Maximum Z Script Showcase – Summer ’21 edition

Any screenwriter who’s done their homework can tell you there are plenty of platforms and websites out there offering up the opportunity to put scripts on display.

Granted, I know this little operation of mine isn’t the biggest or the most well-known, but I also know how frustrating it can be when you’ve got a script you’re really proud of and want to let the rest of the world know about it.

I’m a big believer in supporting the writing community, and wanted to do what I could to offer up that same opportunity to any and all interested parties.

“Send me the vital details for your script, and I’ll post ’em!” I announced.

And 167 of you did exactly that.

What you will find below is a virtual treasure trove of material.

Film and TV scripts covering a vast spectrum of genres, many with accompanying awards and accolades.

But the most important part is that each and every one is available for you to read – courtesy of the writer’s email being included.

Something grabs your attention, makes you think “I’d like to read that.”? All you have to do is contact the writer and ask. Maybe they’ll want to do a swap.

This is networking and establishing professional relationships at their finest.

So settle in and start perusing. Hope you find something you like.

(And as long as I’ve got your attention, feel free to hit the ‘like’ button, and even take it one step further and start following this blog.)

FILM

12 HOURS 2 STEAL

Justin Hayward

Thriller, Heist

A struggling artist must navigate a series of instructions to steal a valuable treasure for an unknown puppetmaster after she downloads an audio tour podcast for a specific painting in a gallery.

Winner, Best Unproduced Feature Screenplay – UK Motion Picture Festival, Spring 2021

Finalist – PIMFF 2021

Finalist – European Cinematography Awards 2021

Official Selection – Amsterdam World International Film Festival 2021

Finalist – Best Script Award 2021

Official Selection – Rome Independent Prisma Awards 2021

ian@reddoorvision.co.uk – my agent Ian Taylor at Red Door Vision

A BULLET FOR MERRI

Tim Brennan

Western

When a notorious outlaw is wrongly arrested, a young sharpshooter who idolizes Western legends must team with him to defend her mountain town from bandits seeking revenge.

tbrennan75@gmail.com

A SISTER IN NEED

Michael Field

Mystery, Thriller

A woman is found dead and her sister believes its murder as she uncovers secrets of a small New England town in search of the truth.

mdfield@me.com

AIN’T NO COWBOYS IN NASHVILLE

Christopher O’Bryant

Crime, Drama

An aspiring country singer willing to hustle, a broke bartender with a big heart, and a two strike criminal find their lives thrust together under the neon shadows of Music City after a robbery gone bad turns to revenge.

Quarterfinalist – 2019 Nicholl Fellowship

Winner – Best Screenplay, 2018 California Film Awards, Orson Welles Awards, Best Screenplay

Finalist – 2019 Los Angeles Crime and Horror Festival

Quarterfinalist – 2019 Roadmap/Road to New Republic

Selection – 2019 Sacramento International Film Festival Screenplay Contest

Quarterfinalist – 2018 & 2019 PAGE

Semifinalist – 2021 Stage 32 Drama Screenplay

Semifinalist – 2018 & 2019 Screencraft Drama

Quarterfinalist – 2018 WeScreenplay Feature

obryantcj@gmail.com

ALL THE STARS IN THE HEAVENS

William B. Stoddard

Drama

A once famous, burned out writer at MGM and a young, aspiring writer, a Studio Page take a tumultuous journey that will alter both of their lives.

williamstoddard52@gmail.com

AMERICAN CHECKOUT

Todd Foley

Thriller, Horror, Dark Comedy

While stocking shelves in a retail store, a struggling, newly single dad gets caught in a diabolical game where he must follow the instructions in each box he opens, or his estranged children will be murdered.

scribbledrevisions@gmail.com

AMONG THIEVES

Danny Katz

Thriller

A young man in recovery is recruited by his N.A. sponsor to join a cult-like group of thieves. Lured in with the prospect of helping his father’s shaky new sales career in the home-security sector, Ethan learns the hard way, there’s no honor among thieves.

dankatz920@gmail.com

AN ANGEL WALKS INTO A BAR…

Paul E. Zeidman

Comedy

After literally dying onstage, a caustic comedian must fix three of the many lives he ruined when he was alive, or be damned to his own personal hell for eternity.

paul.zeidman@gmail.com

ANASTASIS

Simon Doyle

Comedy, Horror

A museum security guard sets out to destroy a painting the same night a motley crew attempt a bungled heist. Shame the painting’s haunted. And eats people.

simon.doyle@doctors.org.uk

BACKMASKING

Charli Quevedo

Drama

A doctoral student who discovers the cure to an ongoing epidemic inadvertently falls in love with the potential environmental terrorist.

Selection – Hollywood Jumbo

chaliquevedo21@gmail.com

BLUE SKY AND I

Durnford Edward King

Comedy, Drama

A suicidal comic, trapped in an isolated cabin with a traumatized ten year old girl who hasn’t spoken in over a year, discovers that if he assumes the persona of her favorite cartoon character, she’ll respond. They put crazy on hold, have a hell of an adventure helping each other survive, and begin to heal their personal wounds.

durnking@aol.com

BONE BROTH

Noelle Messier

Psychological Thriller

In an isolated, small town, a squeamish, vegan, lesbian detective falls in love with a sadistic, serial-killer cannibal and battles her inner and outer demons in an intimate and twisted psychological cat and mouse battle for survival. With the help of a brave Deputy in a wheelchair, she learns she needs to become her fear to overcome it.

noellemessier@gmail.com

BREAKING GROUND

Natalie O.

Drama, Indie, Female-Driven

Lexi, a heavily tattooed woman in her mid-20’s, who was known to be an on-the rise young skateboarder during her childhood, gave up her talent as she approached her mid 20’s due to her the loss of her father and her mother in rehab. She lives with her disabled grandmother and likes spending time with her abusive boyfriend. However, with her finances hanging on by a thread each day, she decides to run back to the one thing she loves the most, skateboarding.

natalieolajide27@gmail.com

BREAST IN SHOW

Andrea Berting

Dramedy

A young burlesque dancer reeling from a breast cancer diagnosis forms an unlikely bond with the much older members of her support group, and must push past conservative mindsets and patriarchal, ageist ideas of beauty in order to run a burlesque workshop helping her fellow survivors reclaim ownership of their bodies. 

Quarterfinalist – Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship

andreaberting@gmail.com

BRIDGE BY THE EARTHEN HOUSE

Paul Howard Hunt

Drama

A man with early-onset dementia continues to hide his condition when his son commits suicide. Past and present, lies and truth begin to merge.

Best Screenplay Award – 2020 European Independent Film Festival

paulhowardhunt@gmail.com

BROOM GOES THE DYNAMITE

Jeffrey Field

Sports, Comedy

When a superstar college quarterback suffers an injury that threatens to derail his pro career, a shrewd sports marketer offers him lifetime financial security if he can carry a team of talented misfits to the Olympic trials… in curling.

jefffield88@yahoo.com

CALYPSO

Fiona Faith Ross

Supernatural Thriller, Fantasy, Horror

After her granddad dies, a bereaved young American travels to the ‘old country’ to connect with her last living family, an aunt who insists she is the immortal sea-goddess, Calypso.

fionafaithross@gmail.com

CLIMBING MOUNTAINS

Paul Ober

Magical Realism

A young boy who’s always wanted to go on an adventure is dying of lung cancer. On the brink of losing all hope and youthful imagination, his friend’s teddy bear comes to life, bringing him on an adventure unlike any other.

Stereo podcast week 4 – $10,000 grand prize winner.

pauloberofficial@aol.com

DARK HOLIDAY

James Lemke

Comedy, Horror

Two clueless women take a vacation to get away from boyfriends and the city only to find themselves in a hilarious Canadian government experiment with Zombies. Hockey players and all.

Finalist – New Wave Film Festival

Selection – New York Tri-State International Film Festival

jclemkeart@yahoo.com

DARK SHAMROCK

Jalissa Cruz

Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

While the Vice President of a video game company tries to prevent her kidnapper from hacking into her company’s data, her coworker and best friend of over 40 years tries to escape the hacker’s accomplice.

yelissaaawrites@gmail.com

DEFINITELY NOT ANYMORE

Paige Feldman

Romantic Comedy

Two colleagues who don’t like each other – and who are both in other relationships – fall in love and get married over one Passover. It’s a story about family, following your passion, and fish (gefilte, and otherwise).

Second Rounder – 2020 Austin Film Festival

paige.feldman@gmail.com

DIAMOND CODE

Kimberly Eaton

Thriller

Chloe Monet, desperate to prevent a predicted death, is introduced to two jet-setting brothers from Greece, exposing an International diamond scheme. Although diamonds are considered a girl’s best friend, in this case they are a source of contention and danger.

scripchik@aol.com

EDEN’S FLOWER

Marcelo Rabelo

Thriller

A girl raised in isolation by her brother is forced to flee when he becomes a threat, and must now survive in a world she knows nothing about.

mrjfilho@icloud.com

EDEN’S PARADISE (2nd in a trilogy)

J.E. Swainston

Sci-Fi, Action

An idealistic young woman fights to stop the violent disintegration of society and create a peaceful haven.

Finalist – Beyond The Curve Int’l Film Festival

janetswainston@gmail.com

ESPERANZA

Blake Armstrong

Western

A pacifist sheriff wants to shape the west with non-violence but his moral code is pushed to the limit when he transports a dangerous killer across the New Mexican desert. 

blake@roboteatingrobot.com

FAMILY TIES

Brian Weston

Drama

When a ruthless entrepreneur’s grandmother in Ireland dies in suspicious circumstances, he decides it is time for revenge against his evil criminal kingpin uncle.

bw1707@yahoo.com

FERVOR

Luke Greensmith

Horror

Tensions between young and old in a small town are manifested in the mysterious appearance of the “Miracle Church”, and the transformations that follow.

lukegreensmith@gmail.com

FIVE ORCS

Kevin Ryan

Fantasy, Animated, Comedy

As the final battle between Good and Evil approaches, five desperate orcs plan to steal a magical shield from their Queen’s enormous fortress so they can pay for their escape from the inevitable slaughter.

Bronze – Prix Royal Paris Screenplay Awards

Winner – Golden Nugget Feature Screenplay Awards

Semifinalist – 2021 Shriekfest

kevinryan333@gmail.com

FIVE SWORDS UNDER HEAVEN

Logan Shaw

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Western

A vengeful train robber and a female Samurai forge an unlikely partnership as they race across the Old West to rescue the Emperor’s daughter and stop a gang of thieves from stealing five mystical swords. 

Finalist – 2021 Screencraft Fellowship

Top 100 – 2021 Table Read My Screenplay Genre Competition

Semifinalist – 2020 Screencraft Action/Adventure

Quarterfinalist – 2021 WeScreenplay

Quarterfinalist – 2021 StoryPros

Quarterfinalist – 2021 SWN Goldman Award

sloganshaw@gmail.com

FOREVER CRUSH

Ms. Uthman & Joy Princess

Romance

Two tenants, a poet and a fan of poetry, Desmond and Vicky are drawn to each other by their love for poetry. Their closeness threatens Desmond’s relationship with his fiancé. 

shrekoxymann@gmail.com

FULL MOON OVER THE NEW ‘D’ BAR

Daniel Bridges

Horror, Comedy

After their conspiracy theorist buddy goes missing, two dumbass vets enter a seedy town with a seedy strip club that just happens to be full of seedy 80s clad stripper werewolves, and once again they need to save ‘Merica.

