Rules/Terms and Conditions

Thousand Films will be open for script submissions from 24 October 2023 to 11:59 pm on 8 January 2024 inclusive. 

Thousand Films accepts Scripts for television drama and comedy. Scripts must be for a pilot episode of television (the first episode of a series).

Scripts must be written in English.

Scripts must be suitable for between 30 minutes and 60 minutes in television slot length. Scripts must be no fewer than 27 and no more than 63 A4-sized pages.

Writers must not currently be represented by a literary or film & TV agent.

Writers must have a residence in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. The nationality of entrants is not important but entrants must be resident in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.

Writers may submit no more than 2 Scripts to the Scheme.

Writers must be aged 16 years or over on 24 October 2023. There is no upper age limit.

Scripts must be submitted in the format set out at the following website (however Writers must remove their name(s) from the front page of the Script): http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/screenplaytv.pdf

Standard industry font (12 point Courier) is preferred to be used in Scripts, however this is not a requirement. Writers should ensure that Script fonts are clearly legible.

Scripts must be submitted as PDF documents. If a file needs to be converted, see the following website: https://topdf.com

PDF document Scripts should be a manageable file size. It should be possible to save a Script as a PDF document of no more than 15mb.

To avoid bias, no personal details (name or contact details or otherwise) should appear on the submitted Script. Only the title of the Script should appear on the front page. A unique reference number will be assigned to each Script which allows Thousand Films to identify it, but keeps a Script anonymous from Judges. Note that all Judges are professionals and have signed binding contracts prohibiting them from doing anything with any Script other than reading and judging it for the purposes of the Scheme.

Once a Script has been entered in the Scheme, no substitutions of new drafts or corrected pages will be accepted.

Scripts must be submitted via the submission page on the Thousand Films website. Any other forms of submission, such as paper submissions, shall not be accepted.

Scripts written by up to a maximum of 3 people may be entered in the scheme. All those who have contributed to the writing of a Script should be listed as Writers on the submission form. The Writer who will be the primary contact should be listed first (Lead Writer), and the address, telephone number, and email address for that person only should be included. Submission of the Script will be deemed confirmation that all Writers of, or contributors to a Script have given their authorisation for entry into the Scheme.

Scripts must be original work. Adaptations or Scripts based on underlying work (such as books, plays or graphic novels) will only be accepted in two circumstances. Firstly where all rights in the underlying work are owned outright by the Writer of the Script. Secondly where the underlying work is in the public domain and no longer protected by copyright (usually this applies where the author of the underlying work has been dead for more than 70 years).

Scripts based on true stories or historical events may be submitted provided the Writer of the Script has written permission from any living persons represented in the Script.

Scripts must by un-produced and must not be in development with any producer/broadcaster/distributor or other third party. All rights in a Script must be held by the Writer(s) who are submitting it to the Scheme.

Thousand Films does not acquire any rights in a Script by virtue of that Script’s submission to the Scheme. Unless and until Thousand Films and a Writer enter into a separate agreed written contract that has been signed by both parties, the Writer(s) will retain all rights in a Script.

If a Writer has the opportunity to produce their Script or to sell or grant rights in their Script during the course of the Scheme they are completely free to do so. Thousand Films asks that Writers give written notice in these circumstances. If a submitted Script becomes optioned, produced or purchased by a third party, that Script will no longer be eligible for the Scheme.

An email will be sent to the Lead Writer confirming submission of a Script to the Scheme. Once received no further action is necessary. The Lead Writer will be contacted if there are any problems with the submission.

Writers agree to allow the Script to be read and judged by multiple Judges for the purposes of the Scheme. All Judges will be bound by contract to do no more than read and judge a Script. In the unlikely event of breach of copyright by a Judge, neither Thousand Films nor GSM shall be held liable, and by submitting a Script Writers acknowledge and agree that Thousand Films and GSM shall have no responsibility for the breach by any Judge of any copyright or of their obligation of confidentiality, and Writers agree that they will bring no action against Thousand Films or GSM for breach of copyright by any Judge (although Writers may bring an action directly against the Judge).

