Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Romance
A teenage girl who grew up in a cult based on the biblical myth of Eden falls in love with an intruder from the sinful world outside the garden walls.
CAST LIST:
Judith: Zena Driver
Narrator: Val Cole
Edie: Amrit Kaur
John: Jolly Amoako
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure
After an experiment to cure PTSD goes awry, one of fifteen people is now able to read the President’s memories — and the race is on to find out which one it is before national security is blown all to hell.
CAST LIST:
Susan: Jane Smythe
Daryll: Rais Moui
Narrator: Hugh Ritchie
Jerrison: Scott McCulloch
Manny Cheung: Tim Paul McCarthy
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
After an experiment to cure PTSD goes awry, one of fifteen people is now able to read the President’s memories — and the race is on to find out which one it is before national security is blown all to hell.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
A present-day science-fictional thriller.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It’s a fast-paced thriller with an African-American lead and some thoughtful social commentary.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Exciting; relevant.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
2001: A Space Odyssey.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Three years.
7. How many stories have you written?
44 published stories; 23 published novels, including Hugo Award-winner HOMINIDS.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
“Yesterday” by the Beatles — a song about memories and regret, very apropos of TRIGGERS.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Honestly, the Trump administration: it’s almost impossible to tell a story about a fictional president these days when truth is stranger than any fiction!
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Paleontology.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Very convenient; fast and easy.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Glad to see a Toronto-based festival. The initial feedback was excellent and useful.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
 DISCORDANT – 1st Scene ScreenplayApril 2018 Reading by Ferdinand W. Gernandt |
 INDIAN COUNTRY – 1st Scene ScreenplayApril 2018 Reading by Troy Kelly |
 SANDS OF LANIKAI – 1st Scene ScreenplayApril 2018 Reading by Greg Blair |
 FEAR OF THE DOPPELGANGER – 1st Scene ScreenplayApril 2018 Reading by Jonah Jones |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Watch readings of the winning screenplays performed by professional actors:
 MYSTERY 1st SCENE Screenplay – THE COLD SLEEPERMarch 2018 Reading by John Lucas Bowman |
 ANIMATION 1st SCENE Screenplay – MARIE’S JOURNEYMarch 2018 Reading by Keith Famie |
 1st SCENE Screenplay – CHILDREN OF THE DUSTMarch 2018 Reading by John McCarney |
 FANTASY 1st SCENE Screenplay – ENTANGLEDMarch 2018 Reading by Sharon Powers |
 THRILLER 1st SCENE Screenplay – THE BLUE ROOMMarch 2018 Reading by Victoria Mitchell |
 TV 1st Scene Screenplay – TOUCHMarch 2018 Reading by Robert Cox |
 TV Best Scene Screenplay – WHAT THE HELLMarch 2018 Reading by Melissa Willis |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Submit your First Scene to the Festival: http://firstscenescreenplay.com
Watch the October 2017 1st Scene Script Winners:
 ADVENTURE 1st SCENE Screenplay – THE MONSTER HUNTERS CODE October 2017 Reading by Ryan Brannan |
 FAMILY 1st SCENE Screenplay – MY ATARI CHRISTMAS October 2017 Reading by Chris Parrish |
 1st SCENE Screenplay – DEFYING THE TIDE October 2017 Reading by Anna Bamberger |
 THRILLER 1st Scene Screenplay – BUNNYMAN BRIDGE October 2017 Reading by Colin K. Stewart |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Watch the October 2017 Winning 1st Scene Screenplay.
A gripping history of a young Jewish mother and her baby desperately hiding from Hitler, and a courageous German woman who offered her help.
