In this Film Courage video interview Writer/Script Doctor/Teacher Cody Smart highlights the importance of planning before submitting to screenwriting contests. While contests can jumpstart careers, lack of preparation can lead to unfavorable outcomes. Cody emphasizes the need for polished scripts, specific competition targeting, and comprehensive marketing materials beyond just the script. Cody Smart is an independent writer and script doctor from Chile. She holds degrees in English Literature & Linguistics, Screenwriting, Development and Producing. She worked as a script analyst for Sony, she’s a judge for multiple script and film competitions, she’s written some award-winning shorts, she’s head of the coverage department at a script hosting site and she does a bi-monthly vlog with tips for Screenwriters for Story Data. She takes pride in helping writers take their work to the next level. MORE VIDEOS WITH CODY SMART https://tinyurl.com/474ms6jt CONNECT WITH CODY SMART https://www.uclaextension.edu/instruc... / nextlevelscreenwriting / nextlevelscreenwriting / @storydata9296 https://www.storydata.io VIEWERS ALSO WATCHED 9 Common Screenwriting Mistakes Beginners Make - • 9 Common Screenwriting Mistakes Beginners ... Beginner's Guide To Writing A Story - • Beginner's Guide To Writing A Story - Tony... Here's Why A Screenwriter Should Submit To Script Contests - • Here's Why A Screenwriter Should Submit To... Beginners Guide To Screenwriting - • Beginners Guide To Screenwriting - Shannan... Submitting To A Screenplay Competition, The Big Mistake Screenwriters Make - • Submitting To A Screenplay Competition, Th... CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE http://www.FilmCourage.com http://twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage / filmcourage / filmcourage / filmcourage / filmcourage SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://bit.ly/18DPN37 SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER / @filmcourage SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON / filmcourage LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST / filmcourage-com (Affiliates) SAVE $15 ON YOUTUBE TV - LIMITED TIME OFFER https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r0847... ►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – https://buff.ly/3rWqrra ►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – http://amzn.to/2tbFlM9 Stuff we use: LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - http://amzn.to/2tbtmOq AUDIO Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post https://amzn.to/425k5rG Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - https://amzn.to/3WEuz0k LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - http://amzn.to/2u5UnHv *These are affiliate links, by using them you can help support this channel. #writing #movies #screenwriting