Coverfly – Overall Top 10%

Quarterfinalist – 2021 Richmond International Film Festival

Quarterfinalist – 2020 Big Break Script Competition

Semifinalist – 2020 ScreenCraft Comedy Screenplay

Semifinalist – Filmmatic Comedy Screenplay Competition

Official Selection – 2019 Portland Comedy Film Festival

Official Selection – 2020 Houston Comedy Film Festival

Official Selection – 2020 Austin Short Film Festival

danielobridges@gmail.com

GARAGE SALE

Sheila M. Cronin

Family, Drama

A cinematographer receives his first offer to direct a film, but must convince his soon-to-be ex-wife to star in it or lose the opportunity.

sheila.giftcounselorbook@gmail.com

GHOSTS IN THE MACHINE

Blaise Hesselgren

Sci-Fi

Trapped inside a computer simulation with its two creators, an emergent AI has to hack its way into their minds to find the way out to the real world.

Semifinalist – 2018 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards

blaise.hesselgren@gmail.com

GIRL IN THE SHADOWS

Stephen Knight

Thriller

Haunted by a childhood trauma, a small town cop searches for the killer of people from her past, but the man in charge and her past consort to stop her.

Top Ten Feature – SWN Goldman Award

step1knight@gmail.com

GODFATHERS

Sharon Samson

Comedy

Tricked into babysitting their godchildren, a trio of egocentric dudes find themselves in the middle of a robbery turned kidnapping, leaving them one kid short. With the aid of a frenemy cop, they must defeat the bandits and save the kid before daddy returns.

sharonsamson89@hotmail.co.uk

GOLEM

Max Kinchen

Historical, Fantasy, Drama

As his people face constant persecution in 16th century Prague, Chief Rabbi Judah Loew suffers a crisis of faith and creates a Golem as a means of protection, only to lose control of his monster and be forced to stop it before it brings about an even greater threat.

8 – The Black List

Quarterfinalist – Screencraft Fellowship

2nd rounder – Launchpad

2nd rounder – Austin Film Festival

max.kinchen@gmail.com

GRAMMY GOES GANGSTER

Scotty Cornfield

Seniors, Gangsters, Comedy

A group of under-appreciated old ladies form a street gang to save the life of a dying grandson. 

scotty@scottycornfield.com

HAIL MARY

Sophia Baratti

Thriller, Drama, Comedy

When three self-indulgent college students find millions in stolen cash, a spontaneous spring break turns into a vengeful weekend as they push each other to their greediest limits.

sabaratti@gail.com

HAULING ASH

Derek Wightman

Comedy

The do-nothing son of a recently deceased business mogul is tasked to deliver his estranged father’s ashes cross country in order to inherit the family fortune. Along the way, he must evade 2 hit men hired by his father’s spurned business partner, with his unbeknownst secret agent girlfriend assisting him along the way.

derekscottw2@hotmail.com

HERMIT

Brendon Udy

Horror, Thriller

A grieving man isolates himself on an island after the loss of his daughter and wife, but when his wife returns, his sanity and devotion are pushed to the brink as she shows increasingly violent, animalistic behaviours.

brendon.u@gmail.com

I DON’T KNOW

Arthur Tiersky

Comedy, Rom-Com

A seemingly conventional romantic comedy is disrupted when its own screenwriter inserts himself into the story and appears to be a better match for the leading lady than the leading man is.

Finalist/Residency – Bahamas International Film Festival

Best Unproduced Screenplay – Unrestricted View Film Festival

Best Screenplay Feature and Best in Show – Cinema WorldFest Awards

Best Screenplay – Montreal International Film Festival

Best Feature Screenplay – Pollino International Film Festival

Best Comedy – Best Script Award

artiefromtheblock@yahoo.com

IF THEY WERE OF US

Rosemary Griggs

True Crime, Drama

Inspired by a True Story, a middle-aged FBI agent in Suburban Chicago soon finds his latest murder case is invading the lives of the people he loves.

8 – The Black List

Semifinalist – Launch Pad

Semifinalist – Stage 32 Drama

grigs521@gmail.com

INDEBTED

Jake Peter

Thriller

After losing big, a gambler decides to rob a bank to pay off his debt and escape his merciless boss.

jakepeter025@gmail.com

INDUCEMENT

Jeffrey Lee Sibley

Sci-Fi, Action

When a low-level criminal reveals his hidden power of complete persuasion, omnipotent forces attempt to exploit his extraordinary ability with life-altering repercussions.

jeffsibley1@gmail.com

INSIDE THESE WALLS

Jade Tostanoski

Sci-Fi

An inclusive dystopian sci-fi screenplay about a hot-headed woman, who after her mother is taken for missed organ payments, joins a small rebellion effort to save her, but when they uncover darker truths about the repossessed victims, she must save the people of the encased city, which seems impossible because the powerful CEO is standing in her way.

jade.banzhoff@gmail.com

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK

Benedict Ransley

Comedy

To stage his long-desired comeback, a disgraced Hollywood star must join forces with a quirky British acting coach.

Shortlisted for Barnstorm Festival 2020

benedict@moviemagicdarling.com

JHO LOW

Teng Ky-Gan

Drama, Biopic

Upon accidentally gaining access to a sovereign fund containing billions of dollars, an awkward social-climber has to siphon as much money as he can, using brilliant and complicated financial structures, before the authorities close in. Based on the real-life fugitive Jho Low who was involved in the biggest financial scandal in history.

1st Place – Table Read My Screenplay (Genre: Historical / Biopic) 2021

tengkygan@gmail.com

K9-47

Attris Jewitt

Action, Thriller

DEA Special Agent John Fisk and Kayla, his detection dog, are a force to be reckoned, when a mission goes sideways, killing him. Waking up wounded and alone, it takes the unwitting help of a rookie agent for Kayla to exact justice.

attyisearnest@gmail.com

LAW OF THE WEST

Troy Greenwood

Epic, Western

Rooted in a gateway valley, a family of homesteaders and Indigenous band become targets of a railway tycoon intent on exploiting a recent gold discovery in the neighboring hills.  Driven to defend their way of life the valley’s inhabitants must put aside their differences and join together if there’s any hope of preserving honor and justice in this brave ‘New World’.

troygreenwood@hhsproductions.com

LIFE OF CY

Mark Anthony Ramitt

Drama, Coming of Age

Determined to attend senior prom, a teen born with a rare genetic disorder must also overcome social anxieties to secure a prom date, until a teacher he is smitten with provides him with a unique opportunity and arrangement.

Adaptation of my short script GENERATION CY, which placed in the semifinals in the 2020 Barnstorm Film & TV Fest

markramitt@gmail.com

LOVE SCARS

Jodi Ippolito

Drama, Coming of Age

For transgender teen, Andy Cooper, finding love – much less a date to prom – is a pretty tall order. Things change when Andy rekindles his friendship with Valedictorian, Olivia McDonald. Together, the duo confront transphobic peers, family struggles, challenging friendships and life altering SCARS.

Official Selection – 2021 Script Summit

MANIFEST DESTINY

Deidre Berry

Drama

A biracial teen comes of age in inner city Miami, and resents her mother’s return home after serving  a lengthy prison sentence.

berrydeidre82@gmail.com

MOTHER

Benas Drabavicius

Horror, Thriller

Members of a Satanist band must escape the wrath of a pious Catholic mother, dangerously obsessed with saving the souls of the Satanist trapped in her care.

asa.benas@yahoo.com

MUDDY WATERS

John M. Ware

Crime, Drama

When a small, southern town is ravaged by a deadly new drug, a tough detective and grief stricken medical examiner must team up to bring down a drug kingpin.

johnm.ware80@gmail.com

MUSTANG EXPRESS

B. Jack Azadi

Crime, Drama, Neo-Western

New Mexico, 1979: After killing a corrupt Deputy Sheriff, two Chiricahua-Apache women resort to a desperate scheme to start a new life across the border.

Comps: Thelma and Louise, Hell or High Water

bjackazadi@gmail.com

MY DREAM OF CHLOE SEVIGNY

Ryan Greenwood

Comedy

When a Columbia Law professor meets the internationally-acclaimed actress at the New York Public Library, the line between reality and dreamscapes quickly blurs.

ryancgreenwood@gmail.com

MY FAVORITE COLOR

Lou Paoletti

Dark Comedy

After being forced to make an impossible decision about his relationship, a love-struck man battles newfound mental illness while navigating an existential crisis.

loupaoletti1@gmail.com

NINE LIVES

Bart Baker

Hard action, Comedy

The good news:  Disgraced, down on his luck, dog-loving, former special-op, Mutt Hickock, finds his fortunes changing when he’s named the executor of a billion and a half dollar trust.  The bad news: The massive fortune has been left to a pampered, Persian cat, which Mutt not only can’t tolerate, he’s allergic to as well.  The worse news: There is a very badass group of people from Mutt’s past that want the cat dead so they can get their hands on the money.  The worst news: Killing Mutt in the process would just be a bonus. 

bartshd@aol.com

NOVUM

Joseph Rhea

Sci-Fi, Dystopian Drama

In an aging undersea colony, a troubled cargo-sub captain must join forces with an untested crew to destroy an ancient weapon that threatens what’s left of the human race.

Note – adapted from the first book in my own series, so could be first 2 hours of a ~10-hour limited series

wjrhea@gmail.com

ON THE HOUR

Brandon Rhiness

Horror

A group of friends spending the weekend in the country fall victim to a curse that causes them to die off one by one, every hour, on the hour.

brhiness@gmail.com

PARENTAL DISCRETION ADVISED

Joel Murphy

Horror-Comedy, Coming of Age, Road Trip

In the summer of 1999, four high school friends must band together to save professional wrestling from an ancient demon known as the Flayed One.

joeldmurphy@gmail.com

PASSING THROUGH

Robert Rhyne

Drama

A guilt-ridden doctor conceals his identity to secretly care for his female hit and run victim — only to fall in love with her — even as her vengeful father and the police close in on her assailant.

Winner – UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Screenwriting Program

Winner – We Screenplay

Finalist – Austin Film Festival

Semifinalist – Slamdance

Quarterfinalist – Nicholl Fellowships

randprhyne@aol.com

PORCELAIN GIRL

KB Jackson

Drama

An ambitious girl at the start of her senior year makes a significant decision about her baby’s future due to an unexpected pregnancy.

fantastiafann@yahoo.com

REDEMPTION RIDGE

Michael Dickson

Drama, Music

A washed-up country music legend and Nashville’s hottest new star must set aside their differences and work together to save the young star’s tarnished reputation.

mimmikmedia@gmail.com

RETURN TO SENDER

Adam Sturkenboom

Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy

In an attempt to save his dying relationship, a socially inept slacker finds a way to adopt a literal monster baby, sparking a cross-country road trip to return it before someone dies or all their money runs dry.

adamlanesturkenboom@gmail.com

SAVING ELVIS

Clint Williams & Dennis Love

Sci-Fi

A burned-out rock critic and his billionaire publisher travel back in time to rescue the self-destructive Elvis Presley from himself and the evil Colonel Tom Parker.

clintwilliams3@gmail.com

SCARLET SEAS

J.C. Young

Action, Adventure, Horror

Father and daughter hunters pursue a fugitive vampire to the New World; her blood-thirst unleashed when pirates plunder the ship ferrying her coffin.

