Submitting Your Work

Proteus Festival & Tastebreakers Music Contest

ABOUT THE CONTEST

The Proteus Festival & Tastebreakers music contest is for emerging and early-career musical artists. The contest is presented as part of Proteus Festival 2020. Proteus Festival is The Z’s annual creative arts festival. More information about Proteus Festival is coming soon.  

Tastebreakers is The Z’s annual concert series featuring emerging and early career musical artists. The Tastebreakers series is presented throughout The Z’s normal season, from October through June. More information can be found here.

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges and shared online by The Z for audience voting. The five finalists chosen will be featured in concert at Proteus Festival 2020, where winners will be selected by a panel of area music industry professionals. There are several subsequent prizes, from a featured spot in the Tastebreakers series to a recording package in The Z’s own Main Stage recording studio. The full listing follows in the details below.

Submissions are accepted from July 31 to August 31, 2020.

Audience voting will be online September 3 to  10, 2020. 

Finalists will be announced on September 12, 2020. 

Proteus Festival Tastebreakers concert will be on Saturday, October 10, 2020. 

HOW TO ENTER

Click here to enter 
Please note that The Z uses Slideroom to manage all submissions. There is a $5 entry fee.We do not accept and cannot evaluate nor return submissions via mail.

ELIGIBILITY

1. All ages are welcome! Please note that any entrant deemed a minor according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia will be required to obtain and submit written permission from their parent or legal guardian to participate in the contest.
2. Entrants may not have a personal relationship to any member of The Z’s staff, board, or judges. A personal relationship is broadly defined for the purposes of this contest as any family, blood, or romantic and/or intimate relationship.
3. Entrants may not be currently signed to a recording contract with national distribution.
4. Entrants must be residents of the U.S. The Z is unable to support special visas in support of any performances arising from this contest. 
5. Entrants must be available to perform at the Proteus Tastebreakers concert on October 10, 2020. 
6. Former Tastebreakers performers may not enter with the same ensemble as their previous performance in the series.
7. The Z’s artistic staff may reject any submission deemed derogatory toward any class based on gender, race, color, religion, age, nationality, disability or any other legally protected characteristic. Any rejection on such grounds will be based on the perceived artistic merit of the entry in accordance with The Z’s mission and values. Any Entrant submitting such material may be banned from future contests at The Z. 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The submission must be a video, not exceeding six (6) minutes in length, depicting the Entrant’s performance of a single, original song. Some additional considerations follow:

1. Entrant must be the owner of all content submitted through this contest. The Entrant’s submission to this contest serves as the Entrant’s warrant that the entry is an original work.  
2. The video submission must be unique to this contest. In other words, it must have been created for the purpose of entering this Contest. The entry may not have been previously published or posted online or entered into any other contest or competition. Once the entry has been successfully received by the contest the Entrant is free to publish or post it publicly.
3. Entrants are allowed one (1) entry as a lead artist and one (1) entry as a supporting ensemble member. Any entries submitted after this number is reached by an entrant will be rendered ineligible. Once a submission is approved it cannot be removed and will remain the primary submission of the Entrant.

JUDGING CRITERIA

This Contest is a talent, performance, and skilled-based event. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
Lyrics
Musical composition
Originality
Execution
Performance 

FINALISTS AND PRIZES

Finalists

1. Five (5) finalists will be chosen to perform. One (1) finalist will be selected as an audience favorite and the other four (4) finalists will be selected by a panel of judges.
2. Finalists will be notified via e-mail and results will be posted on the website. Entrants that do not place in the contest will not receive individual notification.
3. The panel of judges will select a winner and a runner up based on finalists performances at the Proteus Tastebreakers concert. 

Prizes

1. Winner will receive: Main Stage performance slot in the Tastebreakers series, 4 hour recording session in The Z’s Main Stage recording studio, concert video of their Tastebreakers performance. 
2. Runner Up will receive: Support slot in the Tastebreakers series and 4 hour recording session in The Z’s Main Stage recording studio. 

Travel

1. Travel to Virginia Beach is required if selected as a finalist and if selected as a winner. All travel costs will be the sole responsibility of the Entrant. 

Please direct questions to [email protected]

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Proteus Festival Gail Davis Playwriting Contest

ABOUT THE CONTEST

The Gail Davis Playwrighting Contest is a new playwrighting contest produced by The Z in conjunction with Proteus Festival. Proteus Festival is The Z’s annual creative arts festival. More information about Proteus Festival can be found here.

Two winners of the 2020 Gail Davis Playwrighting Contest will have their play produced as part of Proteus Festival 2020. The 2020 contest is dedicated to single-performer plays. Entries must be adaptable as teleplays. The Z’s artistic staff will work with playwrights on realizing a taped production should the public health situation prohibit reasonable public performances.

Gail Davis was a career playwright and screenwriter. She was a charter member of The Z’s in-house playwright’s group, the American Dreamwright’s Workshop. Gail was an enthusiastic supporter of The Z and attended every day of the first two Proteus Festivals. Gail lost a year-long battle with cancer in the spring of 2020.

Submissions are accepted from July 31 to August 23, 2020

Winners will be notified by 1 September and publicly announced by 5 September. 

HOW TO ENTER

Click here to enter
Please note that The Z uses Slideroom to manage all submissions. There is a $5 entry fee.

We do not accept and cannot evaluate nor return submissions via mail.

