Watch the August 2016 1st Scene Screenplay Festival.

Halfway  by Lukas Hassel

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Julian Ford
RUSSELL – Shelly Antony
MOLLY – Alicia Payne

Get to know the winning writer: 

What is your screenplay about?

“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.

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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: John Johnson