Red List – Feb 2020 Coverfly

Top 23% – Coverfly

Semifinalist – 3rd 2020 Filmmatic Pitch Now

Semifinalist – Unique Voices

Quarterfinalist – 2020 Script2Comic

Quarterfinalist – StoryPros

Top 10 (4 weeks) – Talentville.com

writer.jcyoung@yahoo.com

SEARCHING FOR WENDY

Diego Sanchez Nicolas

Home Invasion, Survival, Horror

An agoraphobic girl fights through a bloodbath of death when the psychotic Peter breaks into her flat with his violent gang of “Lost Boys”.

diegosancheznicolas@hotmail.es

SNIPER QUEEN

David Ennocenti

Action, Biography

When Nazi Germany invades her Ukraine homeland, a 24-year-old University student enlists in the Rifle Division of the Soviet Red Army, over the objectionss of her family and the recruiter;  she becomes her country’s most prolific sniper.

Finalist – Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition

Official Selection – Artemis Women In Action Film Festival

d.ennocenti@gmail.com

SOMEWHERE SAFE

Kris Taylor

Action, Adventure, Thriller

When a damaged Somali Soldier’s hidden past is uncovered, he faces his demons to shepherd an innocent family on the run to Europe. But blood ties to the vengeful military regime hunting them force him to make an impossible and deadly choice.

kris.taylor80@gmail.com

STILETTO

Shauney Taylor

Psychological, Thriller

A successful novelist with a dark secret takes in a lodger whose own secret changes her life forever.

2nd Place – Raindance

taylorsue42@yahoo.com

SWEAT

Hyten Davidson

Thriller, Drama

When an Army ranger is forced to pass an unconventional sobriety program or face a dishonorable discharge, she stumbles upon a dark plot within the facility capable of undoing her past while sabotaging her future.

Best Feature Screenplay – 2021 FunMill Film Fest, Cleveland, OH

hytendavidson@gmail.com

SYNDICATE

Kevin O’Leary

Action, Adventure

A naïve girl must grow up fast when her genius father is kidnapped by a futuristic, dystopian, multinational corporation.

privateer808@hotmail.com

THANKS FOR YOUR DONATION

Matthew J. Kaplan

Thriller, Horror

When an orphan discovers that she has been adopted for the sole purpose of being an organ donor for her sickly new brother, she must fight her new family and escape their old mansion before her life is taken and her lungs are harvested.

kapmatt@gmail.com

THE BOY FROM THE MEADOW

Geoffrey Enright

Drama, Thriller

A young boy escapes from the grip of a religious compound and falls into the arms of a small-town sheriff who vows to protect him at all costs.  

geoffreyenright@gmail.com

THE CALL OF THE VOID

Graham McNeill

Supernatural, Horror

In the days before Hurricane Katrina, a former investigative journalist is drawn back to New Orleans following the death of her sister, where one of the Crescent City’s oldest families is on the verge of summoning an ancient god of prehistory.

Quarterfinalist – Final Draft Big Break

graham@graham-mcneill.com

THE CHAMELEON

Anthony Moore

Thriller

An attractive animal rights activist must stop a serial killer, while avoiding becoming his next victim, to prevent an infatuated cop from uncovering her dark secret.

Grand Prize Winner – Thriller, 2018 Fade In Awards

techrat@live.com

THE CHECKERED

Mark Gunnion

Action, Dramedy

In 1970s Indianapolis, a 2nd-generation hot rodder finagles a way to stay out of the Army (and the County Jail) so he can keep doing what he loves – RACING – but a cop with a grudge is obsessed with wrecking his life, and making him pay for ALL his family’s crimes.

Finalist, Official Selection – 2021 Die Laughing Film Festival

Semifinalist – Filmmatic Comedy Film Festival

Semifinalist – StoryPros

markgunnion@gmail.com

THE CHRISTMAS BET

Katie Haskins

Drama, Romance, Christmas

A reluctant bet between a disenchanted Christmas novelist and her playboy brother. Before Christmas Eve, she’s going to find his Mrs. Claus and he’s going to find her holiday spirit.

katie.haskins@gmail.com

THE COLLAR

P.B. Forde

Crime, Comedy

When a revenge plot goes horribly wrong, a sickly priest finds himself caught up in the chaos. As violence unfolds around him, and doubt enters the fray, he must do what he can if he wants to get out alive.

paulbforde@gmail.com

THE DARK BELOW

Brian Fitzpatrick

Horror, Sci-Fi

Ruthless mercenaries, fanatical cultists, and celestial horrors won’t stand in the way of an all-girl urban explorer team hell bent on rescuing their young sister from the grip of a shadowy monster in a secretive lab.

brianfitzauthor@gmail.com

THE DUNA HOTEL

Ryan Berry

Horror, Comedy

As a newly appointed bell-boy, Ryan expected to meet a lot of guests. What he didn’t expect was for one of them to be a murderer, or for half of them to be monsters. It’s going to be a long night.

ryberry@hotmail.co.uk

THE EDGE OF HONOR

Katherine Bryan

Action, Thriller

Wanted for murder, a Navy SEAL must save his fiancé by plunging into the most desperate hunt of his life–a shattering search for a brilliant killer who has come back to finish a job he failed at several years before.

katie-bryan@att.net

THE FAMILY BUSINESS

Eva Wakeford

Neo-Western, Black Comedy

Loosely based on the twisted tale of America’s first serial killer family. Set in the absurd and abnormal town of Labette, a determined yet naive young woman strikes up an unlikely companionship with a gunslinger, teaching her that she must forge her own way in the world. But when you come from a family of murderers, heads are guaranteed to roll.

evawakeford@gmail.com

THE FUNNY FARM

Robert Ward

Horror

A wise-cracking demon terrorizes a farm family, then battles the lone survivor to the death… who happens to be the farmer’s ingenious and badass teenage daughter.

Winner – 2019 Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards

2nd place – Best Feature Script – 2019 Hollywood Horrorfest

Finalist – 2018 Page Turner Horror & Thriller

Finalist – 2017 New York City Horror Film Festival

Finalist – 2017 Shriekfest Horror Film Festival

rward@got.net

THE HALF LIFE OF HARRY FIGG

Mark Wesley

Sci-Fi, Drama laced with Humor

After seeing a strange light, a feral boy’s life is changed when he breaks into a reclusive scientist’s home and discovers a star in a jar.

markwesley13@googlemail.com

THE HOMESTEAD

Ian Sandusky

Comedy

When a couple from New York City move to Missouri to build the glamping homestead of their dreams, they will have to reevaluate everything they think they know to save the farm – and their marriage.

ian.sandusky@gmail.com

THE LAST EARTH STATION

Kathryn Radmall

Sci-Fi

When a space station, missing for over a century, suddenly reappears on the far side of the galaxy, the team sent to investigate discover that the lost don’t always want to be found.

kathryn.radmall@icloud.com

THE LAST PRIEST

Brian Mulligan

Historical, Faith-based, Drama

Berlin 1938. The Catholic Church makes a deal with the devil and a reluctant young priest must either comply with the church’s appeasement of Hitler’s government or rise up against two powerful forces to become the hero the world needs.

Semifinalist – Screencraft Fellowship

bmull863@gmail.com

THE LAST RAIN

Kathryn Rushent

Sci-Fi, Drama, Magic Realism

In the endless rain and crop failures of an apocalyptic volcanic winter, a mythic being – both man and monster – comes to the aid of a diverse blended family to bring back the sun. (MAGGIE meets THE SHAPE OF WATER)

rushentk@gmail.com

THE LEGEND OF YAKATUTCH

Sean Francis Ellis

Horror

A snowboarder must embrace his First Nations heritage to save his girlfriend from a legendary beast, which needs her DNA to restore its humanity.

Quarterfinalist – 2017 Screencraft Fellowship

Official Selection – 2017 Beverly Hills Film Festival Screenplay Competition

Finalist – 2016 Toronto Horror Film & Screenplay Festival

Producer Spotlight Project – 2015 Toronto’s Int’l Financial Forum and Trans-Atlantic Partners

Best Project & Pitch – 2014 3-D Stereo Media Summit – Liege, Belgium

seanfrancisellis@gmail.com

THE MAN WITH A GLOVE

Suzanne Lutas

Supernatural, Thriller

When a claustrophobic art restorer is held captive, she must renovate a Renaissance era painting which has more inside than just paint.

Quarterfinalist- 2018 Screencraft Horror

Semifinalist – 2019 Miami Screenplay

Semifinalist – 2019 Wiki Screenplay

Finalist – Horror/Thriller – 2019 Pitch Now

Quarterfinalist – 2020 TSL Screenplay

suzannebl@mail.pf

THE MONITOR

Erik Sternberger

Social Thriller

Returning from Iraq, Jacob Diaz works as a social media monitor where he’s forced to constantly watch videos of cruelty, conspiracy, and hate. Fed up with the inaction of his supervisors and the authorities—plus the toll on his psyche—he hunts down the offending posters in search of peace. Finding that he has become a viral sensation himself, he must now escape a rabid fanbase that uses him as its inspiration.

erik.sternberger@gmail.com

THE NOBODY

David Dinning McDermott & Zvi Jaari

Action, Spy

Pawns in the spy world, the betrayal, the guilt, and one mans journey through it all.

Selected – Silicon Beach Film Festival

Selected – Hollywood Jumbo: Screenplay Festival

Selected – The Beverly Hills Film Festival

Selected – 4th Dimension Independent Film Festival

Finalist – 4th Dimension Independent Film Festival

AWARD WINNER – 17th season of World Film Carnival – Singapore(WFCS).

Selected – World Film Carnival – Singapore

Selected – L.A. Indies’ Film Festival

dinningproduction@gmail.com

THE OBSERVER

Ronnie Shantz/Robinson

Sci-Fi

Sometimes being on someone’s radar isn’t all that. Beware an alien woman scorned…

electronten@outlook.com

THE PIRATE PRINCESS

Bobby Kirk

Adventure, YA

A refined young woman must avenge her father’s death by becoming what she despises most, a pirate. Chasing her father’s nemesis across the high seas and through the Queen’s court to extract vengeance and save the kingdom.

A Katniss Everdine heroine in a Princess Bride world. A story for girls that want to be the hero and a princess.

stlbobby@gmail.com

THE PRINCE OF WALGROVE MANOR

Phillip E. Hardy

Dark Comedy, Romcom

A young male rocker plays with 80’s bands, works a white-collar job, and dates multiple women until two of them collide at a party and one of them pulls a gun.

phillip_hrdy@yahoo.com

THE RAVENING

Brian & Robert Kelly

Horror

A young woman is terrorised by her ex-boyfriend after he’s attacked by a werewolf and must fight to the bitter end to save herself and all that she holds dear from the big bad wolf.

seven_tower@hotmail.com

THE RICKETY MAN

Jeremiah Lewis

Horror, Folk, Period

In 1810 England, a bankrupt and disgraced London socialite has three days to uncover the truth about her ex-lover’s disappearance and make amends for her role in her sister’s death before she’s taken by a mythical entity that punishes wrongdoers.

jeremiah.lewis@gmail.com

THE SCAM

Kevin McCormack

Heist, Drama

When an overworked, underpaid college grad finds the promises of her higher education degrees aren’t paying off, she teams with two misfit friends to steal a prized sculpture from their alma mater in order to save her father’s house and finally make a difference.

kevinmccormack8@gmail.com

THE SUBTLE ART OF JUMPING OFF BUILDINGS

Sean Fee

Thriller

A man with a fear of heights falls head over heels for a woman with the unusual hobby of watching people jump off buildings.

sean_fee@hotmail.co.uk

THE TALE OF OBSIDIAN LANDING

Mista Martel

Western, Adventure

When a thriving Freedmen’s town is held hostage by the deranged realtor Dexter Spite, Tijuana Adams must venture back home to avenge her father, the sheriff, and save her mother, the doctor.

