The Buckle-Up! Challenge

What is the Buckle Up! Challenge?

The Buckle Up Challenge is a free, open call competition for writers and creatives of all backgrounds. Every season, we release a new writing prompt and simple production guidelines to help you craft a story that can realistically be brought to life on film.

Once submissions close, all entries are presented to our Patreon Architects, who vote to determine the finalists (the number of finalists may vary based on total submissions). Then the finalists will be brought to our community on live stream, where our Twitch Subscribers will be able to vote for their favorite.

The winning story is then produced live on stream — from first read to final cut — showing every step of the film-making process in real time.

Everyone is welcome. Every story has a shot. Buckle up and start writing.

Previous Winner: 

@Cypher Robinson for his Winning series bible, “DAYBREAK”

Next Challenge:

🌸Spring Buckle-Up Challenge Submission Form 🌸

Welcome to the official submission form for MamaBuckle’s Seasonal Story Competition!

The winning story will be produced LIVE on stream and receive full IMDb writing credit, a featured shout-out, and the Discord role: Script Champion.

SPRING PROMPT:  Death/Grim Reaper makes a special request from a person on their deathbed in exchange for ________. 

📝Accepted formats include:

  • Full screenplay

  • Beat Sheet

  • Prose/short story format

  • Hybrid formats

👉 We care about the STORY, not the format.

✍️ All levels welcome.

Educational resources will be shared in the community — you are also encouraged to reach out, collaborate, or workshop with others before submitting.

Join the DISCORD for direct access to Screenwriting/Story Structure Materials.

📝 Submission Requirements:

  • Length: 15 - 20 pages in standard screenplay format (Or roughly 4,500 words in prose/novel format — accepted with clear scene/character formatting)

  • Characters: 1–6 

  • Locations: MAX 3 Locations [scripts using unavailable or high-cost locations will be disqualified]

  • Budget-Friendly: No VFX or stunts

  • Original Content Only: No AI-written scripts or copyrighted material

  • Filename Format: PromptTitle _TwitchUsername.pdf

  • Format: PDF only

  • You must submit this form to be eligible.

Submit here

DUE MAY 1ST, 2026 @ 11:59pm PST

See your story come to life

Winners of the Buckle Up Challenge

  • Cypher Robinson

    “DAYBREAK”

    Currently in Development

    Filming April 2026

  • Cypher Robinson

    “One Thousand Steps”

    Filmed January 2026

    Est. Release April 2026

    Book cover titled 'One Thousand Steps' written by Cypher Robinson.

  • Anastasia Ellis

    “Fractures”

    Est. Release March 2026

    Movie poster for 'A MamaBuckle Film: Fractures,' featuring Emiliana Jasper and Alex Keever, with a central image of a woman with blonde hair looking shocked, surrounded by fragmented images of other people.

  • Cypher Robinson

    “Dead Air”

    Released February 1st, 2026

    Watch NOW on Youtube

    A digital illustration advertising the movie 'Dead Air' featuring a lineup of identical women with red hair, blindfolded, wearing blue jackets and gray pants, with one woman holding a martini glass and having a different appearance.

  • MookieMC

    “Echoes of Us”

    Released November 1, 2025

    Watch NOW on YouTube

    Close-up of a young man and woman embracing and smiling, with the words "Echoes of Us" in cursive text at the bottom.

  • T.X. Tuttle

    “Resin”

    Released August 22, 2025

    Watch NOW on YouTube

    Man in a white tank top surrounded by smoke, sitting on a couch, with a serious expression.