Shoot a 3-Minute Movie and become the New American Gunslinger!

The Contest is now closed.

See Robert Cochrane's winning entry in the Video Gallery.

Approved Selections for Webcast Reading

• The Gunslinger The Dark Tower I
• The Drawing of Three The Dark Tower II
• The Waste Lands The Dark Tower III
• Wizard and Glass The Dark Tower IV

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. and Simon & Schuster, Inc. are accepting videotape submissions from fans of the Dark Tower series for a chance to meet Stephen King in person and win signed copies of the Dark Tower series novels.

Here's how it works:

1. Visit www.penguin.com/darktower or www.simonsays.com/stephenking to download an approved selection from one of the Dark Tower novels.
2. Dramatic readings of the selections should be videotaped in English on a VHS tape and sent to the address below. Videotapes should not exceed 3 minutes in length. Creativity is encouraged in all areas of performance and will help determine the winner. Preliminary judging will be based on the categories of (1) character, (2) costume, (3) drama, (4) interpretation, (5) voice, (6) reading style, (7) humor, and (8) integrity to the material. Send videotapes to:

   Dark Tower Contest
   Dept. TM
   Online Sales and Marketing Ð 3rd Floor
   Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
   375 Hudson Street
   New York, New York 10014

3. Sponsor judges will apply the above-stated criteria, and based on the highest scoring videos chosen each week, beginning July 31, 2003, up to five new videos will be posted each week in our Dark Tower Video Gallery located on the websites of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. and Simon & Schuster, Inc. By entering, you consent to have your video posted on the websites in accordance with the Official Rules of the Contest.
4. Beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST on October 27, 2003 consumers will be asked to vote for their favorite entries posted on the Penguin Group & Simonsays web sites. Voting will take place at www.penguin.com/darktower and be closed at 11:59 a.m on November 10, 2003. One winner and four runners-up will be announced on or about November 17, 2003.
5. One winner will get the chance to meet Stephen King in person, and the first five volumes of the Dark Tower series, signed by the author. Four runners-up will receive signed copies of the Dark Tower series.
6. See below for the complete Official Rules.

Official Rules for the Dark Tower American Gunslinger Contest

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
The following Contest is intended for viewing and participation in the US only. Do not enter the Contest if you are not located within the U.S. Open only to U.S. residents aged 18 and up. Void where prohibited.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Download an approved selection from one of the Dark Tower novels from www.penguingroup.com or www.simonsays.com or www.stephenking.com. Record a dramatic reading of the selection, of no more than 3 minutes in English, on a Mini DV or VHS tape, and mail it to Dark Tower Contest, Department TM, Online Sales and Marketing, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. The reading must not exceed three (3) minutes in length. Only the entrant may appear in the videotape. There is a limit of one entry per person. All entries must be postmarked no later than October 1, 2003 and received no later than October 9, 2003. Please clearly label your videocassette with your full name, address, age, and telephone number.
2. Entries are void if they are in whole or in part incomprehensible, garbled, unreadable, incomplete or damaged. No responsibility is assumed for late, lost, damaged, incomplete, illegible, incomprehensible, postage due or misdirected mail or entries, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Contest which may limit the ability to play or participate, or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in this Contest. If for any reason the online portion of the Contest (including, without limitation, voting) is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsors shall have the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest.
3. Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Please keep an original copy. All videotapes and any copyrights therein become the property of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
4. The Contest is open to legal U.S. residents age 18 or over as of July 15, 2003. Employees of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Simon & Schuster, Inc., and Stephen King, their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and members of their families and households are not eligible.

PRIZES

1. One grand prize winner will meet Stephen King in person, and receive signed copies of the first five volumes in the Dark Tower series (Approximate retail value $170.00). The grand prize-winner must be prepared to travel to New York City at their own expense (transportation and lodging) between April 15, 2004 and May 15, 2004. If the grand prize-winner is unable to travel at this time, an alternate winner will be selected. The grand prize will consist of meeting Stephen King, having one photograph taken with him and the opportunity to ask the author one or two questions.
2. Four Runner-Ups will receive signed copies of the first five volumes in the Dark Tower series (Approximate retail value $170.00). Limit one (1) prize per person.

JUDGING

1. Judges from Penguin Group (USA) Inc. and Simon & Schuster, Inc. will select up to five new videos each week between July 31, 2003 and October 16, 2003, to post in the Dark Tower Video Gallery, located at www.penguin.com/darktower and www.simonsays.com. The decisions of the judges with respect to the selection of the posted videos and in regard to all matters relating to this Contest, including but not limited to the eligibility of contestants, are final and binding.
2. Videotapes will be judged on the basis of (1) character, (2) costume, (3) drama, (4) interpretation, (5) voice, (6) reading style, (7) humor, and (8) integrity to the material for purposes of posting to the sites.
3. Beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST on October 27, 2003, visitors to the websites will be asked to vote for their favorite entries. Voting will close on November 10, 2003 at 11:59 a.m. EST. The video with the most votes will be the winner. Four runners-up will also be selected based on the number of votes received. Only one vote per person is permitted. In the event of a tie, winners will be chosen based on the highest score in the interpretation category.
4. Sponsors reserves the right not to award any prizes if there is an insufficient number of entries or if the judges determine in their absolute discretion that no entry meets the quality standards established to award the prizes.
5. Contest results will be announced on or about November 17, 2003. Winners will be notified by phone and mail. Winners' names will also be posted on the following websites: www.penguinputnam.com, www.simonsays.com, and www.stephenking.com.
6. No communication or correspondence with respect to individual submissions will be answered.
7. Prizes are not transferable and may not be substituted except by Sponsors. Prizes may not be redeemed for cash. All taxes and fees assessed in connection with the Prize are the responsibility of the winner.

GENERAL

1. By entering this Contest entrants: (1) agree to abide by these rules; (2) represent that their entry is their original work and they are the sole and exclusive copyright holder of such work; and (3) agree to release Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Simon & Schuster, Inc., and Stephen King, their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, parent company, subsidiaries, participating retailers and persons connected with the use, marketing or conduct of this Contest, from any and all liability, loss, harm, damages, costs or expenses arising from or relating to the Contest, including without limitation property damages, personal injury and/or death, arising out of participation in this contest, the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, claims based on publicity rights, rights of privacy defamation or invasion of privacy, merchandise delivery or the violation of any intellectual property rights, including but not limited to copyright infringement or trademark infringement.
2. By entering this Contest, entrants grant to Sponsors the right to use their videocassettes, photos, names and likenesses on the sites as described herein. The winner and runner-ups grant to Sponsors the right to use their videocassettes, photos, names, and likenesses for any advertising, promotional, trade or any other purpose without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law. The winner and runner-ups may be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release within 14 days of notification.
3. No cash substitution, transfers, or assignments of prizes allowed. In the event of unavailability, Sponsors may substitute a prize of equal or greater value.
4. All expenses, including taxes (if any), on receipt and use of any prizes are the sole responsibility of winners. All costs and expenses incurred in meeting Stephen King (including, without limitation, airfare, travel, hotel, meals, and otherwise), will be the sole responsibility of the winner.
5. Any dispute arising from this Contest will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law principles, and the entrants consent to the personal jurisdiction of the State and Federal Courts located in New York County and agree that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.

WINNER'S LIST:

For a list of prize winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by November 30, 2003 to:

Dark Tower Contest
Department TM
Online Sales and Marketing -- 3rd Floor
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10014

Or email contests@us.penguingroup.com contests@us.penguingroup.com with the words Dark Tower Contest in the subject line.

SPONSORS:

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014

Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020