Finalist – Beyond The Curve International Film Festival

actormista@gmail.com

THE VANILLA CHILDREN

Gabe Dye

Mockumentary, Dramedy

Six friends who are all siblings of child prodigies try to do something to get themselves recognized by getting into the Guinness Book of World records.

gabe_ms@live.com

THIS IS IT!

Berg Rosenberg

Comedy

Entering her senior year 1999, Allison James has 180 school days left to date the hottest guy, party like a rockstar, and lose her virginity. This is it! 

bergscreenplay@gmail.com

THURISAZ

Yosuke Mitton

Horror, RomCom, Road Trip

After a case of mistaken identity, a shiftless young woman must retrieve an ancient artifact for a crazed cult leader and must battle redneck cannibals, a werewolf, and an ancient evil along the way.

Official Selection: Twin Falls Sandwiches Film Festival

yomitton@gmail.com

TILLIE

David Chester & Blake Pinter

Coming of Age, Period, Drama

In 1890s Pennsylvania Dutch Country, an intellectually gifted farm girl rebels against her tyrannical father and risks her life to get an education to follow in the footsteps of her beloved teacher. 

Finalist – 2019 Pitch Now Screenplay Festival

Finalist – 2019 Screencraft Public Domain

Finalist – 2020 Vail Screenplay Contest

davidhalchester@gmail.com

TIME AT FORT PECK

Anthony Nelson

Neo-Western, Sci-Fi, Crime, Thriller

In pursuit of riches, a woman teams up with her ex-husband to hunt dinosaur bones in the Montana badlands.

amvnelson@gmail.com

UNSPOKEN

Maura Campbell

Psychological Thriller

A non-speaking disabled woman has to overcome her learned helplessness and save herself when her unstable aunt tries to starve her to death.

maura.campbell@btinternet.com

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Antonio Shorter

Family, Drama

The relationship between a father and her daughter is deepened and explored throughout a series of events.

antonioshorter.21@gmail.com

VAMPIRIC

Kelly Parks

Horror

A young couple must survive the night when they become the sexual obsession of a sadistic vampire.

Finalist – StoryPros

kelly.parks@gmail.com

VOODOO MACBETH

Daren Wagar

Period, Drama, Based on a True Story

A young Orson Welles contends with racial tensions, a drunk lead actor and his own ego as he tries to stage MACBETH with an all-Black cast in 1930s Harlem.

Semifinalist – Academy Nicholl Fellowship

daranwagar@outlook.com

WE DON’T SMILE ANYMORE

Leah Simmons

Thriller

Dragged to an exclusive couples retreat, a career-focused woman discovers too late that she and her ambitious husband are the center of a dangerous game.

juliawild375@gmail.com

WHERE THE SUN SETS

Dallas Rector

Western, Drama, Adventure, Crime, Period

When a vindictive bounty hunter transports a bank robber from New Mexico to Colorado to pay for his crimes, the outlaw tests his captor’s weakness and forces the bounty hunter to find out if he truly has the courage to dispense his own personal justice.

dallasrector@runpicturerun.com

TELEVISION

#HOTMESS

Ana Christina Perez Del Rio

Dramedy

A young mess of a woman, trying to break into the business of Hollywood and obsessing over her ex-boyfriend, fakes a pregnancy to get him back but it may be real. 

aperezentertainment@gmail.com

#SANTAMUERTEHEARMYPRAYER

Chelly Pike

YA, Drama, Horror

After a 17yo student at a pretentious New Orleans Catholic school digs into her Colombian heritage in search of a pretty, petty picture to paint to get back at her infuriating Religion teacher, her project on Santa Muerte leads to her lighting candles and murdering her lecherous uncle, but did she find Santa Muerte or did Santa Muerte find her? Maybe death is her destiny?

mpike818@gmail.com

ABDUCTED

Lee Lawson

Action, Thriller

A specialist recovery team risks it all as they fight politics, jealousy, and industry corruption to return kidnap victims home.

leejlawson@gmail.com

ALTERS

Courtney DeCamp

Drama, Thriller

SYBIL meets DEXTER

After witnessing a murder, a woman’s alternate personality goes into hiding, forcing the other quirky personalities to help the police solve the case while attempting to hide their own bloody crimes.

Top 10 – Stage 32 Television Writing Contest

8 on The Black List

Quarterfinalist – Page Turner Screenplays

Honorable mention – WIKI Screenplay Contest

actorcourtneydecamp@gmail.com

ASPEN GROVE

Timothy Shireman

Horror, Supernatural, Thriller

Chapter One: Evil Roots Run Deep. In the Montana Wilderness of 1845, a French-Canadian fur trapper with a dark past is captured by a Native American family. But after duplicitously talking his way out of their captivity, he faces a reckoning for his sins, stumbling into an even more harrowing nightmare that proves as haunting as it is deadly.

stimpleton69@hotmail.com

AUREM

Denise Papas Meechan

Superhero, Action

When a tenacious AAPI teen witnesses four corrupt policemen beat her dad to death, she must learn to convert her auditory PTSD into a newfound power to uncover the identities of the killers and seek revenge- even as it transforms her from a naive streetkid to gold-suited superhero, Aurem!

Quarterfinalist – Screencraft Fellowship

todenisepapas@gmail.com

BLOOD BONDS

Ashley Bower

YA, Drama

As their lives begin to intertwine by happenstance, two teenage girls navigate the layered complexities of young adulthood and family secrets by way of accidental pregnancy and DNA tests.

ashleybower107@gmail.com

BUTTERFLY

Harriet O’Neill

Historical, Drama

After their parents’ murder, two sisters join the underground fight against fascism in Nazi-occupied Belgium.

Semifinalist – 2021 Screencraft Fellowship

Semifinalist – Filmmatic Inroads Fellowship – Season 4

Official Selection – 2021 Script Summit

hlon_95@hotmail.com

COLLEGE MAN

Vin Romano

Drama, Thriller

After unknowingly taking part in a drug experiment at his school, a slacker freshman becomes big man on campus, growing more intelligent, ambitious…and dangerous.

LIMITLESS meets ANIMAL HOUSE

vt3.romano@yahoo.com

FALL FROM GRACE

Roisin Chapman

Comedy, Thriller

An exasperated housewife longing for the sweet release of death gets her first taste of freedom on the run from the law, after accidentally killing her dementia-riddled husband.

roisinc785@gmail.com

FANTASY FARM

Adam Puckoris

Drama

After 15 year old Jilly Parks witnesses a murder from her bedroom window, she begins to uncover dark horrors of her neighborhood Fantasy Farm. 

adampuckorisdna@gmail.com

FIERCE!

Pablo Diablo

Dramedy, Musical

The safety of a drag queen’s women’s shelter is compromised when her estranged high school bestie seeks a place to stay away from her abusive husband.

parmend@gmail.com

FUTURE KING

Dawn Prato

Urban, Fantasy, Drama

After accidentally waking King Arthur in the present day, a disillusioned businesswoman must sort fact from fantasy if they’re going to survive his enemies, both ancient and new – problem is, she may be one of them.

dawn.prato@gmail.com

GARDEN CITY SHUFFLE

Dave Goossen

1-hr Drama

A disgraced jazz musician returns home with hopes of reopening a club but gets caught up in deceit and the dangerous criminal underbelly of a picture-perfect tourist town.

davegoossen@gmail.com

GASOLINE

Liam Kavanagh

Action, Comedy

An uppercrust British aristocrat and a streetwise Mexican cage fighter are recruited by a mysterious benefactor to take down untouchable international criminals.

liamkavanaghmail@gmail.com

HADES

Mike Boaks

Drama

When a doctor from a family of cops is unfairly suspended from a prestigious hospital, he is thrown a lifeline by the Croatian Mafia in his old hood. Committing to help their ailing boss as an underground war erupts, he may discover his professional calling, if he can survive..

Red List #14 TV All Time, #2 TV past year

Top 1 TV Of The Month Coverfly (April 2021)

Finalist – LA Intl Screenplay Awards 2020

2nd Round – Austin Film Festival

Quarterfinalist – Final Draft Big Break

Official Selection – Script Summit

michaelboaks@hotmail.com

HENCH

Charles Rutter

Comedy, Superhero, Animation

A staffing service clerical error reclassifies a hopeful henchman as a supervillain, forcing him to reluctantly fulfill his new managerial obligations instead of what he really wants: to win back his estranged girlfriend and find a decent benefits package.

Semifinalist – Final Draft Big Break

Quarterfinalist – Screencraft Animation

Top 12% – Coverfly ½-hour TV Comedy

Top 14% – Coverfly Comedy

charlesrutter2@gmail.com

INDEFINITE LIFESPAN

Michael Raphael Salomon

Sci-Fi

In the near future, immortality science and religion are destined to collide.

Semifinalist – 2021 Screencraft Fellowship

Semifinalist – Filmmatic Inroads Fellowship, Season 4

Semifinalist – Filmmatic TV Pilots, 5th

Quarterfinalist – Screenwriters Network – SWN Screenplay Competition Goldman Award

Official Selection – 2021 Script Summit

dr.ms@earthlink.net

(in)TOLERANCE

Travis Seppala

Sci-Fi

When the Robot Rights movement is targeted by anti-bot protestors, a non-binary domestic bot finds themself in the middle of a developing uprising. 

flannelmann@yahoo.com

JOHN SUNSHINE’S LOST ROCK ’N’ ROLL TAPES

Alice Wells

Found footage, Rock-Mockumentary, Dark Comedy, Thriller, Music

Decades after the underground rock scene of the 1970s ended, a son discovers his father’s lost interview tapes with some of rock’s lesser known “legends,” and discovers that rock ‘n’ roll may never die, but it sure can kill.

jenscreenplays@gmail.com

JUNIOR HIGH GENIE

Audrey Hackett

Family, Fantasy, Comedy

A preteen girl’s life becomes increasingly complicated when she unleashes an adolescent, hard-to-manage genie, who can’t leave until he grants her three wishes and realizes he may not want to leave at all.

Endorsement – 2020 KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

Semifinalist – 2020 Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices

Quarterfinalist – 2019 Write/LA

audreyhackett0@gmail.com

LOST SUMMER

Terry Dray

Thriller, Scottish Noir

A cheap private eye has to step up his game after he unwittingly uncovers a cold case involving murder, smuggling, and police corruption to become the unlikely hero and survive his deadliest adversary yet.

terrydray@me.com

MEDICINE WOMAN

H.L. Van Hoose

Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller

When a New York City medical intern of Navajo descent suddenly manifests supernatural healing powers, she must learn to control her abilities with the help of her long-lost medicine-man grandfather, and discover how a shadowy genetics corporation was responsible for her father’s mysterious death.

Finalist – Diverso Minority Report Fellowship

Semifinalist – BlueCat

Semifinalist – Cinequest

Semifinalist – Stage 32 TV Writing

Semifinalist – Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards

https://hilaryvanhoose.wixsite.com/screenwriter/contact

MILLER’S BLOOD

Ari Gill

Mystery, Thriller

After her husband’s mysterious death and the disappearance of her 9-year-old son, a teacher discovers a dark secret in her home that catapults her out of suburban London into the heart of Mumbai’s underworld. 

