Dated: 16 April 2001
The Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA), in partnership with MediaCorp TV Channel 5 and Arts Central, is organising the first SBA National Scriptwriting Competition in Singapore.
There will be two categories for the competition - namely drama and docu-drama. MediaCorp TV Channel 5 is the Official TV Station for the SBA National Scriptwriting Competition (Drama category) and MediaCorp TV Arts Central is the official TV Station for the SBA National Scriptwriting Competition (Docu-Drama category).
This is a milestone in SBA's continuing efforts to help encourage the industry create good scripts that can be translated into quality TV productions that could have both local and international appeal. Last year, SBA initiated a series of Masterclass lectures and workshops with international TV scriptwriting experts on drama (from Canada), children's TV programmes (from Australia) and documentary programmes (from the BBC). The series was well received by the TV industry, educational institutions and scriptwriting enthusiasts from the public.
Mr Koh Tin Fook, Deputy CEO and Director, Industry Development of SBA said: "We all want quality TV programmes that entertain, educate and inform. To a large extent, the quality of a script determines the quality of a TV programme. In organising the first National Scriptwriting Competition, SBA is taking another leap in its concerted efforts to promote quality scriptwriting, which started with the series of masterclass scriptwriting lectures and workshops we organised last year. By commissioning the winning scripts into television programmes for broadcast, SBA offers scriptwriters an opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity. In the process we also hope to contribute to raising the general standard of scriptwriting in Singapore. "
Ms Alice Tan, Vice President of Network Programming and Promotions 5, MediaCorp TV said: "MediaCorp TV Channel 5 is proud to be the official TV station for the drama category of the SBA National Scriptwriting Competition 2001. It has always been our aim to encourage new talents out there to come forward with their dramatic works to help nurture Singapore's television industry. We are therefore very pleased to be able to provide an avenue for these scripts to be made into good quality television dramas, and eventually be televised to the entire nation."
Ms Koh Lee Lian, Senior Assistant Vice President, Central Programming, MediaCorp TV12 was pleased to add: "In line with Arts Central's objective of nurturing talent in the art of storytelling and documentary making, we are excited about developing the winning docu-drama script into a TV programme for our channel. Eating Memories, a highly commended programme at the Asian Television Awards 2000, was one of the successful docu-drama Arts Central has commissioned and with this competition, we hope to see some of the finest scripts to be written."
The competition is open to all talents in the TV production industry and aspiring scriptwriters based in Singapore. It will be launched today and the deadline for submissions is 31 August 2001. Results of the competition will be announced before the end of November 2001.
Winners would be awarded cash prizes worth more than $30,000 and also trophies and certificates. This is the first time that a competition of this scale is organised and winners of each category will have the golden opportunity to see their scripts developed into TV programmes for broadcast on local TV. SBA hopes that this competition will become a platform to generate new ideas from both established and aspiring scriptwriters.
The guidelines and application forms for the SBA National Scriptwriting Competition can be obtained from:
SBA's Reception counter, 140 Hill Street, #04-01, MITA Building, Singapore 179369.
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