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Unable to talk to his crush without vomiting, a nervous nineteen-year-old decides to confess his feelings during a work convention, but finds himself conflicted when he hits it off with the hotel clerk.
Randall and Evelyn run a struggling furniture store in a quiet community. The peace is disturbed when a nervous would-be armed robber, Parker Ray, enters the store demanding money.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Laura Kyswaty
Randall: Geoff Mays
Evelyn: Kiran Friesen
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A serial killer who turns his victims bodies into works of art becomesfixated on a little girl. She has dreams of him and thinks he is her angel, her mother pays little attention to it until the girl makes a model of the murderer.
It’s a supernatural thriller slasher film where a new killer has come to wreak havoc and mystery in a quiet town by placing atrocious “totems” around. The story soon discovers that a single-mother and her child have some sort of connection to this killer; but why and in what way? As they scramble to unravel the mystery, the killer himself is dealing with his own EXISTENTIAL QUANDARY as to his own purpose.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
I feel as if this particular story is unique in its set up and its layout, and hasn’t ever really been done. I like to think I take influence from Wes Craven and revitalizing and breathing new life into what is known as a drawn out subject matter. When I write, I try to imagine a film I haven’t seen, or a film I would want to see as a full fledged idea. This is why I feel a new, original (in my eyes) story is one to be seen.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
Slowly intensifying.
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Quite a few: probably Nightmare on Elm Street (original) over 25-30 times, Scream about 20+, and Hocus Pocus about 40+ times since 1993.
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I started the first draft in my screenwriting class in Dec ’13, and it has slowly evolved over the years little by little-it still isn’t even fully complete.
6. How many stories have you written?
I’ve written about 5-7 short scripts, and 2-3 partial full features. Also, I’ve written quite a few short stories, not scripts, for various fiction/creative writing classes and 3/4ths of a novella.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
It actually came to me as I was reading a comic book that involved a former serial killer helping to analyze new crime scenes to help the police, yet he slowly starts to slip back to his ways—I’ll keep the title out to avoid copyrights. And I wanted to, in a sense, explore the psychological aspects of serial killings.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Still current. I was able to write the first 10 pages fairly quickly, but I am now only up to about 47 pages and haven’t finished.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Film studies/analyzing films. Or just general film viewing and collecting.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I’ve always been curious as to the start of this since it does involve dark subject matter and a child and her mother, so when I came across this festival through one of my many script sources I wanted to see if I was heading in a possible right direction and wasn’t too taboo or obscene. I was interested in grabbing the reader quick and taking a thrill ride through a killer’s psyche.
At first I was shocked that they actually understood where I was taking this and that I did a great job to convey the feeling of the story and leave questions for the reader to be wanting more. It felt good to know the script that is my most questionable actually is off to a great start.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Keep at it; collect stories, watch the world, write what you know and write what you want, not want the majority wants. Know what your specific audience you are writing for will be and don’t try to cater to everyone. Find your voice.
****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
LeGrand is about a celebrated French detective who mourns the death of his unrequited love and unable to stay in the place where everywhere he turns he’s reminded of her he plans to leave the country. When a dismembered leg turns up in his antique shop, a hedge for his retirement, LeGrand takes on a last investigation and follows clues to New York.
“Hellcat” is about a Pennsylvania state police detective who investigates a blackmail plot as it is going awry, various leads connecting a mysterious woman who once partially castrated her rapist.
A sniper who hunts an Air Force colonel for humiliating her on a botched cover up discovers he’s masterminding one himself when a man hunt for two gunman leads to the capture of an extraterrestrial pilot being held prisoner.
My goal for the next draft is to do a cross between Bonny and Clyde and Avatar. A colonel searching for the cure of a virus that transforms humans into their alien counterparts hunts a pair of gunmen who hold a teenage alien hostage. An alien whose mind might be the key to saving humanity.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The themes conveyed within the story are relevant and shouldn’t be ignored. People need to be reminded of the past. I believe in the phrase “History repeats itself” and no matter how much we avoid it, history always catches up. It’s like a broken record.
3. This story has a lot going for it. How would you describe this script in two words?
Almost there.
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
My favorite movie is Schindler’s List. I think it really set the tone for a lot of filmmakers over the past twenty years.
5. This is a very tight, emotionally engaging and fun screenplay. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Since 2013 or 2014. I don’t remember!
6. How many stories have you written?
I’m working on my 11th draft.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
The current state of our world and politics. I do base my stories on news headlines and feel some social issues that are still prevalent today have been put on the shelf to be disputed later.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I’m not accustomed to writing contained stories in which the protagonist overcomes all odds to defeat (or kill) the antagonist, so it was difficult to decide which characters would triumph. Also, I still need to work on my writing style because I think I confused some readers.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Photography, health and exercise, graphic design, traveling.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
The festival was affordable and the feedback I got was tremendously helpful. I’ll use the feedback to refine my writing style in the next draft.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It has humor, action, love, sacrifice and redemption—all the things that make a film interesting and watchable.
3. This story has a lot going for it. How would you describe this script in two words?
Heavenly Redemption
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Pride and Prejudice (directed by Joe Wright)
5. This is a very tight, emotionally engaging and fun screenplay. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
About one year.
6. How many stories have you written?
Four. Just submitted STARBOUND, my fourth to Wildsound (hope it does as well).
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I wanted to explore the flaws some angels might have and how far they would go to save two souls.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Balancing dramatic and comedic elements
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Travel. Observing people of all ages and cultures.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I wanted to see how professional actors would bring it to life. The feedback was good and uncovered a minor point I had overlooked.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Trust and continually refine your talent. Observe people of all ages. Listen and watch them as they deal with the ups and downs of life. Talk to old bartenders, big city taxi drivers and policemen. Ask them about the most interesting people they’ve met.
First Scene Screenplay Festival 