Writers acknowledge and agree that the ideas and stories expressed and embodied in a Script may be similar to other material that may already have been received and/or developed by Thousand Films and/or GSM and/or one or more of the Judges (Pre-Existing Material). Writers agree that they are not entitled to any compensation or credit for use by Thousand Films or GSM or any Judges of any such Pre-Existing Material.

Writers agree that the title and a synopsis of a Script may be published on the website of Thousand Films, GSM and any sponsors and partners of the Scheme.

Writers agree that Thousand Films and GSM may use the Writer’s name and likeness (if a likeness is voluntarily supplied by the Writer) for publicity and promotion of the Scheme and Thousand Films.

The decisions of  Thousand Films and its Judges are final. No discussion or correspondence regarding any decision will be entered into.

Thousand Films reserves the right to refuse entry to the Scheme from any Writer or Script for any reason.

Warranties and Indemnity

By submitting a Script, and in consideration for Thousand Films undertaking to enter the Script into the Scheme and to assess and judge the Script, each Writer of a Script represents and undertakes to and with Thousand Films that:

1. the Writers have the right, authority, and capacity to enter the Scheme, and agree to abide and be bound by these Rules of the Scheme;
2. the Writers are the sole authors of the Script which is wholly original to them save for material already within the public domain throughout the world;
3. the Lead Writer has obtained prior written authorisation to act on behalf of all of the Writers of the Script;
4. the Script shall not infringe the rights of any other person and may be validly copyrighted or otherwise protected in all countries which provide for copyright or similar protection;
5. the Writers are the sole legal owners with full title guarantee of rights in the Script throughout the world and there is no actual or potential claim, proceeding, litigation or interest that might prejudice the rights in the Script or the exploitation of, or dealing in, rights in the Script;
6. the Writers are submitting the Script voluntarily on a non-confidential basis;
7. the Writer’s participation in the Scheme including submission of the Script, will not conflict with or violate any term or condition of any other agreement to which the Writers are party, including but not limited to any union or guild regulation; and
8. the Writers shall indemnify and hold harmless Thousand Films, GSM and their respective shareholders, directors, employees, contractors, agents and Judges from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to legal fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any breach by the Writers of any of the Rules (including but not limited to the foregoing warranties) and/or any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, and/or publicity to the Script entered.

Data Protection Legislation means the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and (i) unless and until it is no longer directly applicable in the UK, the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) (GDPR) and any national implementing laws, regulations and secondary legislation, as amended or updated from time to time, in the UK and then (ii) any successor legislation to the GDPR or the DPA. The Writers and Thousand Films will comply with the Data Protection Legislation. For the purposes of such legislation, the Writers consent to the holding, disclosing and processing of personal data (Data), including sensitive personal data, as such terms are defined under the Data Protection Legislation, relating to the Writers by Thousand Films and GSM (and any companies in the same group and, where relevant, their employees, agents and advisers) for purposes connected with the Scheme and to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations. The Writers agree to inform Thousand Films when there are changes to the Writers’ Data.

The holding, disclosing or processing of Data may be in any form (whether obtained or held in writing, electronically or otherwise) and the Writers acknowledge that the processing of Data further to the Scheme may involve the disclosure of the Data to third parties and the transfer of such Data outside the European Economic Area including the USA and other jurisdictions where data protection regulations may not offer the same protection as those applicable within the European Economic Area and the Writers consent to such transfers.

All communications sent by Thousand Films to any Writer shall, in the first instance, be sent to the email address provided by the Lead Writer.

The foregoing are the rules (the “Rules”) of a Scheme launched by Thousand Films Limited with Grey Seal Media Limited to find new writers for television (the “Scheme”). Entrants to the Scheme are referred to in these Rules as “Writers”, and all references to a “Writer” shall be to all writers of a Script. Scripts submitted to the Scheme are referred to as “Scripts”. All persons, judges and panel members reading and assessing Scripts for the Scheme are referred to as “Judges”. Thousand Films Limited is running the administration of the Scheme and is referred to in these Rules as “Thousand Films”. Grey Seal Media is referred to in these Rules as “GSM”.

Submission of a Script to the Scheme by any person named in the submission as a Writer constitutes such Writer’s full and unconditional agreement to these Rules.

These Rules shall be governed by English law, and the parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.