Hey there, budding Asian Pacific Islander American screenwriters: dry those eyes, buck up, and dust off that short screenplay that's been sitting in your apartment. The good folks at Visual Communications are partnering up with the Writers Guild of America, West for the 2010 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Short Screenplay Competition, to promote API writers or writers who craft stories about the API community.

Your original 15-page screenplay must be submitted electronically to screenplay [at] vconline.org by March 22, 2010. Visit the contest website to see the official rules and guidelines. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced at the Closing Night Awards celebration at the 2010 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

I know you're just waiting for me to get to the prizes. The list isn't finalized yet, but at the very least you can expect the following:

• Screenwriting consultation with Academy Award winner Chris Tashima
• Write Brothers, Inc. Screenwriting software
• One year membership to Visual Communications
• Photo session by Brian Raimondi Photography

Not too bad for 15 pages and a $15 entry fee. No excuses, APIs! Start writing.