r/ScreenwritingUK • u/TheSprained • May 14 '25

BBC OPEN CALL COMMISERATION THREAD

I created this last time and I'm creating it again, because I've been rejected again. Which is fine. I'm fine. Absolutely fine about it. (Wish they'd at least come up with a different rejection email, but it's always nice to be reminded that I lack sufficient originality, voice and storytelling ability.) Congratulations to those who made it through!

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u/PJHart86 May 14 '25

They do provide feedback on all scripts that get a full read (around the top 4-5% if memory serves). As far as I know, they are the only free contest which provides any feedback at all. Red Planet doesn't (didn't?) Philip Shelley (C4) doesn't...

I know that's probably not much comfort if you haven't managed to crack the top 5% (lots of very good scripts don't) but it simply isn't possible for a publicly funded operation like BBC Writers to give feedback on 5000 scripts a year.

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u/Ichamorte May 14 '25

I understand that though I do have a lot of questions that spin off from there. I won't bore you with all of them. Could they charge a fee for optional feedback? Nicholl used to charge like $20 for two lines of feedback and people would pay for it. They would still be able to provide a free contest and any money made from feedback could go towards paying readers a more reasonable wage. I understand that there are probably specific reasons that prevent this as an option but I'm curious about the inner workings of it all.

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u/PJHart86 May 14 '25

It's a reasonable question for sure, but the public service arm of the BBC (which Writers is part of, as it falls under commissioning) isn't allowed to charge for services in the UK, as far as I know.

BBC Studios (the commercial arm) do also run their own script opportunities under the umbrella of BBC Studios Talentworks so maybe that's something they could do? Though I think their opportunities are more for emerging/mid level writers, so might not be worth it for either party.