winning screenplays

1st Scene – AN UNBALANCED LIFE, by Kristy Leigh Lussier

1stscenescreenplay First Scene Script, Matthew Toffolo, winning screenplays , , ,

Genre: Drama, Sports, Romance

A female football prodigy makes history when she saves a failing program and becomes the first woman named head coach of a college football team​.

CAST LIST:

Jim: Rob Notman
Parent 1: Meghan Allen
Parent 2: Kyra Weichert
Narrator: Matt Barnes
Sarah: Lauren Kristina Maykut
Bill: Allan Michael Brunet
Sam: Jarrod Terrell

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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

Watch the May 2018 1st Scene Script Winners

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Matthew Toffolo, winning screenplays , ,

ACTORTHE THINGS WE MISS – LGBT 1st Scene Screenplay
May 2018 Reading
by Bonnie Brookby

ACTORTHE GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE BENTLEY GIRLS – FAN FICTION 1st Scene Screenplay
May 2018 Reading
by Elisa Herrman

ACTORTRIGGERS – 1st Scene Screenplay
May 2018 Reading
by Robert J. Sawyer

ACTORTHE PAPER PRINCESS – ANIMATION 1st Scene Screenplay
May 2018 Reading
by Stephanie Barnes

ACTORWAVERLY RIDING – FEMALE 1st Scene Screenplay
May 2018 Reading
by Carla Miles

ACTORTHE FIRST A.I. PRESIDENT – FANTASY 1st Scene Screenplay
May 2018 Reading
by Bernard S. Smith

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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

1st Scene Script Reading of TRIGGERS, by Robert J. Sawyer

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Uncategorized, winning screenplays , , ,

 

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

 

Watch the April 2018 1st Scene Script Winners

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Matthew Toffolo, Uncategorized, winning screenplays , ,
ACTORDISCORDANT – 1st Scene Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Ferdinand W. Gernandt
ACTORINDIAN COUNTRY – 1st Scene Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Troy Kelly
ACTORSANDS OF LANIKAI – 1st Scene Screenplay
April 2018 Reading
by Greg Blair
ACTORFEAR OF THE DOPPELGANGER – 1st Scene Screenplay
April 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

Winning 1st Scene Screenplays for March 2018

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Uncategorized, winning screenplays , ,

Watch readings of the winning screenplays performed by professional actors:

ACTORMYSTERY 1st SCENE Screenplay – THE COLD SLEEPER
March 2018 Reading
by John Lucas Bowman
ACTORANIMATION 1st SCENE Screenplay – MARIE’S JOURNEY
March 2018 Reading
by Keith Famie
ACTOR1st SCENE Screenplay – CHILDREN OF THE DUST
March 2018 Reading
by John McCarney
ACTORFANTASY 1st SCENE Screenplay – ENTANGLED
March 2018 Reading
by Sharon Powers
ACTORTHRILLER 1st SCENE Screenplay – THE BLUE ROOM
March 2018 Reading
by Victoria Mitchell
 

ACTORTV 1st Scene Screenplay – TOUCH
March 2018 Reading
by Robert Cox
ACTORTV Best Scene Screenplay – WHAT THE HELL
March 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

Watch the December 2017 1st Scene Script Winners

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Matthew Toffolo, winning screenplays , ,

ACTORAMERICAN SNAKE PIT – CRIME 1st Scene Screenplay
December 2017 Reading
by Dan Tomasulo		 ACTORDRAGONSONG – FANTASY 1st Scene Screenplay
December 2017 Reading
by
ACTORFRAMER – THRILLER 1st Scene Screenplay
December 2017 Reading
by Joann Hess		 ACTORSWIPE – TV 1st Scene Screenplay
December 2017 Reading
by Jeff D. Opdyke
ACTORLONG WAY HOME – COMEDY 1st Scene Screenplay
December 2017 Reading
by Patrick McGrath		 ACTORTOE TAG MURDERS – CRIME 1st Scene Screenplay
December 2017 Reading
by Carl F. Zimmerman

 

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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 1st Scene Script Winners

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Matthew Toffolo, Uncategorized, winning screenplays , , , ,

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

Watch the October 2017 1st Scene Script Winners:

 

ACTORADVENTURE 1st SCENE Screenplay – THE MONSTER HUNTERS CODE
October 2017 Reading
by Ryan Brannan

ACTORFAMILY 1st SCENE Screenplay – MY ATARI CHRISTMAS
October 2017 Reading
by Chris Parrish

ACTOR1st SCENE Screenplay – DEFYING THE TIDE
October 2017 Reading
by Anna Bamberger

ACTORTHRILLER 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 September 2017 1st Scene Script Winners

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Uncategorized, winning screenplays , , ,

 

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

Watch the September 2017 1st Scene Script Winners:

ACTORTV 1st Scene Screenplay – KODAK MOMENT
September 2017 Reading
by John Cruz Alarid
 

ACTORTV 1st Scene Screenplay – CELTIC BLOOD
September 2017 Reading
by Richard William Masterson
 

ACTOR1st Scene Screenplay – BROTHER’S MCSHANE
September 2017 Reading
by
 

ACTORFAMILY 1st Scene Screenplay – FOREVER CHARLEE
September 2017 Reading
by Hank Isaac
 

ACTORSTUDENT 1st Scene Screenplay – THE BOXMAN
September 2017 Reading
by Alexander Beale
 

ACTORSCI-FI 1st Scene Screenplay – THE FLUTE OF PEACE
September 2017 Reading
by Gunel Asgarova
 

ACTOR1st 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

Watch the August 2017 1st Scene Script Winners

1stscenescreenplay 1st Scene Screenplays, First Scene Script, Matthew Toffolo, Uncategorized , ,

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

Watch the August 2017 1st Scene Script Winners:

 

ACTOR1st SCENE Screenplay – WEBBED
August 2017 Reading
by Robert Drusetta

ACTOR1st SCENE HORROR Screenplay – SILHOUETTE
August 2017 Reading
by Lukas Hassel

ACTOR1st SCENE HISTORY Screenplay – THE LEGEND OF JAMESTOWN
August 2017 Reading
by Sherwin Allen

ACTOR1st SCENE ADVENTURE Screenplay – THE GATE
August 2017 Reading
by Della Vance Greenwalt

ACTOR1st SCENE CRIME Screenplay – THE BIRTHING FIELD
August 2017 Reading
by Robert Thorpe

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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

1st Scene Screenplay – THE GATE by Della Vance Greenawalt

1stscenescreenplay First Scene Script, Matthew Toffolo, Uncategorized, winning screenplays , , , , , , , , , , ,

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