ELIGIBILITY

1. All ages are welcome! Please note that any entrant deemed a minor according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia will be required to obtain and submit written permission from their parent or legal guardian to participate in the contest.
2. Entrants may not have a personal relationship to any member of The Z’s staff, board, or judges. A personal relationship is broadly defined for the purposes of this contest as any family, blood, or romantic and/or intimate relationship.
3. Entrants must be residents of the U.S. The Z is unable to support special visas in support of any performances arising from this contest. 
4. The Z’s artistic staff may reject any submission deemed derogatory toward any class based on gender, race, color, religion, age, nationality, disability or any other legally protected characteristic. Any rejection on such grounds will be based on the perceived artistic merit of the entry in accordance with The Z’s mission and values. Any Entrant submitting such material may be banned from future contests at The Z. 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The submission must be a pdf document of an original script. The author’s name must not appear on the script. The script should be formatted in either standard commercial play format or the Dramatist’s Guild recommended format. Script submissions must be at least twelve pages. Some additional considerations follow:

1. Entrant must be the owner of all content submitted through this contest. The Entrant’s submission to this contest serves as the Entrant’s warrant that the entry is an original work. 
2. The entry may not have been previously published or posted online or entered into any other contest or competition. Once the entry has been successfully received by the contest the Entrant is free to publish or post it publicly.
3. Entrants are allowed one entry for this contest. Once a submission is approved it cannot be removed and will remain the primary submission of the Entrant.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Submissions will be judged on the following criteria:
Premise/Concept
Plot
Theme
Style & Tone
Producibility

FINALISTS AND PRIZES

Winners

1. 1. Two (2) winners will be selected. 
   2. Winners will receive a standard theatrical production contract for not less than two public performances of their piece, subject to necessary public health modifications.
   3. Winners will receive a standard publishing contract for their piece with Blue Moon Plays.
   4. Winning entries may require modification for video recording should the public health situation at the time of the festival prohibit public performances.
   5. Winners will be notified via e-mail and results will be posted on The Z’s website. Entrants that do not place in the contest may not receive individual notification.

Runners-up

1. 1. A limited number of submissions will be named runners-up.
   2. Runners-up may be offered a staged reading or other script development opportunities as part of The Z’s regular season.

Travel/Presence at Rehearsals

1. 1. Travel requirements and presence at rehearsals may be modified according to public health necessities as mutually agreed upon between each winner and The Z. 

Please direct questions to [email protected] 

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Proteus Film Festival

ABOUT THE FILM FESTIVAL

The Proteus Film Festival is an annual film festival emphasizing emerging and early-career filmmakers. The film festival is presented as part of Proteus Festival 2020. Proteus Festival is The Z’s annual creative arts festival. More information about Proteus Festival can be found here.

Proteus Film Festival accepts entries in narrative, documentary, short, and episodic categories. The festival features an additional category, Sea Change (named in honor of our patron Proteus), for media projects that don’t easily fit into a single one of these divisions.

Proteus Film Festival awards honors and prizes for a Jury Choice and an Audience Choice in each category. 

Submissions are accepted from July 26 to September 12, 2020.

Selections will be announced on September 18, 2020.

HOW TO ENTER

Click here to enter
Please note that The Z uses FilmFreeway to manage all submissions. There are varying entry fees.

We do not accept and cannot evaluate nor return submissions via mail.

AWARDS

All selections receive an “Official Selection” laurel and certificate. 

The festival offers both a juried “Winner” award and an “Audience Favorite” award in each category. 

Each category’s juried winner will receive a $450 cash award. 

Each category’s audience favorite will receive a $250 cash award.

All entries in any category are eligible to win both of these awards in their category.

Additionally, at least one entry in each category will receive an “Honorable Mention” along with a $150 cash award. An entry winning either the “Winner” or “Audience Favorite” award is ineligible to also receive an “Honorable Mention” award.

GENERAL RULES

By submitting your film, you agree that Zeiders American Dream Theater (The Z) can use parts of your film (including teaser/trailer/film poster) for promotional purposes.

To submit a film you must have created the work yourself OR own the rights/have permission of the content owner to submit the film to us. 

Proteus film Festival will review films in their entirety. Films will be watched and reviewed by members of the Selection Committee, comprised of The Z’s artistic staff, professional filmmakers, and enthusiasts in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. 

DETAILED RULES

1. Entries in foreign languages must come with English subtitles.
2. All entries must have been completed after 2017.
3. Multiple entries are allowed. Entry fees must be paid for each entry.
4. The Selection Committee makes final choices for exhibition. Submission does not guarantee selection. All Selection Committee decisions are final.
5. Filmmakers will be notified by 18 September of their entry’s decision.
6. Submissions are non-refundable, regardless of the Selection Committee’s decision.
7. Entrants may not have a personal relationship to any member of The Z’s staff, board, or judges. A personal relationship is broadly defined for the purposes of this contest as any family, blood, or romantic and/or intimate relationship.
8. The Z is unable to support special visas in support of any exhibitions arising from this contest. 
9. The Z’s artistic staff may reject any submission deemed derogatory toward any class based on gender, race, color, religion, age, nationality, disability or any other legally protected characteristic. Any rejection on such grounds will be based on the perceived artistic merit of the entry in accordance with The Z’s mission and values. Any Entrant submitting such material may be banned from future contests at The Z.

Please direct questions to [email protected]