Jarrid Terrell

THE SHOT is the February 2016 1st Scene Screenplay Winner.

THE SHOT by Michael DeMattia

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Jarrid Terrell
HUNTER – Sasha Rajamani

Get to know writer Michael DeMattia:

1. What is your screenplay about?

One hunter, who never speaks, journeys through a unique forest to discover its mystery.

“The Shot” is a science-fiction fantasy in line with “2001: A Space Odyssey”, in that it forces the viewer to make interpretations for themselves while utilizing time in a unique way. Because time is perceived differently by everyone, if executed properly, each person that watches this story unfold will see a *different film entirely*.

2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

“The Shot” should be made into a film because cinema, especially from a digital perspective, has never seen something that utilizes time in quite the same way. From a marketing standpoint, people have already proven with “The Revenant” for instance, that they will be willing to pay to see a philosophical story set inside a forest, away from technology. This is perhaps, the anti-version.

The academy has also shown love for these types of stories, and the twist on the end is bound to land, at the very least, a nomination for best actress.

3. How would you describe this script in two words?

Digital Poetry.

4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Avatar.

5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

About five years.

6. How many stories have you written?

I’ve written countless scripts since dropping out of Emerson, ever trying to hone my craft and teach myself knew techniques, but officially? Three. My next one for instance takes the opposite approach, being a dialogue-heavy, horror masterpiece that will scare the $%&! out of you. You have my word on that.

7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

The biggest influence on why this film was created was how much an enthusiast I for the whole “Film vs. Digital” war. Tarantino himself has made comments regarding how, if you wanted to write a poem, that you wouldn’t type it… you’d write it with ink instead. While his films are also part novels, mine is part video game. I really wonder what some of the film lovers out there would think of this “movie”.

8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

While I’ve been toying with the outline and concept for some years, it wasn’t until a freak accident that got me to sit down and actually figure out how the hell to execute a film that would make everyone who watches it, perceive it differently, from a time standpoint. One day I was just playing basketball with my brother, and somehow in going for a rebound at the same time, his finger went *through* the right side of my nose. I didn’t know the laws of physics worked that way, must have missed that class. So I’ve been suffering from this severed nerve, confined to the indoors, and just dealing with the most unbearable, excruciating agony. I’m not a complainer though, and just used it to create a journey through self-discovery, about struggle in its purest form.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Battlestar Galactica, Eminem, and Metal Gear Solid.

So say we all.

10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I’ve entered a few contests before, never to win but simply because I love constructible criticism. When I saw this contest, it stood out to me more than most because of the 10-page structure. I immediately understood what they were going for with it, and I wanted their feedback. The funny part is, when I received the email, I went straight to the criticism, completely oblivious to the fact that I won. Took me an extra day. Good thing I went back and checked.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Love what you do. It might sound cliche, but I’m a firm believer that people simply do what they want. If you want to make a good film, you will. Practice. Practice. Practice. And that goes for any art form or life pursuit.

—

Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: John Johnson

Submit your First Scene to the Festival: http://firstscenescreenplay.com

THE SINGING TREE by Marilyn Pesola & Peter Moss

SYNOPSIS:

From the darkness of war comes the need for one man’s salvation. Civilian stationmaster Kurt Hellmann can’t reconcile the atrocities of war. He blames himself for the death of 123 Jews due to a prank telephone call and, later on, envisions himself as the last Nazi mass murderer. The last straw is when the Nazis shoot the woman he loved, a Jew he had been hiding in his quarters until he could smuggle her out of the country. Too cowardly to stop Rachel’s execution lest he sign his own death warrant, he carves a swastika into his chest as a reminder that he couldn’t save her, then flees the war to seek salvation for all the wrong reasons. In the jungles of Brazil, blinded by the deep void in the center of what he thought were his values, he longs for punishment but does nothing when an opportunity presents itself – until the Nazi hunter of his nightmares shows up with his name on her list, the irony of which is that they become friends. Hellmann’s salvation finally comes from an unexpected source that reunites him with Rachel forever.

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Sedina Fiati
Hellman – Jarrid Terrell
Colonel Richter – Robert Notman
Lt. Becker – Steve Rizzo
Voice on Phone – Roman Spera
Soldier – Peter Nelson
Mother – Erynn Brook

First Scene Screenplay Festival

Submit the first 10 pages of your script, get feedback from professionals, and get your screenplay performed by professional actors. At least 2-5 winners every single month.

Watch the February 2016 1st Scene Script Winners:

1st SCENE Screenplay Table Reading – THE SHOT by Michael DeMattia

Watch 1st Scene Winner: THE SINGING TREE by Marilyn Pesola & Peter Moss