinary, achieving value and recognition through personal transformation.
Romantic Love: Exploring the complexities of love through passionate first encounters, lasting relationships, tacit understanding, and steadfast commitment.
Feminism: Characters break free from constraints, pursue equality and freedom, and showcase female empowerment.
Cultural Clash: Depicting interactions between people from different cultural backgrounds, exploring conflicts and reconciliation, and highlighting the beauty of multiculturalism.
The submission period runs from May 15 to August 30, 2024, with preliminary, secondary, and final evaluations. Winners will be announced by the end of 2024.
Winning scripts will be recommended to film and television production companies, and an anthology titled “Winning Works of the First ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition” will be published, featuring the award-winning entries.
To further promote the competition and clarify the principles of micro-series scriptwriting, the association invited Eno Q, permanent member of the association, screenwriter and producer, and Vice Chair of the competition organizing committee as well as President of Dreamood Pictures, to deliver a keynote lecture. Her presentation, “Decoding the Creative Secrets of the ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Competition: Insights into Micro-Series Scriptwriting”, shared her experience and creative insights.
The forum was moderated by Ren Guoping, member of the Arts Committee for Fiction and Film & TV, with technical support provided by Dr. Shi Deliang.
At the opening, Dr. Li Xian, Chairman of the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S., provided a concise introduction on the significance of the forum and the competition. Eno Q then delivered a lively, fast-paced, and meticulously organized lecture covering six key aspects of micro-series creation:
Genres and Themes of Micro-Series
Business Models for Micro-Series
Script Structure for an 80-Episode Series
Plot Twists in Single Episodes
Character Development in Micro-Series
Localization of Micro-Series for U.S. Audiences
She shared her years of experience in scriptwriting and production, as well as forward-looking insights on industry trends.
Watch the forum video:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ufg4eCEva/?vd_source=529e269d7cc6736762dc5717465ee641
First “Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup” Global Micro-Series Script writing Competition
Overview
With the rapid development of the internet and short videos, along with the widespread availability of portable HD devices, micro-series have emerged as a new phenomenon, gradually forming a distinct cultural and creative industry. To promote innovation in micro-series and provide a platform for writers to showcase their talents, the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. organizes the first “Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup” Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition, hosted by Dreamood Pictures and co-organized by the World Chinese Microfiction Research Association.
This competition aims to discover and showcase outstanding micro-series scripts, with winning works compiled and published in the anthology “Winning Works of the First ‘Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup’ Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition”. It also hopes to facilitate the production of selected scripts into actual micro-series.
Competition Details
1. Name:
First “Chinese Writers Association in the U.S. Cup” Global Micro-Series Scriptwriting Competition
2. Themes (choose one):
Triumphant Comeback: Stories of setbacks and adversity, rebirth and triumph. The protagonist fights fate, rising like a phoenix even in the darkest moments.
Personal Growth: Journeys from ordinary to extraordinary, achieving value and recognition through personal transformation.
Romantic Love: Exploring the complexities of love through passionate first encounters, lasting relationships, tacit understanding, and steadfast commitment.
Feminism: Protagonists break free from constraints, pursue equality and freedom, and showcase female empowerment.
Cultural Clash: Depicting interactions between people from different cultural backgrounds, exploring conflict and reconciliation, and highlighting the beauty of multiculturalism.
3. Scope:
Open to submissions worldwide. Entries in Chinese or English are accepted.
4. Organizer:
Chinese Writers Association in the U.S.
5. Host:
Dreamood Pictures (U.S.)
6. Co-Organizers:
World Micro-Series Research Association
World Chinese Microfiction Research Association
7. Chief Advisors:
Ye Xin: Renowned writer, former Vice Chairman of the China Writers Association, screenwriter for TV dramas Debts of Sin and Time Wasted.
Lisa Yang (Yang Huasha): Member of the Hollywood Women’s Film Association International Executive Committee, screenwriter, producer, Executive Producer of Hollywood Oscar Team’s gold production team.
8. Advisors:
Cao Wenxuan: Professor at Peking University, doctoral advisor, film screenwriter, International Hans Christian Andersen Award winner.
Ling Dingnian: President of the World Chinese Microfiction Research Association, guest professor at the Asian Microfilm Academy, Deputy Editor of Writers Network.
Zheng Zi: Executive Vice President of the Asian Microfilm Academy, Executive Director of the Chinese Arts and Film Center, Vice Chair of Short Film & Micro Video Committee, China Film Editing Society.
Chen Ruilin: Overseas Chinese critic, President of the European & American Film & TV Association.
Zheng Nanchuan: President of the World Sinology Association, Canada.
Wei Haijun: Founding Partner of Daguan Capital, former GM of Cheetah Mobile Investment, Head of Investment at Shanda Innovation Institute, TMT Investment Director at Tongchuang Weiye.
Zhang Zefan: Producer of TV series Origin, Producer of Sunset.
Liu Siran: Acclaimed screenwriter, notable works include The Qingming Shanghe Map Code, Mi Xiaoqian Goes to School, You Are My Sweetest Secret.
9. Competition Committee:
Chairman: Li Xian – President of the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S.
Vice Chairs:
Eno Q – President of Dreamood Pictures (U.S.)
Wen Hao – Vice President of the Chinese Writers Association in the U.S.
10. Submission Period:
May 15, 2024 – September 30, 2024
11. Submission Requirements:
Must be original; any plagiarism is prohibited. Authors are solely responsible for any legal disputes.
Each episode should run 1–2 minutes, with 60–80 episodes in total; overall duration must not exceed 90 minutes.
Submit a story synopsis (under 2,000 words) and scripts for 20 episodes.
Submission form must be completed via the QR code for the competition, and documents sent to: support@chinesewritersusa.org