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A black-hearted vixen lures an ambitious hustler into her mansion as he seeks out a forbidden love. When merciless thugs come to rob and kill, it’ll cost him his fortune to save her lost soul.
We lose our soul when we bury the dead without dignity and for the sake of manna. Two brothers are caught in a dilemma of conscience, to lose their jobs or their souls.
A high flying, arrogant female homicide cop is assigned a serial killer case that thrusts her into a downward tailspin. She struggles to close the case due too eerie connections she cannot explain. CAST LIST:
A black-hearted vixen lures an ambitious hustler into her mansion as he seeks out a forbidden love. When merciless thugs come to rob and kill, it’ll cost him his fortune to save her lost soul.
We lose our soul when we bury the dead without dignity and for the sake of manna. Two brothers are caught in a dilemma of conscience, to lose their jobs or their souls. CAST LIST:
It’s about devalued morals and the cheap currency of souls. People put so little value on their souls, they will trade them for a job and diminish the world they live in, as a result.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Contemporary Film Noir Drama
How would you describe this script in two words?
Dark Satire
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Casablanca
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Six months
How many stories have you written?
59, that I can lay my hands on, probably a couple of hundred.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
It began as a short story when I read about a change in the city rules regarding significant archaeological finds in building sites of the old city. I wondered what would happen if, in a competitive environment, something was found but hidden and then destroyed, to avoid costs and delays. Then I thought, given the type of locations being excavated and the changing face of Dublin, in terms of population and religions and changing social profiles,well, what if?
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
It was a completely new experience for me so I had to learn on the job, how to adapt my own story and then think in a new medium, film, and how a screenplay involves, at all times, action and movement. The Wildsound feedback was very helpful in those terms.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Film, luckily enough.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Learn to put some distance between you and your work. It makes it easier to absorb and use criticism to your advantage.
A high flying, arrogant female homicide cop is assigned a serial killer case that thrusts her into a downward tailspin. She struggles to close the case due too eerie connections she cannot explain. CAST LIST:
“Chasing The Wind” is about a tough female detective aspiring to become Chief of Police is assigned to a serial killer case and finds herself in a downward tailspin because she feels a eerie connection to the case.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Psycho -THRILLER
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The screenplay has elements of many emotions( empathy, fear, joy love etc). There is lots of action and surprises. The audience will enjoy the ride that this movie will have you on as the case is being solved. The twist at the end is good.
How would you describe this script in two words?
COMPELLING THRILLER
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
BABY BOOMER
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
1.5 years
How many stories have you written?
16
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I took a writing class at a local library for TV but my writing turned out to be more suited for screen.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Building a very strong protagonist, keeping the middle pacing
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am a Christian. I am very passionate about music. I am the choir director for 3 choirs at my church. I write, produce and direct christian stage plays that are touring over the Northeast.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
The screenplay is about two young boys growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the early days of the American occupation. When they grow up, their lives take two very different paths when one becomes a Taliban fighter, and the other, an Afghan Army soldier.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
In addition to being simply entertaining, I think it offers a perspective that hasn’t been portrayed in mainstream American cinema before. This is important because it allows us to connect and empathize with people we may have pre-conceived notions about, or
How would you describe this script in two words?
Tough sell.
What movie have you watched the most times in your life?
City of God. It changed my life.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
It took just under a year to write, with some small revisions here and there for about a year or two after.
How many stories have you written?
Stories? Hundreds. Screenplays? Maybe a dozen.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
The desire to express a point of view of this conflict that’s different than the one that’s been presented to us by large studios.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The research involved, i.e.: Afghan customs and traditions, politics, and Military accuracy.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
History, Movies, Psychology.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I submitted on a whim, actually. I had all but moved on from Kabul, and had no intentions of submitting it anywhere, but something about the reception of WILDsound captured my attention.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
“Halfway” is about those couples who fall in love, but then after a while if the relationship starts to fail, fall in in fear. Fear over what might happen if they choose to leave. The script shines a light on how and why people commit to mediocre lifelong partnerships.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It’s a movie that asks the tough questions in a fresh and revealing way. It’s funny, harsh, upsetting and claustrophobic all at once.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Confrontational. Fresh.
What movie have you watched the most times in your life?
Cabaret. (30 +)
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
From conception to final draft – little over 2 years.
How many stories have you written?
