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Saturday, September 23, 2017

Bechdel Group submission guidelines

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We accept new plays and screenplays, scripts in development, partial scripts, drafts - anything in progress. Our readings are designed to provide an opportunity to further script development, so we're excited about work that is not yet 'complete'. We typically feature 20 - 35 pages (roughly a half hour) of a script.

Our aim is provide an informal, festive, safe space to hear your work and get feedback from actors, directors, dramaturgs, and theater lovers.

You may submit your script at anytime, but we read and respond in two windows:
For our Fall Workshop Series: we read scripts between March 1 and June 15, and aim to respond to all submissions by the first week of July.

For our Winter/Spring Workshop Series: we read scripts between August 1 and November 15, and aim to respond to all submissions by the first week of December.

We are happy to accept submissions that are being shopped elsewhere, but we ask that you contact us if your script is selected for another workshop, a staged reading, or production.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we regret that we cannot give each submission individual feedback.

Your submission MUST:
  • Be in progress. Our aim is to provide a space that will help you develop your work. If your script or screenplay is 'finished', has had full productions, or is about to be produced, we are not the right organization for you. We are happy to consider work that has had prior workshops or informal/staged readings, if you still consider your script in development.
  • Pass the Bechdel Test. You must have two female characters, with names, who have a full scene/conversation that is not about their romantic relationships.
  • We are constantly discussing the Bechdel Test and the way it serves (or fails to serve) our mission. We know that as a 'test', there are flaws and gaps. We are indeed interested in scripts that push boundaries and raise discussion points - however, this is our baseline. Please do not send us two-handers with one male and one female character or scripts with only one female character.
  • Support our mission of fostering strong, complex, dynamic roles for women.

What we want:
Complex, layered female characters.
Thoughtful consideration of your needs in terms of script development - we look at the questions you're asking about your work carefully.


What we do not want:
Scripts that just manage to pass the Bechdel Test. If your main female character goes 60 pages without interacting with anyone but men, chances are good we will not be interested. If your qualifying scene does not forward your plot, chances are good we will not be interested.

Have you read all this? Are you feeling confident about The Bechdel Group as a good fit for you?
Well, then, click here to submit.

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