For the writers and creatives here

wait dont give up yet .

Whats the problem,

1. no smart phone
2. not sure how to record video
3. not sure how to get the video from phone to computer
4. not sure how to get the video to the application.

I am happy to and can help with all but nr 1.

Chalice_Of_Evil and Pep Streebeck I know you are both talented creatives, hope you will be applying too. All it needs is ideas and SOME sample of writing and a 30 seconds video of yourself talking about your idea. Best of luck.

you are not “signing it away”, you are selling your idea and writing.Which is how screenwriting usually works, unless you are also producing directing or creating or are big.

if your movie gets made (with big budget as this indicates) by Netflix that is an Unreal success and your name is pretty much established to the point it opens doors.

Do you think you can Negotiate with Netflix?? Or any big studio? No. You cant really redline their contracts if you are new to the business or not well established as a money or award maker.

Yoi cant even get foot in the door. Netflix doesnt do cold submissions, Amazon also stopped it, no big studio does it, so even if you have the Best idea, how will you get it to them?

You have to have agents. Good luck (and I mean it honestly) finding those that can get you what you want.

I have agents, and have been negotiating my project with Netflix for a year now, not the contract itself thats pretty much given, but the project. First they say they like it this way, then they want me to change this/that, then they go back, then change again. Its a long process and its not just writing but also directing.

As a writer only to sell your script AND own any kind of decision making power is very hard. Your best bet is to be the show runner/creator and do something like the Duffer brothers. But google what they did before and how Stranger things came about.

Also, and mind you I just skimmed the contract but I think that by entering the contest you are not signing anything away you are just saying you own the work and are interested in developing it for Netflix. IF you win the contest, you Then sign a separate agreement with Netflix. You can try negotiate there.

And what would you want more? Having your script made as a Netflix original (you KNOW those are all decent to great) or have it not made at all? Regardless of how much Netflix makes vs you, you cant really compare, because they carry All the financial risk that is thousand fold. So its a trade off. They bet on you, and if they succeed they make money, yes. But if your work is great they will want more from you (the industry).

Now if you are saying “becoming a writing producer instead” thats different yes then u have more power. But do u have the funds to put it in??

who owns your ideas? Even if you dont win or only if you win? If the 3rd party owns your ideas even if u dont win than that sucks yes.

no, that is not what that means. if you create something you have protection under copyright law automatically. Its best to have it registered also (so you could sue for copyright infringement) but the copyright is valid from creation automatically, provided you created it yourself and its unique and tangible (somehow defined and not just in your head).

they are saying: if you didnt create it, or its free domain, or its not otherwise under copyright laws of the US (now we could debate outside of US copyright laws but there are treaties that solve that problem, plus also the best you cand o with you idea is to get it registered with the office of copyright. its cheap and easy), simply if you dont have a legal right to call it yours, for example free domain works, or works that are not unique, then yeah, they can use it. The rest of that paragraph says that just because you submitted something to them and they turn you down and later publish something similar, it doesnt mean they ripped you off, it can simply mean that someone else was already developing it, had it registered, worked with them before or better.

there is a questionable part of one sentence later, but the thing you posted does not mean what you think it means. 

Anyway, go ahead and register your work here if you have something, and if you have more things do it under the group application, its cheaper: www.copyright.gov

I am a licensed lawyer. And I am a writer who has sold their stuff. Come on.  yes the law would interpret it that what, thats clearly what it means. it doesnt mean you would win at court, mainly if you dont have the stuff registered then yeah, tough luck. Also dozens of people could autonomously of you create pretty much the same story. It happens ALL the time, so thats something that can make some people thinkg someone stole their idea. When in reality it could have also been that 20 other people submitted the same thing and they picked someone else because it was better/cheaper/their wife… Then no theft occurred but to you it Could feel that way. 

I am not saying copyright theft does not exist, absolutely it does. But this is not saying "give us your ideas and we can use it even if you dont win any way we like it".  Now SOME third parties do that and that sucks and is horrible, but what you quoted is not an example of that. 

Out of curiosity, so what do you do with your A game stuff?