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.
Synopsis: A rebellious New Yorker suspects his warehouse retail employer is controlling the minds of it’s staff and causing them to commit suicide. CAST LIST:
RORSCHACH, by Federico Franchi, Filippo Pierangelini
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: TV series pilot, sitcom
Lawrence Maietti, 22 years old, is in serious troubles and now has to quickly find some money. Unable to find work, he has an idea: trying to get the government subsidy by reason of insanity.
RORSCHACH, by Federico Franchi, Filippo Pierangelini
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: TV series pilot, sitcom
Lawrence Maietti, 22 years old, is in serious troubles and now has to quickly find some money. Unable to find work, he has an idea: trying to get the government subsidy by reason of insanity.
Get to know writers Federico Franchi, Filippo Pierangelini:
1. What is your screenplay about?
FF: The screenplay is about a guy who struggles to achieve his results. To do that, he takes questionable choices that led him in kind of a different world, a brand new mental hospital, Here, he’ll learn something about himself.
FP: Is the story of a young man that, for necessity, finds himself in something bigger than him and, through that, he grows.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a TV show?
FF: We think that this story could work very well as a TV Series because it’s funny and the characters can be seen in many different circumstances that will make people laugh. A lot. But the most important thing about it, is that there is an actual story behind the laughing, and is about decisions, growth and, in some ways, social, common, issues.
FP: Our idea is to do 20-25 minutes length episodes because we have so much material and there are so many potentialities that a movie would be too short.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
FF: Funny, crazy.
FP: Fresh, strong.
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
FF: Star Wars Episode 6 – Return of the Jedi, no doubt about that!
FP: Robin Hood: Men in Tights
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
FF: We’ve been working for three weeks to write this first scene and to create the whole concept of the series.
FP: Yes, three weeks.
6. How many stories have you written?
FF: This is my third story, but there are many more in my mind.
FP: Is my very first time writing something.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
FF: I think that I really wanted to see how far this story could go and how the characters would react in all the situations, because I think that, even if is written as a comedy, this story is deeper than it may seem at a first look.
FP: Curiosity in first place, but also the fact that, even if it started as a thing just for fun, word after word it became more interesting and I see the potential of that story growing.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
FF: We didn’t wanted to write down just some sketches, we wanted an actual story. And to make that we had to think about the motivations of the characters and how to make the events funny but also real.
FP: The fact that we had a beginning, a triggering event, and a sort of ending but we didn’t have any idea of how to connect these two parts.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
FF: I love music and sports, but most of all I read a lot. I’m always looking for good stories.
FP: Rugby, reading and politics.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
FF: We wanted a feedback, because we really believe in this project but you never know how really good it is.
FP: We discovered the festival casually and we wanted to try.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
FF: I suggest to study as much as possible, read every script and to always believe in themselves. Be humble, but aware of their own abilities.
FP: Don’t be afraid of telling every story that pops up in your mind. I think that you’ll grow up through this job, whatever happens.
Synopsis: A rebellious New Yorker suspects his warehouse retail employer is controlling the minds of it’s staff and causing them to commit suicide. CAST LIST:
A rebellious New Yorker begins to suspect his employer is brainwashing their staff, and the only antidote is to continually eat small doses of rat poison.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Puppets strives to be an entertaining, dark satire of our consumerist society. The neo noir elements give cinematic potential to this mature narrative. I believe this story does not patronize it’s audience with cheap sentimentality, and provides a rewarding escape from our lives.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
Dystopian Satire.
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Withnail and I
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
It took about 3 months writing characters, preparing story, then another couple of weeks writing and revising.
6. How many stories have you written?
3 features and 1 short.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I am interested in how much we are often defined by our job, and as is often the case in New York, our work becomes the only source of meaning in our lives. I became interested in a character who realizes this and becomes a negation in the work model.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
My main obstacle I always face with my scripts and films is finding the energy and time to dedicate to these projects around my day job. My hope is that at some point these projects will generate money to pay bills, but until then I must keep on grinding!
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am about to begin shooting a short film this coming June, which actually a short form version of the Puppets idea.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
The opportunity to get professional feedback was appealing, and provided me with an informed opinion on how I should improve the next draft of my script.
I did, however, receive feedback on another screenplay I’d submitted entitled The Great Suburban Showdown. Generally I’m rather appreciative of feedback, and I often will make changes based upon it.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Keep writing. Keep reading.
***
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
First Scene Screenplay Festival 