Milestone map
Milestone map
4 milestones
Develop Treatment and Scene-Level Outline
3–4 weeks
Write a treatment (2–5 pages) describing your script's concept, protagonist, central conflict, and resolution. Then write a scene-level outline — a list of every scene with a one-line description of what happens, who is in it, and what it accomplishes dramatically. The outline should map to a full feature (90–110 pages) or short film (10–20 pages) as specified.
Proof required
Submit: (a) the treatment as a document, and (b) the scene-level outline. The outline must list every scene with at minimum: scene number, location (INT/EXT), time (DAY/NIGHT), characters present, and one sentence of dramatic action. For a feature, expect 40–60 scenes. For a short film, 8–20 scenes. Both documents must be formatted using standard screenplay conventions.
What gets checked
- Treatment articulates the central dramatic question — not just 'what happens' but what the protagonist wants, what's preventing them, and what they must choose
- Scene-level outline shows scenes serving a clear dramatic purpose — not scenes that just show characters doing things without advancing the story
- Format follows industry standard conventions: sluglines (INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY), action lines, character names in caps on first introduction
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Read the treatment first, then the outline. The outline should feel like a compressed version of the treatment's story — not a different story.
- Check: does every scene advance either the plot or the character's emotional journey? If you find three or more scenes in a row that don't change anything, that's a structural problem the submitter needs to address.
- Ask: 'What is your protagonist's fatal flaw and how does the story force them to confront it?' A strong treatment-level thinker has a clear answer.
Complete a First Draft in Correct Screenplay Format
6–10 weeks
Write a complete first draft of your screenplay from the scene-level outline. The draft must be in industry-standard screenplay format throughout. A feature-length script should be 90–110 pages. A short film should be 10–20 pages. Set a page-per-day target and track it — first drafts require momentum, not perfection.
Proof required
Submit the complete first draft screenplay as a PDF (exported from screenwriting software). The script must: (a) be correctly formatted (sluglines, action lines, dialogue, transitions) throughout, (b) be complete with a clear ending, (c) include a title page with title, author name, and contact or WGA registration number, and (d) fall within the target page range for the format chosen.
What gets checked
- Formatting is correct throughout — no action lines that read like prose, no dialogue that tells the audience what they just saw
- Script is complete — it ends, it does not stop
- Page count falls within the appropriate range — 90–110 for features, 10–20 for short films
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Open the PDF and check the first three pages and the last three pages for correct formatting. Then spot-check the middle. Formatting errors throughout usually indicate the writer did not use dedicated screenwriting software.
- Ask the submitter: 'What is the page count and how many scenes are in the second act?' A writer who has completed a draft knows their script at a structural level.
Conduct a Table Read and Complete Revision
2–4 weeks
Organise a table read of your script — a live read-aloud with people reading each character's lines aloud while you listen. Table reads reveal dialogue that does not read naturally, scenes that are too long, and structural pacing problems that are invisible on the page. After the table read, complete at least one full revision addressing the most significant issues raised.
Proof required
Submit: (a) notes from the table read documenting what you observed (minimum 300 words), (b) a revision memo identifying the three most significant problems the table read revealed and how you addressed each, and (c) the revised draft as a PDF. At least two people other than yourself must have participated in the table read. Notes or recorded audio/video from the session confirm it occurred.
What gets checked
- Table read notes identify specific scenes or exchanges that revealed problems — not just 'the pacing felt slow'
- Revision memo addresses structural or character issues, not just line edits
- Revised draft is genuinely different from the first draft — the revision memo should align with visible changes in the script
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Read the table read notes and revision memo together. The memo should explain what the table read taught the writer — not just what they changed, but why they changed it.
- Ask: 'What is the one scene that changed the most in revision and why?' The answer should connect directly to something the table read revealed.
Submit Script to Competition or Professional Coverage
1–4 weeks
Submit the revised script to at least one screenwriting competition, fellowship, or pay-what-you-can coverage service to receive external professional assessment. This creates a verifiable record of the script's existence and quality at a specific point in time, and provides industry feedback for future development.
Proof required
Submit: (a) a submission confirmation from at least one screenwriting competition or coverage service (Coverfly, The Black List, Austin Film Festival, Nicholl Fellowship, or equivalent), showing submission date and script title, and (b) any written coverage or feedback received, if available. A pending result is acceptable — placement or win is not required.
What gets checked
- Submission confirmation is from a real competition or coverage service with identifiable submission criteria and dates
- Script title and author name on the confirmation match the submitted script
- If coverage was received, it is included even if critical — the proof is the external professional engagement, not the quality of the assessment
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Check the submission confirmation email or receipt — it should show a dated submission to a named competition with a real history.
- The milestone is complete when the script has been submitted externally. Result or placement is irrelevant — the professional engagement is the proof.