Genre: History, Drama
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Laura Kyswaty
Meyer Fromm: Brandon Knox
Frieda: Premika Leo
Ruth Abraham: Julie McCarthy
Ruth’s Rabbi: James Boutcher
Old Man: Luke Robinson
Walter Abraham: Rob Notman
Housekeeper: Lindsay Rolland Mills
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Submit your First Scene to the Festival: http://firstscenescreenplay.com
Watch the September 2017 1st Scene Script Winners:
 TV 1st Scene Screenplay – KODAK MOMENT September 2017 Reading by John Cruz Alarid |
 TV 1st Scene Screenplay – CELTIC BLOOD September 2017 Reading by Richard William Masterson |
 1st Scene Screenplay – BROTHER’S MCSHANE September 2017 Reading by |
 FAMILY 1st Scene Screenplay – FOREVER CHARLEE September 2017 Reading by Hank Isaac |
 STUDENT 1st Scene Screenplay – THE BOXMAN September 2017 Reading by Alexander Beale |
 SCI-FI 1st Scene Screenplay – THE FLUTE OF PEACE September 2017 Reading by Gunel Asgarova |
 1st Scene Screenplay – SERAPHINA September 2017 Reading by Joe Tofuri |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Genre: Drama, History, Sci-FI
When a white slave owner suddenly turns black, and becomes enslaved, as he fights for his life and freedom, he learns that one cannot be judged by the color of their skin alone.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Val Cole
Martha: Mandy May Cheetham
Oliver James: Ryan Yusep
Knox: Allan Michael Brunet
Betsy Walker: Angelica Alejandro
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
The Legend of Jamestown is about a white slave owner in America during the 1800s, who turns black mysteriously, and in turn becomes a victim of his once profitable situation.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama and Sci-fi
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
This screen play should be made into a movie, because right now America is going thru a very racial period, with movements like Black Lives Matter and White Supremacy groups that are marching in the street, and in reality its sometimes hard for one person to understand another person’s struggle until they are in that person shoes, and this screen play reflects heavily on that.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Racial Awareness
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Saving Private Ryan.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
7 months.
How many stories have you written?
7 screenplays.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
The racial tension in America at present.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Focusing on only this script, I tend to write multiple scripts at a time.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about directing movies, I love being on a film set and being able to create imaginary worlds.
You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
FilmFreeway is a great platform I use them for all of my screen plays and movies. It’s user friendly and if I have any issues they get back to me quickly.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I was influenced to enter this festival because I love to see actors reading the script it helps me to see which lines actually work and which lines don’t work. I was excited to see a project with a very tense subject matter, received well by the festival. It can be a tender process writing about real life matters and getting a negative feedback, so it was nice to get good feedback on such a screenplay.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The Gate is an action/adventure about two boat rental operators who go hunting for their missing boat and get sucked through a magical gate and must find their way out before the predators there eat them.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Val Cole
Brian: Ryan Yusep
Hiram: Peter Mark Raphael
Officer Dees: Allan Michael Brunet
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
Two regular guys get sucked under a sandstone arch that is actually a time gate. They land 150,000 years ago in Pleistocene North America where they must stop the maniac who rented their boat from wiping out our hominid ancestors.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Fantasy and Action/Adventure.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It is such a fun movie, entertaining and funny, along the lines of Indiana Jones meets Jurassic Park (although it is after the dinosaur extinction when mammals became giants and man first appeared.)
How would you describe this script in two words?
Prehistoric safari!
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Probably the Princess Bride.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
About a year. Many revisions later…
How many stories have you written?
Lots. More than I can count.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
It has changed directions with suggestions from the writers’ workshop I am in, 5150 at The Academy of Film Writing. Peer reviews have been invaluable.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I volunteer at an animal shelter rescuing dogs. I have three at home presently.
You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
FilmFreeway is such a great way to enter contests, so easy and they let the writer know the status of each entry!
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I had never heard of a first scenes festival and was immediately interested. I like the idea that you must hook your audience in the first 10 minutes.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Submit your First Scene to the Festival: http://firstscenescreenplay.com
Watch the June 2017 1st Scene Script Winners:
 1st SCENE Screenplay – GOOD INTENTIONS June 2017 Reading by Sandy Tovray Greenberg |
 1st SCENE Screenplay – GRAVITY’S PULL June 2017 Reading by Robert Sivigny |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
First Scene Screenplay Festival 