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE meets BREAKING BAD

Semifinalist – Final Draft Big Break

Top 2% – BBC Writers Room

arigill8@gmail.com

MILNER FUNERARY SERVICES

R. J. Blake

1-hour Horror, Dramedy

A freak accident offers the director of a failing funeral home the solution to her family’s money problems: murdering the men responsible for her husband’s death and reaping the financial windfall of their funerals.‬

#8 – Top Pilots – Blacklist.com

Top Horror PIlots of the Year – Coverfly Red List

2nd rounder – Austin Film Festival

Semifinalist – Nashville Film Festival

Semifinalist – Cinequest Film Festival

Quarterfinalist – Final Draft Big Break

rjblake.production@gmail.com

NEMESIS

Nicole Sylla

Drama

Having survived an abusive childhood, a therapist helps his patients take revenge on the people responsible for their traumas, always at the risk of putting them all behind bars. 

nicole.sylla@gmx.net

OCCUPIED INTELLIGENCE

Collin Lieberg

Historical, Drama

Based on a true story. Two newly recruited female Resistance members risk their lives to rescue downed soldiers and translate Nazi secrets as part of a civilian spy ring, only to face betrayal and capture.

Top 50 – Fast Track Fellowship

Quarterfinalist – Page Turner Genre

Quarterfinalist – Screencraft TV Pilot

collin.lieberg@gmail.com

OFFSIDE

Hayley Griffin

Sports, Drama

At a hybrid state-run boarding school, the boys’ soccer coach must merge his team with the girls’ and win a tournament to stay funded, but can’t get his own daughter to play ball let alone the rest of the team.

Placed on Coverfly’s 2020 Red List – Top-rated Family Televsion (one hour)

#2 – Coverfly’s Red List – Dec 2020 – Top-rated Family Television (one hour)

hayleyfgriffin@hotmail.co.uk

ONE IN A TRILLION

Marven Likness

Sci-Fi, Drama

An underground Deaf society attempts to steal an experimental intergalactic ship from the government to escape persecution and torture.

Best TV Script – Script and Storyboard Showcase

Best Original Screenplay – Hollywood Blood Horror Festival

Best New Artist – L.A. Neo Noir Novel

Best Short Screenplay – European Film Festival Mainstream and Underground

Best Screenplay – Global Monthly Online

Top 15 Short Sci-Fi Script – Coverfly Red List for August 2020

Best International Screenplay – Mile High Film Awards

Best Screenplay of the year – Picasso Einstein Buddha

Finalist: CIFF, Madras, Eurasia Fest, Indie Short Fest, PixlesGarage, Voghera, Tagore…

marven.likness@gmail.com

PARLOR

Cynthia S. Wright

Dramedy

A newly sober woman teams up with her estranged brother to take down a rival funeral parlor, stumbling over hidden secrets that reveal it ain’t just bodies her family kept buried.

cyndyswright@gmail.com

PEARL OF WISDOM

Marlene Sharp

Animated, Kid-friendly, Comedy

Under the noses of faculty, staff, parents, siblings, and cliques, 12-year-old Pearl

assembles her angst-ridden peers into an unofficial group of humorists who pan for proverbial

comedy gold in the hills and valleys of middle school.

Winner – Best Screenplay, Great Message Film Festival

Finalist – Best Comedy Teleplay, Austin Comedy Film Festival

Honorable Mention – Best Screenplay, Night of Comedy Shorts

Honorable Mention – Best Screenplay, Wiki Screenplay Contest

Official Selection and Endorsed Title (ages 12-18) – KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

Official Selection – Top Indie Film Awards

marlene.sharp@kinsane.com

PERFECT STORM

Cindi Woods

Comedy

When Hurricane Katrina blows the film industry up from New Orleans to Shreveport, a displaced eccentric talent agent, a rebellious preacher’s wife, and a diverse group of local actors form unlikely bonds at a weekly acting class, all hoping to get their big break in the other LA.

cindiwoods@gmail.com

RECLUSE

Ian Sutherland

Horror, Drama

After witnessing a bizarre murder, a paranoid medic becomes ensnared in a supernatural plot to destroy humanity as he struggles to outsmart the sinister forces at work.

ian.sutha@gmail.com

SANTA MONICA

Amanda Avalon

Romantic Comedy

Four friends living in Santa Monica, each trying to make it as they navigate love and dating in Los Angeles. 

amanda.avalon@hotmail.com

SHE CRAZY

Linda Denton

Drama, Comedy

Three Black women, on the downside side of 40, trying to stay sane while coping with mental illness, broken dreams and personal shortcomings, discover that #CrazyAF may be their new normal.

studior467@gmail.com

SHELTERED

Layla Cummins

Crime, Thriller

A homeless mother witnesses the strange murder of a political activist and becomes the new target of a wealthy and influential cult.

laylacummins@hotmail.co.uk

SILENT ASSISTANT

Brooke Greene

Dramedy

A fresh college grad must play nice with the ghost of her recently deceased predecessor in order to keep her job as a high school teacher.

brookegreene39@gmail.com

SLIFKO RULES!

Neil J. Brimelow

½ hour, Comedy, Limited Series

After being framed for a massive senior prank he didn’t commit, ex-serial prankster Freddie Slifko is forced to repeat his entire senior year at his Catholic boarding school where he vows to pull off the biggest senior prank of all time.

neil@filmvoltage.com

STANDARD, NEBRASKA

Edward Hamel

Dramedy, Sci-Fi

Surrounded by cornfields and casual racism, the town of Standard, Nebraska is anything but— When a blatantly racist statue of the town’s founder is defaced, a high school journalist and his best friend discover that their hometown is at the center of a story that threatens to tear apart not only their community but a society that has yet to come to terms with race in America.

Finalist – 2021 Cinequest Screenwriting Competition

edward.scripted@gmail.com

STAR DUCKS

Jake Lynch

Animation, Sci-Fi, Comedy

A screw-up duck stranded on a distant planet must save her missing crew, fix their ship and, with help from a young scroop, learn what it really means to be a true hero.

jakelynch25@gmail.com

SUCKING MANGOES NAKED

Amil Abraham Thomas and Tad Wojnicki

Comedy

A figure artist must win the Mango Art Show, or lose it all, including his model’s heart.

tadwojnicki@gmail.com

SWIPE RIGHT

Joyce Cyr

Comedy

A singles cruise with all the baggage.

It’s like THE GOLDEN GIRLS meets SEX IN THE CITY on THE LOVE BOAT.

joycecyr5@gmail.com

THE APARTMENT

Kipe Lyan

Comedy, Dramedy

Zyanya has to stop partying….. with Grandma, find a roommate and try to make it on her own. She learns family doesn’t have to mean blood related.

kipe.lyan@gmail.com

THE BORDER

Vance Tucker

Comedy

A “What If” comedy where the U.S. builds The Wall and it successfully eliminates all drugs and violence in America, leading to unintended consequences and a looming threat from the one place they forgot to take into account… Canada.

Quarterfinalist – 2020 Final Draft Big Break

tuckervance@gmail.com

THE FANTASTIC ADVENTURES OF TANZILA THE WOLF GIRL

Mukesh Vidyasagar

½ hour Comedy

When an Indian-American girl living in Queens gets her period, she gets more than she bargained for as an ancient family secret is revealed – she’s actually a werewolf!

mukesh.vidy@gmail.com

THE RESTORER

Laurel Pardo

YA, Supernatural, Drama

When a teen witch accepts a cemetery restoration apprenticeship, her ability to interact with spirits is reawakened. Unfortunately, so is her evil father’s desire to steal her power and use it to unleash the damned souls that he controls on the living world.

Second rounder – Austin Film Festival

Finalist – Fresh Voices

Quarterfinalist – Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards

Quarterfinalist – Screencraft TV Pilot

Consider – Austin coverage service

laurel.storylines@gmail.com

Representation – CSP Management, Tammy Hunt (tammy@citizenskull.com) & Jamie Bradley (jamie@citizenskull.com)

THE RULES

Lawnya Benton

½ hour Dramedy

A 30-year old Black woman struggles to balance her career ambitions, personal growth, and friendships while navigating life and love in Atlanta. 

lawnya.benton@gmail.com

THE VAPORS

Guy Crawford

Half-hour Single-cam Comedy

Facing eviction, three pot-smoking, golf cart-crashing, fun-loving retirement village ladies embark upon a black market scheme in order to save their homes and continue to live life on their own terms.

guyc2_2000@yahoo.com

THE ZOO

Zach Witt

Animated, Comedy

The hijinks of a prestigious zoo’s animals as they deal with the day-to-day pressures of constantly being on display.

zwitt87@gmail.com

TO HELL WITH YOU

Bianca Malcolm

Supernatural Dramedy

After she unexpectedly kicks the bucket and finds her recently-deceased boyfriend did not make it into Heaven, a saintly medical student escapes back to Earth and uses her second chance at life to stumble her way into Hell.

blmalcolm13@gmail.com

TRAILER PARK SAMURAI

Luke Baker & Jesse James Dean

Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy

A delusional, samurai-obsessed, young trailer rat is finally put to the test when an alien armory lands on his Airstream, and finally makes his wildest fantasies come true.

Finalist – 2020 Screencraft Animation

Semifinalist – Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards

Top 10% – #4 – Coverfly Red List – Adventure Half-Hours

lbaker4444@gmail.com

TRANQUILITY

Tim Westland

Sci-Fi

After an alien device catapults the Moon through hyperspace to the farthest edge of the galaxy, the citizens of Tranquility Base must survive an interstellar odyssey in their attempt to return the Moon back to Earth.

timwestland@hotmail.com

WAITING

Amanda ReCupido

½-hour Comedy

Two 30-something women lean on each other for support as they navigate separate fertility challenges, and learn to parent themselves on their quest to become mothers.

amanda.recupido@gmail.com

WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE

Cheryl Laughlin

Dramedy

A chance meeting between a street-smart, female fire breather and a wealthy black teenager running an illegal scam sparks a night of understanding, acceptance, and a brutal burning.

Winner, Outstanding Short Script – Sacramento International Film Festival

Official Selection – Scriptwriters & Co UK Table Read

laughlincheryl@gmail.com

WHAT NOW…?

Rob Mincoff

Sitcom

After blowing up his apartment and nowhere to go, Cole turns to his friends to help him figure his life out.

rmincoff@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by, and take a piece of pie for the road, compliments of the management.

Q & A with Anat Wenick of The Write Script

Anat Golan-Wenick started her career in the entertainment business working as a production assistant and researcher in a team that produced series for a large educational channel, while also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Film/Television and English Literature. After graduation, Anat moved to Los Angeles to dip her hands into the screenwriting pool. Her screenplays have won or placed in contests like Sundance Table Read My Screenplay, StoryPros, Scriptapalooza and others, with one getting optioned by the producer of THE LAST WORD with Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried.

After taking a script analysis class, Anat discovered her true passion in the entertainment business: reading and improving other writers’ scripts. She became a reader for companies like Amazon Studios, Crispy Twig Productions, The Radmin Company, the Atlanta Film Festival and others, while developing connections with creative voices she aspires to bring to the big and small screens. In her spare time, Anat volunteers as the Secretary on the Board of the San Fernando Valley Writers’ Club (a chapter of the California Writers’ Club).

What’s the last thing you read/watched you considered to be exceptionally well-written?