Seven.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
Observing friends and family make choices out of fear – choices elongating a pain that could have been prevented by courage.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Dramas are tough to get produced, and I kept questioning myself as to why I wouldn’t just focus on a horror script or some “sexier” genre. In the end, I simply had to write “Halfway.”
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
My acting career, my filmmaking trajectory, nature, my husband and family, human rights, politics, life…
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I liked the way you described your festival on FilmFreeway. The feedback was mostly spot on.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Discover what you are passionate about as an individual and write to that. Figure out what your point of view is as a person, and make sure that comes through in your writing. Know WHY you are writing something.
A teen romance thriller that takes place in a world in which everyone has nine lives. In this world of nine lives, an aspiring football player must risk all of his lives to rescue his girlfriend from the ruthless leader of a gambling syndicate who’s trying to fix the college football championship game.
It’s about a group of cunning high school seniors who try to outwit their wary principal in order to pull off the ultimate senior prank.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Whether we happen to be in high school or not, I think it speaks to the high school kid in all of us who secretly want to pull off the ultimate senior prank without having to face the consequences. It’s about rules and how some rules are meant to be broken sometimes. It reminds us that having good friends is important in life–even as we get older and you can never go wrong following your instinct.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
Funny and Original.
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Way too many to count. Titanic. I hate to admit it, but it’s true.
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
About 2 years.
6. How many stories have you written?
About 5-6.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
The most impactful experiences in my life were in high school. My teachers and friends taught me a lot about life and how to be a good person. I wanted to give back, so I decided to volunteer my time and tutor students struggling in the high school I went to. This script came out my own positive experience in high school and tutoring the students.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I work full time as a physician and take classes part-time at Academy of Art to complete my MFA. I wrote this script on my own time, so I would say the biggest obstacle was time, but like anything in life, you find time for what you love to do.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Teaching. I really like teaching high school students. I don’t get paid for it, but it is a real treat to go back to my own high school and teach in the same classrooms to the new generation of students. I also love to run!
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Like any writer, I go through extremes of what I think my script could become–the next oscar winning screenplay or the worst screenplay written…like ever. I entered to see if anyone else besides myself would actually like it! The feedback was really positive and motivating. It made me feel it could go somewhere. I started pitching it and got a request last week (which I know does not mean anything–the executive may not like it and then I’m back to sqaure one, but still it was fun to send it to him since I have never been able to get any of the scripts I have written in an executive’s hands…until now!)
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Everyone says write what you know, but I would say weave in what you know with what you want to see on the movie screen. Find a mentor and listen to him or her. Write as much as you can and read as many scripts as you can. Get coverage. Don’t ever send out your first draft. If you look at the success stories of many professional screenwriters, almost everyone has a unique journey which lead them to the big break. Professional screenwriters exist–so why can’t it be you? Life’s not a spectator sport–like my favorite high school teacher taught me–you have to go after what you want.
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Watch Table Reading of the July 2016 Winning First Scene Screenplay.
NINE SCARS by Kelly Crawford
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
A teen romance thriller that takes place in a world in which everyone has nine lives. In this world of nine lives, an aspiring football player must risk all of his lives to rescue his girlfriend from the ruthless leader of a gambling syndicate who’s trying to fix the college football championship game.
IN A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE HAS NINE LIVES, AN ASPIRING FOOTBALL PLAYER MUST RISK ALL OF HIS LIVES TO RESCUE HIS GIRLFRIEND FROM THE RUTHLESS LEADER OF A GAMBLING SYNDICATE WHO’S TRYING TO FIX THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
IT’S ORIGINAL, WITH A COMPELLING REMINDER THAT WE HAVE ONLY ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
ACTION PACKED!
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
THE RELUCTANT ASTRONAUT
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
ONE YEAR.
6. How many stories have you written?
TWO SO FAR.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
FIVE YEARS AGO I SURVIVED A BRAIN HEMORRHAGE AND BEGAN CONTEMPLATING MY MORTALITY. IN DOING SO I THOUGHT ABOUT A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE HAS MULTIPLE LIVES AND THAT LED ME TO CREATE “NINE SCARS”.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
GETTING CONFLICTING FEEDBACK ON STORY IDEAS.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
THE FEEDBACK WAS EXCELLENT. VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND HELPFUL. I ENTERED THE FESTIVAL BASED UPON THE NUMEROUS POSITIVE REVIEWS I READ ABOUT THE FESTIVAL.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
WRITING IS A CONTINUAL LEARNING PROCESS.
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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
First Scene Screenplay Festival 