Not really “the last thing”, but KIDDING on Showtime is a great example of how dialogue, visuals and story come together perfectly. Also on Showtime is I’M DYING UP HERE, which very skillfully weaves many plotlines together. Netflix’s SHTISEL is an example of how a story about a seemingly insignificant part of the world’s population can be made relatable. And for those catering to the younger audience, I recommend studying BOY MEETS WORLD. In terms of reading, THE CARTOONIST’S MASK by Ranan Lurie is a book I’d love to see adapted to screen.

How’d you get your start in the industry?

I always thought I would be a screenwriter. But an internship (followed by a full time position) at a TV station, working on a youth drama, set me on another course. I was a rookie intern when I was allowed to join my first script meeting. I sat quietly, just hoping to learn as much as possible, when the director, an amazing woman by the name of Yael Graf, turned to me and asked for my opinion. Without thinking, I said the solution won’t work. A second later, I was mourning the loss of the best (and only) internship I ever had, when much to my surprise, the director actually wanted to know why I reached such a conclusion. Based on my explanation, the script was revised.

A few years later, I took a script reading class. Based on my analysis, the instructor encouraged me to pursue this career. My hope is to move from script reading to creative executive so I can work with undiscovered writers to help bring their stories to the screen.

Is recognizing good writing something you think can be taught or learned?

Akiva Goldsman once said: “Writing is both a pleasure and a struggle. There are times when it’s really aversive and unpleasant, and there are times when it’s wonderful and fun and magical, but that’s not the point. Writing is my job. I’m not a believer of waiting for the muse. You don’t put yourself in the mood to go to your nine-to-five job, you just go. I start in the morning and write all day. Successful writers don’t wait for the muse to fill themselves unless they’re geniuses. I’m not a genius. I’m smart, I have some talent, and I have a lot of stubbornness. I persevere. I was by no means the best writer in my class in college. I’m just the one still writing.”

You can absolutely become a better writer. But just like any other job – if you want to be good at it, you have to study it, stay on top of new trends, and practice, practice, practice.

What do you consider the components of a good script?

Visual over telling. Don’t say “he walks into a room,” say “he skips, dashes, stumble, falls, dances, shuffles into a room,” etc.

Know the genre you’re writing. Nothing wrong with a horror rom-com, but make sure characteristics of all genres are present in the script.

A well-executed “wait for it” moment. Scripts that constantly challenge me to wonder what will come next, even in based-on-true-event movies. Sure, we all know the Titanic is going to sink, but we wonder what will happen to the protagonists.

If you spent time developing your characters’ external and internal conflicts, make sure to address them during the climactic moment. In CASABLANCA, Rick must get Ilsa and Victor safely to the airplane (external), while saying goodbye and convincing the love of his life to exit his (internal).

Good balance between dialogue and action sequences. Allowing the two to play off of one another, rather than feeding viewer/reader with a spoon.

What are some of the most common screenwriting mistakes you see?

Excessive usage of voiceover for no reason. Personally, I’m not one of those “never voiceover” believers, but use it with caution.

Unimaginative character description (i.e. JANE DOE, 26, pretty).

Unnecessary camera and other directorial instructions as well as endless parentheticals in dialogue sequences.

Undeveloped subplots.

Usage of “Starts to,” “Begins to,” “Commences to,” etc. as well as “beat.” These phrases can kill the flow of a screenplay, especially when writing an action-adventure movie. Instead of using “beat”, state what causes it (i.e. biting lip, looking away, cracking knuckles, etc.). Instead of “starts to walk but rethinks it,” consider “marches off. Halts.

What story tropes are you just tired of seeing?

I would read anything, but if you’re going to write about vampires or zombies, make sure you put a fresh spin or angle on the genre. WARM BODIES and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE are two good examples. If writing a romcom, love doesn’t have to be the ultimate goal. In WORKING GIRL, the protagonist wanted a career, and along the way she found love.

What are some key rules/guidelines every writer should know?

Read, watch, internalize, and execute in your own writing, repeat.

Connect with other professionals. You never know when an early connection will lead to a later opportunity.

When receiving comments, always thank the person even if you don’t agree with them.

Your work may get rejected not because it’s not great, but because it’s not what the company is looking for. Do your research before sending.

Entertainment attorneys are a lot more approachable than agents and managers, and often can get your screenplay to the right hands.

People will have a more favorable view of you if when boasting about your achievements, you take a moment to acknowledge others. So when posting “my screenplay just advanced to quarterfinals/semi-finals/finals in “this and this” contest, add “congrats to all others who advanced” or “thank you for this opportunity, etc.

Even if making the slightest change to your script, make sure to save it as a new version. You never know when you may want to refer to an older version.

Always email yourself the latest version of your script, not just in PDF format, but in the writing-program-of-your-choice format, so you can restore the file if the software fails to open.

Ever in a slump and can’t come up with an idea? Public domain is your friend. Either adapt a project, or use it as the base for your own interpretation (e.g. how EASY A was inspired by THE SCARLET LETTER).

Have you ever read a script where you thought “This writer really gets it”? If so, what were the reasons why?

The number of scripts I recommended can be counted on one hand. However, I have yet to encounter a project that was not salvageable, even those I scored extremely low. I encourage all writers to watch Toy Story 3: Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned to realize we all struggle to “really get it.”

How do you feel about screenwriting contests? Worth it or not?

Winning a contest can do wonders to boast the spirit, but winning alone will do nothing to advance a writing career, unless you build on the momentum. I recommend listening to Craig James, Founder of International Screenwriters’ Association (ISA) advice on Screenplay Contest Strategy.

How can people find out more about you and the services you provide?

I mostly read for agencies, studios and contests. Screenwriters often don’t want to hear the truth about their screenplays, they just want someone to say they’re great, as Josh Olson wrote in his article “I Will Not Read Your F*%!ing Script”. However, I have done quite a few free readings for aspiring screenwriters. They can find me through my website The Write Script, social media like LinkedIn and Twitter, or through the San Fernando Valley Writers’ Club, where I volunteer as a Board Member. Writers don’t have to pay big bucks for a quality reading. Join a writing group or a writing community like Talentville that tells it like it is, and swap screenplays.

Do your research if you plan to pay for someone to read your script, especially if they boast about recommending your material to their contacts within the industry. I once encountered a person advertising his reading services on known screenwriting platforms, stating he was a final-round reader/judge for the Austin Film Festival and an Emmy Award Winner. Since the prices he charged were low for someone with such experience, I researched his claims and found out they were far from true. This is not to say the person didn’t give good feedback, but writers can receive the same type of professionalism for much less, or even for free.

Readers of this blog are more than familiar with my love/appreciation of pie. What’s your favorite kind?

I have yet to find a pie I haven’t liked, and not for lack of trying. I volunteer as a tribute to boldly go where no pie lover has gone before to try new flavors. Has hazelnut chocolate cheesecake pie been invented? (Editor’s note: it has.)

A (not) pre-written Q & A with Michael Tabb

Michael Tabb

Michael Tabb is a working screenwriter, decade-long current and active member of the WGA (the Writers Guild of America, West is the Hollywood screenwriters’ union), a multiple-award-winning screenwriting educator, and author of a film-festival-winning Best Screenplay.

He’s agile enough to write horror for UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, family for DISNEY FEATURE ANIMATION, a period war epic for a production company at WARNER BROTHERS, and has worked with creative icons of all types, from comic-book legend STAN LEE to Academy Award winning actor, DUSTIN HOFFMAN.

His book, Prewriting Your Screenplay: A Step-By-Step Guide To Generating Stories, explains how he develops great, cohesive script ideas that continue to get him work, released by Focal Press, the entertainment-business division of Routledge, America’s #1 textbook publisher.

What’s the last thing you read/watched that you thought was incredibly well-written?

I recently watched the Netflix series Lost In Space and felt it did a lot of things right. The characters are really specific and strong, each with really unique qualities that separate them from each other. There was constant danger, whether through the hostile environment or the characters that found their way into the family’s graces (be they human or robotic). Meanwhile, each episode ends with a new and engaging development that hooks the viewers to binge another episode. Between Lost in Space and Stranger Things, I think Netflix is redefining the kind of television an entire family might gather around the flat screen to watch together.

Were you always a writer, or was it something you eventually discovered you had a knack for?

Star Wars sparked my imagination, and I was drawing and creating science-fiction stories by the age of six. In middle school, I handwrote ten 20-24-page short-form adventure stories of a starship crew called The Alliance inspired by Star Trek. Each chapter was a new mission. I explored superhero and horror spoofs earlier in my high school days until I wrote my first short (44-page) screenplay in a modern, contemporary setting for my final English Lit paper. In short, the more mature I became, the more my stories grew more grounded and closer to reality.

Even though I loved writing, saying I had a knack for it would be far too generous. I was certainly a storyteller, but I was always academically far better at mathematics than English. I did, however, have a knack for drama. I took acting classes at South Coast Repertory and was actively involved in my high school drama program for all four years, participating in every play and musical I could. Acting taught me how important it was to define your character from all the others and to keep the tension at a level high enough to make each scene compelling. Every character had purpose, and it was true no matter what scene or show I was doing. These lessons carry over into writing, but because I wasn’t a gifted English student in my formative years, I never would have suspected I could have a career as a writer. I always thought I was going to be a character actor.

It took me many years and tremendous insight from my teachers at USC, NYU, and UCLA to make me a decent writer. They all earned their money. The time I spent analyzing characters and scripts as an actor was very helpful, including studying at the Atlantic Theater Company in NYC, a brainchild of the great American playwright David Mamet. It took a lot of work to understand how to do each aspect of concept creation and execution correctly. The only thing that came naturally is my escapist imagination.  The rest was hard-fought, learned, and earned over years of writing and rewriting.

What was the script you’d consider gave you your “big break”?

I want to pause a second to say that I think the cliché of miraculously getting that one big break that changes everything is a terribly unhealthy and damaging fallacy. One opportunity may lead to another, and sometimes it doesn’t. Most working writers are constantly “breaking in” over and over again. Anyone who makes a living wage as a creative in this business is fortunate. Just remember, we do this job for our insatiable love of telling great stories. If that’s not your goal, it won’t be worth the amount of work you have to put into this job. Trust me. People have won Academy Awards and not gotten a job for years afterwards. So, if you get a break, save up so the money lasts the unpredictable draughts and keep writing.

With that said, I’ll reply by talking about the script that landed me my first paycheck as a screenwriter.

I was exceptionally lucky that the first screenplay I ever wrote is the one that landed me an agent and my first writing deal. Even so, it didn’t happen overnight. It took several years for it to get into the hands of those in Hollywood that could make a difference for me, and I had written around ten scripts between having written my first and setting it up with producers. The option on that screenplay has since expired, and I own that script again. I still wish someone would make it. It’s a high-concept swashbuckler in the spirit of Shakespeare in Love, The Three Musketeers, and The Princess Bride. It’s a fun-spirited, romantic romp set in the south of France full of swords, gallantry, and a sense of humor.

Taking a look at your bio, you’ve worked in a lot of different genres. Are there any that hold a special appeal to you, and is there a genre you haven’t worked in yet, but would really like to try?

I’ve written in every genre I can think of, most of which were for money, including: rom-com, drama, western, war epic, historical, biopic, science fiction, fantasy, crime, thriller, horror, supernatural, action, and adventure. I love each genre differently and deeply for the gifts each offers us. While I’m very proud of the diversity and breadth of my stories, it has also been my greatest career shortcoming. It would have been a far smoother journey if I picked a lane and stuck with it a bit more, but that’s not how I work.

The more you prove yourself a master of one genre in our business, the more people pay you to write it for them. As an example of this in another profession, when an extremely famous comedic actor gets the chance to play a dramatic role, they often take a big hit in the pocketbook. They don’t get paid the same as they do in the genre of his or her specialty. Even so, working without constraints and limitations is worth it to me. I have a solid batting average for landing writing jobs on which I get to pitch.

When I decide to write a story about something, I refuse to fit a square peg into a round hole. I’m not going to force my story into a genre because that is my specialty. I would rather pick the genre that I feel will be the best and most poignant reality in which to tell it. The story tells me where it must go. Right now, I’m rewriting two screenplays simultaneously, an ensemble reunion-of-old-friends drama and a supernatural thriller. The project before that, which is still being developed, was a period adventure television show. I love writing period pieces, sci-fi, action, adventure, and anything remotely escapist. I adore them all.

What inspired you to write your book Prewriting Your Screenplay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Generating Stories?

I had kept a long document of all the tricks of the trade that I liked using best. It ran almost three hundred single-spaced pages. I developed my own approach to writing by putting those tricks together in a certain order. Since then, I have never had writer’s block.

I work on multiple projects at once, and I’ve been asked by tons of writers how I do what I do. Though editing takes a while, others have always been blown away by how quickly I can create a strong and cohesive initial draft. They’d take me to lunch and pick my brain. Later, they’d tell me I changed their lives and approach to developing stories.

I adore giving back, helping writers. Helping one person at a time was great, but I felt I could do better. I got more involved at the WGA, putting panels together for the Writers Education Committee, and I co-created the first ever WGA Mentor Program in my spare time. I guest lectured and spoke when asked in classrooms and served on panels for writer conferences. Finally, I bit the bullet and agreed to teach an actual class online in Full Sail University’s online MFA program while still taking writing gigs for companies like Universal Studios. I’m also going to speak at the Central California Writers Conference in late September.

When I was asked to be on a panel for the Screenwriters World Conference in L.A., I told Jeanne Bowerman of Script Magazine about my 284 pages of notes I planned to turn into a book one day when I had the time. She asked me to write some articles I could use as a kind of running start to writing the book about my method. So, I did that to get the ball rolling. As I fleshed those articles into a full-fledge book, Full Sail University liked the published articles I wrote on character creation so much, they asked me to take over the Character Creation and Development portion of their online MFA Creative Writing program. Based on that, I knew I was communicating my method well, and I should finish the book.

I figured the book was the very best way of helping the most writers at once. In short, it all stems from the hope of giving back to my craft. I am only as good as I am because the writers who came before me taught what they had learned. My goal was to take that knowledge another step forward in the hopes that someday my book will not only help others, but it will inspire another great writer to take my ideas a step further as well. In short, human knowledge is all about continuing to construct our Tower of Babel, evolving our art form by working together to save the world.

Yes, I said save the world.

I believe storytelling is how we inspire others to invent amazing technology, see the world from new perspectives, and provide a deeper understanding of humanity. So, teaching others to write better is my way of getting others to create stories that change the way we think. When we change the way people think, we can change the way people will behave and treat one another.

My job as a writer isn’t to just tell a cool story and make some money. I wouldn’t need to share my tricks if that were my only goal in this trade. Storytelling is an incredibly powerful medium. Think about how it can bring people to euphoric laughter and devastating tears over events that never even happened and characters that don’t exist. As Spider-Man has taught us all, with great power comes great responsibility. Writers have the ability to make the world better for having written their stories. If I help other writers be more effective, I could be helping thousands of writers convey their impactful messages, bettering our world through teaching empathy, understanding, and the potential paths forward (or to avoid) in order to achieve a greater tomorrow for us all.

Yes, that makes all of you writers out there potential superheroes.

With so many screenwriting books out there, what is it about yours that makes it especially unique?

I always said if I’m going to write something, it’s not going to be something they can find anywhere else done the same way. We can’t help but work off of some universally accumulated knowledge, like genre, character types, and three-act structure, but we can strike out on our own by presenting how to assemble them in a new way. The knowledge is all out there, but it’s about how you put the pieces together and in what order.

So many screenwriting books call themselves a “step-by-step” guide, but when you try to apply the steps in the order they offer them, it’s not a fluid roadmap you can follow to construct a story. It’s not really a step-by-step guide. It’s a series of things that leave giant holes for the writer to fill in to get from one step to the next. There’s a lot of explaining what things are and how they work, but they don’t tell the reader how to create those things for themselves. In fact, it’s a lot of analysis. Don’t get me wrong. They’re very educational, but being able to explain and understand the material makes you a potential critic who understands screenwriting and how it works, but it doesn’t necessarily make anyone a writer. They’re simply a more informed reader. This is a great thing, but it won’t get someone who wants to write to the goal of writing his or her own screenplay.

Prewriting Your Screenplay is actually a true-to-form, step-by-step process by which you construct an original story (starting with absolutely nothing at all) through answering questions and completing exercises at the end of every single chapter until you have a complete and original story idea with the characters perfectly designed to serve that cohesive story. It’s an instruction manual for putting together a story with all the elements that should fit perfectly together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Then, the book ends by explaining how to do the whole process in reverse in case you’re in a situation of having to fill in the blanks of a preexisting story idea.

The process explains to writers how I create a well-formulated foundation for a movie, whether working from a blank page forward or having to reverse engineer a soul into a preconceived plot idea. I give all I know and can think of to share with you. I’m keeping no secrets because there’s never a reason to keep the logic of how things work secret. No two writers would execute the same idea the same way, so, even if you have my technique, you’d never execute it the way I would. It’s everything that I learned and use when developing a project that has kept me writing as a decade-long, current and active WGA member.

I thought it was very interesting that you use the word “prewriting” in the book’s title, as opposed to simply “writing”. What’s the reasoning behind that, and how does prewriting apply to the craft of screenwriting?

Put simply, Prewriting is the opposite of rewriting. Rewriting is the work a writer does on a script after the first draft, and Prewriting is everything the writer creates before he or she writes the first draft. This entire book focuses on everything a writer needs to consider before writing “FADE IN,” the old-school first words of a screenplay.

There are a ton of books that explain writing and formatting the actual script. Nobody needs to write another book that explains script format. It’s been done to death.

This book explains how to assemble everything a writer needs in order to write a screenplay. It’s the foundation a writer builds upon. There are many things a writer should figure out before leaping into an outline. Doing this work up front will save writers an enormous amount of time normally spent rewriting after the fact trying to make the story congeal. If time is money, this book can save writers a fortune in rewrites.

And because this book is strictly about how to develop a story concept with an incredibly strong foundation and structure, it is applicable to all mediums of storytelling. It’s a universal storytellers playbook for formulating a cohesive narrative. I’m a screenwriter, so the examples throughout the book focus on films, but the logic of my foundation development for storytelling applies to any and all creative writing mediums, including stage plays, episodic series, comic books, novels, video games, animation, and all other media. In fact, someone told me they’re going to start using my method to redesign history lessons to teach history to their students. It’s applicable to anyone who can use storytelling in whatever they do to be more effective.

No doubt a lot of aspiring writers will use your book to improve their skills. Is there a particular piece of advice you think every writer should know?

Uh… My brain just exploded. That’s a book in itself. It’s a series of books! That said, I offer you these 10 pieces of advice:

  1. If you think you can live a happily doing anything else except screenwriting, this business is so obscenely tough, do something else. With books, you can self-publish. With playwriting, the production is not allowed to change the work without the playwright’s permission. Even in television, there are far more opportunities, and the writers have more say. In film, the writers are hired guns and the director is the creative king. In television, the director is the hired gun, and it’s the writers who develop the show and its seasons. I intend to make that jump when the timing is right, too.
  2. Write what you love and would pay to see, not what’s trendy.
  3. Rejection is common, and you should never take it personally. When you’re starting out, people are hesitant to bet on someone lacking experience. You need 50 to 100 rejections in order to get 1 yes. Even if you are not a good writer yet, you may find someone newer to the industry. This person may get what you’re trying to do and wants to work with you.
  4. Never argue about feedback with anyone giving you feedback as a friend or to help. You can ask questions for clarity, but once you understand the notes, thank the note giver profusely and shut the fuck up. Never argue. If you disagree with the notes, you simply don’t apply them. They’re bound to give you one or two notes that lead to a good change. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
  5. 99% of the time the note giver is correct that there is a problem where they said a problem occurs in your script. 99% of the time, the solution they offer is incorrect. The difference between the note-giver and you is that you are the writer of this story. You will need to figure out how the problem needs to be fixed in order to best serve the story you want told.
  6. Even a horrific writing experience or partnership is a good experience if you learn something meaningful from it.
  7. When you agree to work with someone, get the full terms of your understanding in writing, even a cowriter.
  8. Get in shape. I hate to admit it, but the entertainment business is a ridiculously shallow industry. People hire people they would want to spend time with, of course, and people want to spend time with those who look good and have the confidence that looking good provides them.  You do not have to be attractive; you just need to be the best version of you.
  9. You cannot be afraid to say no and walk away from a deal or offer. If the material isn’t getting you fired up, or the offer is going leave you feeling un-collaborative, it’s best not to engage in something you don’t feel really good about because that will leave an impression. You’ll just ending up not delivering and burning bridges, and there are only so many bridges in Hollywood because it’s such a small industry. Saying no to things you do not feel engaged by is actually a very good business decision. I recently had a dear friend bring me a project with big name people involved. I read the script and instantly knew it wasn’t for me. Friends and industry professionals understand and respect someone that isn’t desperate. They smell desperation from a mile away and find it repulsive.
  10. Always be working on multiple projects at a time. That one actually comes from Robert Zemeckis. I like to work on three. Producers have a slate of projects because they never know which one is going to get momentum or when it will happen. So should you. You never, as an artist, want to put all your eggs in one basket. That leaves the writer feeling desperate, and you know how Hollywood feels about people who are desperate.

You’re listed as serving on the WGA’s Writer’s Education Committee. What is that, and what sort of things do they do?

There are several committees on which WGA members may serve. Some focus on diversity groups and others on general membership. One of the latter is the Writers Education Committee. It was created in 2002 to develop programs that provide WGA members with practical, insider knowledge about how the industry works and how it is changing, emphasizing tips and tools to help writers succeed. The goal is providing the most up-to-date working knowledge for writers.

I’ve chaired and served on a ton of panels for the WEC about the most current trends on going from spec script to studio green light, packaging, multi-platform storytelling, getting writing work with overseas producers, pitching in Hollywood, etc. Any WGA member can join the WEC, run ideas for educational events by the committee, assemble a sub-committee (if approved), and create the event of his or her own design.

You’ve also done a lot of lecturing and moderated panels about screenwriting. Are there any particular points or lessons you make sure to include as part of those?

Be true to you. The only thing no other writer in the world can do is be you. Figuring out who you are, what you stand for, and the original things you want to say to the world before you die will make you a one-of-a-kind writer in this or any industry.

Readers of this blog are more than familiar with my love/appreciation of pie. What’s your favorite kind?

This is like asking that genre question again or asking someone to pick a favorite child. It’s just not right. I love rhubarb, coconut cream, apple, pumpkin, banana cream, mixed berry (any berry really – blackberry, boysenberry… is cherry a berry?), and don’t forget the oddly reptilian-named Turtle and Grasshopper pies. So long as it’s filled with something tasty, how can you go wrong? It’s pie. As long as it’s not from Mrs. Lovett’s Pie Shop in London, I’m game.

Sweeney Todd

I would like to add one more thing. The shocking and most wonderful thing for me so far has been the reception my book has received when requesting consideration for an endorsement. You can see a bunch of their responses on the Amazon page under EDITORIAL REVIEWS, including the creators and/or show runners of such shows as Lost, The Big Bang Theory, Hawaii Five-0, The Orville, screenwriters of the Dark Knight trilogy, Star Trek reboot, Beauty and the Beast, Guardians of the Galaxy, icons like Stan Leeand the most recent president of the WGA. After that are the endorsements from educators at AFI, USC, UCLA, NYU, and many more. You can read what they are saying and pre-order my book at: https://amzn.to/2HOMVFg.

Ask an Agent-turned-Script Consultant!

Michele Wallerstein

The latest in a series of interviews with script readers and consultants who would be worth your while to work with if you want to get your script in shape. Today’s spotlight is on Michele Wallerstein.

Screenplay, Novel and Career Consultant, Michele works with writers to help get their work into shape so that it is marketable for the Hollywood community and/or the publishing world. Michele’s career consulting consists of critiquing your projects and/or having personal career conferences to answer questions that writers have about their creative work as well as questions about the business side of their creative life. Michele is the author of: “MIND YOUR BUSINESS: A Hollywood Literary Agent’s Guide To Your Writing Career”.

Prior to becoming a Consultant, Michele was a Hollywood literary agent where she represented Writers, Directors and Producers in Motion Pictures, Movies for Television and Television Series and has sold $1 Million spec scripts. Michele served as Executive Vice-President of Women In Film and was on the Board of Directors for many years. She owned The Wallerstein Company and guided the careers of writers such as Larry Hertzog (Tin Man, La Femme Nikita, 24), Christopher Lofton (Robinson Crusoe, Call of the Wild, Scarlett, True Women), Peter Bellwood (Highlander, La Femme Nikita), Bootsie Parker (Booty Call, Married, With Children, The Hughley’s), and many others.

Michele has been a Guest Speaker at numerous Film Festivals, Pitch Fests and Writer’s Groups all across the country. She teaches the ins and outs of the business of your writing career as well as how to get the most out of your material.

1. What’s the last thing you read/watched that you thought was incredibly well-written?

I adore the writing on “Downton Abbey” on PBS. Their character delineations are superb. The dialogue makes the stories come alive. Unfortunately, I rarely go to theaters for movies because most of them don’t seem to be made for grown-ups.

2. How’d you get your start reading scripts?

I began reading scripts about 100 years ago when I was an assistant to a literary agent. After becoming an agent, I continued to read everything I could get my hands on. These experiences gave me a world of knowledge and have been a great help to me as a screenplay consultant.

3. Is recognizing good writing something you think can be taught or learned?

I’m not so sure it can be taught or learned. Anyone can learn the basics of screenwriting by taking classes and reading some of the many books available. However, understanding human nature and the psychology behind people’s actions and reactions comes with life experiences. If one doesn’t understand these things they will never get the importance of great dialogue.

4. What are the components of a good script?

In my experiences as an agent and as a consultant I find that adhering to the basic 3-act structure is invaluable. Along with that a writer must be able to write characters with heart, feelings, emotions and individual personalities. Grammar, spelling and syntax are also keys to good writing.

5. What are some of the most common mistakes you see?

I often find that the characters are uninteresting and I don’t care about any of them. It’s also common to find people who try very hard to write something unusual and it comes across as too complicated, far-fetched or dull. If written well, a thriller, mystery, love story or romantic comedy can be a standout showpiece for a good writer.

6. What story tropes are you just tired of seeing?

I’m quite tired of action films and films with an abundance of blood and guts. Too many people have become dulled to violence and those scripts are written without decent stories or characters.

7. What are the 3 most important rules every writer should know?

-Follow the accepted 3-act structure.

-When writing spec scripts it is a good idea to do at least 3 in the same genre.

-Have your scripts read by vetted professionals prior to trying to land an agent.

8. Have you ever read a script that was an absolute, without-a-doubt “recommend”? If so, could you give the logline?

When I was an agent I read a spec by a new, young writer that knocked me out. It was a love story with lots of fantastical action about the discovery of the Garden of Eden. It was gloriously written and I sold it for close to $1 million within 2 weeks of reading it.

9. How do you feel about screenwriting contests? Worth it or not?

Contests, pitch fests, seminars etc., can all be very worthwhile if one knows how to make contacts and to follow up with those people. It is a great place to meet executives who can help move your writing career forward. I explain this in detail in my book “MIND YOUR BUSINESS”.

10. How can people get in touch with you to find out more about the services you provide?

I am always happy to help writers and they can email me at: writerconsultant67@gmail.com. I have a monthly blog for writers: www.wwwconsulting.blogspot.com. Writers can also check out my online course Moving Your Writing Career Forward via Screenwriters University.

11. Readers of this blog are more than familiar with my love/appreciation of pie. What’s your favorite kind?

I do love warm peach pie with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Ask an Extraordinarily Insightful Script Consultant!

Andrew Hilton

The latest in a series of interviews with script readers and consultants who would be worth your while to work with if you want to get your script in shape. Today’s spotlight is on Andrew Hilton, aka the Screenplay Mechanic.

Andrew Hilton grew up in the U.K. and studied film in England and New York, before working in motion picture development at almost every major studio. Having read more than 13,000 scripts, he is one of the most highly-regarded independent screenplay analysts in the film industry.

Andrew’s first produced credit as a screenwriter was the psychological thriller FATAL TRUST.  He also rewrote and Co-Produced the indie thriller BRAKE, and served as a Co-Executive Producer on the feature documentary WHY WE RIDE.  Andrew also has several feature projects in active development, including his own big-budget action picture BULLET RUN and the Dickens-inspired action thriller THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS PAST.

What’s the last thing you read/watched that you thought was incredibly well-written?

While I’m more of a feature guy, I love that NEWSROOM is back on TV. At least in terms of dialogue, there are very few screenwriters on Aaron Sorkin’s level. He has the ability to craft dialogue exchanges that are as mesmerizing as any action sequence. Some criticize the heightened reality of his rapid-fire, snappy dialogue, arguing that it’s contrived and inauthentic. Personally, I’m going to savor every episode of this final season.

How’d you get your start reading scripts?

I attended film school in the UK and New York, then finished my final year of university in Los Angeles so I could start interning at the studios. My first gig was working for a producer at Universal and I spent six months reading scripts for him. I then moved to Warner Bros. and worked in the story department of one of my favorite producers, Joel Silver (DIE HARD, LETHAL WEAPON, etc.). After six months there, I landed my first paying job at Paramount, as a Story Editor for Mario Kassar (FIRST BLOOD, TERMINATOR, etc.). It was there I began teaching others to write coverage and really honed my story skills.

Is recognizing good writing something you think can be taught or learned?

The ability to recognize good writing can be learned, but recognizing a good movie is a skill far fewer people possess because it’s partly instinctual. Consequently, there are many agents, producers and actors in the industry who struggle to recognize a good script. That’s one of multiple reasons why so many sub-par projects get off the ground. Often, producers and studio execs are throwing stories against the wall (or into theaters) to see what sticks. On the flipside, there are people in the industry – from readers to top producers – who consistently find that diamond in the rough. 

What are the components of a good script?

It really all comes down to two things: Can this story entertain an audience for a couple of hours? Is that audience going to be big enough to turn a profit? It’s that Goldilocks balance of art and business, and reconciling that reality is one of the first goals every new writer should work towards. You could argue that there are good scripts which won’t be profitable at the box office, but who is that script “good” for? It might make a solid writing sample, but a genuinely good script is one that’s well-written and will make some serious coin in the marketplace once it’s produced.

So what specific components in a script will ensure the audience is entertained? An interesting protagonist is essential. We don’t necessarily have to like the hero, but it’s crucial we find them interesting. Ideally, the screenplay will also feature compelling conflict, engrossing dialogue, and a brisk pace which holds our attention. The end game is to ensure the audience leaves the cinema feeling completely satisfied. Nobody likes leaving a restaurant hungry, and nobody enjoys leaving the multiplex feeling as if they just wasted $15 on a crappy film.

What are some of the most common mistakes you see?

Overwriting the narrative to the point where clarity suffers is very common. Screenwriting is somewhat unique in that one of the best traits a scribe can have is efficiency of language. Don’t use twenty words to describe something when ten will do. Don’t try and impress anyone with your vocabulary or your grasp of metaphors and similes. Just write the most compelling and vivid movie using the fewest words.

What story tropes are you just tired of seeing?

Anything post-apocalyptic is becoming tiresome. MAD MAX was released in 1979 and the spec marketplace is still saturated with clones.

Ditto for “man on the run” stories. Whether the hero is in possession of a flash-drive, witnessed a crime, or underwent some kind of experiment, these screenplays always follow the same structure and climax. There’s often a foot chase in a subway and the protagonist almost always ends up sleeping with the love interest in a hotel. I read one or two of these most weeks.

I’m happy to read big expensive sci-fi epics, but 99.99% of the time the author needs to realize they’re writing it for themselves because it’s not going anywhere. If nobody in this town knows you and the story isn’t based on an existing IP, where’s the $200m budget going to come from?

Another common formula is the comedy about the dishonest hero. Often, these are romantic comedies which feature the protagonist misleading or lying to the love interest. The charade has to be maintained throughout Act II, at which point the love interest learns the truth and shuns the hero, leading to a climatic reconciliation (often a race to an airport).

All that said, if you have a unique conceptual twist, or craft one of these stories in a genuinely fresh and commercial way, there are still plenty of potential buyers out there. Clichés often become clichés because they work repeatedly. It’s also worth pointing out that this is where an experienced story analyst can be most useful. Some people rail against spending money on coverage, but I’ve read well over 7000 screenplays so I might be able to tell you how often I’ve seen a specific idea before and can give you suggestions on how to make your work differ from past fare.

What are the 3 most important rules every writer should know?

Not “rules” per se, but…

Know your audience.

Don’t bore anyone.

Always remember a complete stranger will eventually have to write a huge check to make your story come to life. They’ll want that money back.

Have you ever read a script that was an absolute, without-a-doubt “recommend”? If so, could you give the logline?

I used to read approximately 70% of major theatrical releases when they were still at the script stage, either for production companies or foreign distributors. Hence, I’ve done coverage on everything from THE SIXTH SENSE to THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Many of my clients have written great projects too, most recently Jesse Chatham with LAND and Bao Tran with THE PAPER TIGERS.

How do you feel about screenwriting contests? Worth it or not?

Some are worthwhile, e.g. the Nicholl, but most are akin to entering the lottery. If you’ve written a genuinely brilliant piece of work, it may still go unnoticed because most contest judges are inexperienced and all of them are underpaid. However, there are enough lightning strikes to keep the contest industry alive, and if a writer can afford it I see no harm in rolling the dice. More often than not, it’s akin to a farm program where a small-time manager or agent may discover you. If you’re considering the contest world, target the established ones which have a good reputation.

How can people get in touch with you to find out more about the services you provide?

My website www.screenplaymechanic.com, my Mechanic Facebook page, or simply email me at screenplaymechanic@gmail.com.

Readers of this blog are more than familiar with my love/appreciation of pie. What’s your favorite kind?

I’m going savory on this one. Steak and ale (with a pint, of course).