by John | Jun 9, 2017 | Highlights, Results, Updates, WMC, WriteMovies News
We are delighted to announce the Quarter-Finalists for our Spring 2017 International Screenwriting Contest.
Since the Bonus two-week extension in late May, we’ve had a lot of scripts to get through – but it’s been an enjoyable task reading through every one submitted – so thank you to everyone who entered the contest.
We decided against many competent works for a variety of reasons. Most were simply outperformed by other scripts at this stage in their development. Some were not suited for the cinematic medium, others conceptually flawed, and some lacked commercial appeal. But the enthusiasm and dedication from each writer is clear to see, and a lot explored genuinely distinctive territory that deserves further development. This should not be the end of the journey for anyone who submitted to us.
We hope that those who did not make the Quarter-Finals will stay in touch with us: very few writers secure an industry commission with their first few screenplays. We have enjoyed our exchanges with you and continue to work hard at making this site more relevant to your careers. Don’t forget that many of our writers got their careers going by using our consulting service: CLICK HERE
If you’ve sent us a revised version of a previous script but it’s still not gained the result you were hoping for, we recommend that you consider getting a consultancy on it from us. That way you can find out what we currently feel is holding your script back. And don’t forget our latest round of contests. You can get free entry to our main contest and the Featured Script of the Month when ordering a consultancy HERE.
So, here are the WriteMovies Spring 2017 International Screenwriting Contest Quarter-Finalists, all of whom will get re-evaluated and new eyes as we select our Semi-Finalists:
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QUARTER-FINALISTS |
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| ARIZONA, Natacha Astuto |
PERFIDIES, Bill Baber |
THE DAWN OF EVE, James Bingham |
LADY ON THE RUN, Virginia Bola |
ONCE A KILLER, Virginia Bola |
| TO DIE IN TAJOUTE, Virginia Bola |
THE CAGES OF CORCORAN, Virginia Bola |
TWO CHILDREN OF FATE, Ian Bonser |
INSURRECTION (Feature), Simon Bowler |
INSURRECTION (Pilot), Simon Bowler |
| THE 405, Patrick Byrne |
BLESSE, Bob Canning |
BURNER, Bob Canning |
THE GHOSTS OF LONDONDERRY, Bob Canning |
SEEMINGLY HARMONIOUS, Dengxian Cao |
| FELIX KERSTEN, Juniet Cedric |
CAPE ANGEL BLUES, Carl B. Clark |
ROAD KILL, Miles Colella |
MARIGOLD, Lisa J. Cristoforo |
AMERICAN HUNGER, Victor de Oliveira |
| CRAZY WITH LOVE, Ronald L. Ecker |
THE ASHERAH, Ronald Ecker |
COLONIALS, Ian Fletcher |
ROCK BOTTOM, Mark Flood |
DRAGONS, Jason Ginsburg |
| THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GEORGE BAILEY, Phillip Hardy |
NOBODY’S TRACKS, Guy Harvey |
PEANUT, Manny Jimenez Sr. |
CHOKE JOB, David Johnson |
THE FACTION, Kevin Karp |
| CHARMER, David Kurtz |
FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, David Kurtz |
GAMERS, Travis Lemke |
MYSPACE LOVE, Christophe Lourenço |
NEVER A WORD OF A LIE, Karl Mather |
| LOVE CRUSH, Hamilton Mitchell |
THE LOCKSMITH, Jeffrey Morales |
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, Terry Needham |
LAST RIDE OF METRO 313, Michael Neyland |
TABLE FOR FOUR, Jim Norman |
| DEPARTING O’HARE, Bill Papa |
SHINE YOUR EYES, Clint Pearson |
MALE DELIVERY, Paul Penley |
THE LOSING GAME, Bernhard Riedhammer |
HERE, THEN THERE, Paul Sargia |
| UP THE MAST, Andrew Smith |
THE LORDS OF FARHAVEN, Michael Snow |
RICHER THAN A WHITE MAN, Christine Stevens DeLorenzo |
John Smith, IRON MAIDENS |
THE CHERRY ROOM, Christine, Stevens DeLorenzo |
| BLACKBERRIES IN THE DREAM HOUSE, Patrick Towne and Diane Frank |
THE SECRET OF BANRION WOOD, Persephone Vandegrift |
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THREE WISHES, Rita Wheeler |
LOVING MY ENEMY, Maria Rosario A. Yano |
by John | Jun 5, 2017 | Featured Script of the Month, Highlights, Our Winners, WriteMovies News
We are proud to be able to announce LAST RIDE OF METRO 313 by Michael Neyland as the winner of our Featured Script of the Month for scripts submitted in May 2017.
This bonus prize has been created to reward and develop the most interesting script we receive in the previous month, and the result has no bearing on the result of other entries to any of our competitions. As always, it was an interesting challenge to pick the most interesting script from such a wide variety of scripts written to a high-quality, but Michael thoroughly deserves this.
For winning the Featured Script of the Month, Michael receives free Judging Feedback, plus a free resubmission for a redrafted version of his script, LAST RIDE OF METRO 313, to our upcoming Summer 2017 Competition! On top of that, we give Michael and his script the kind of publicity that our previous Monthly Contest winners have received.
Honorable Mentions:
VEIL, by Harlan Banks.
THE LOCKSMITH, by Jeffrey Morales.
AMERICAN HUNGER , by Victor de Oliveira.
Here’s a quick bio on Michael:
Michael is a married, father-of-one with a cat (a large, furry, and very floppy cat).
He studied English, with a focus in Creative Writing, at FSU before shifting over into animation and design, graduating from Full Sail University with a MFA in Media Design in 2010. He now works full time as a graphic and broadcast designer and co-owns a design company (Infidium, LLC) with his wife, Susan.
Writing has always been a large part of Michael’s life – he’s been writing short stories and comics since as long as he can remember. But it wasn’t until fairly recently that the pursuit became more than just a hobby, largely by the encouragement and support of his wife (who is an invaluable source for creative – sometimes brutal, but always honest – feedback). And, with more than 40 outlines already written, he’s eager to build off his experiences working on “Last Ride of Metro 313,” and turn these outlines into completed projects.
His screenplay, “Last Ride of Metro 313,” is the first step in a larger universe of stories in the contemporary fantasy/horror genre.
Michael and his family live in Northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC.
Here’s a quick synopsis on the script itself:
Passengers on a commuter bus become stranded during a storm and must work together to survive strange and unnatural creatures.
Congratulations once again to Michael for winning the Featured Script of the Month! To be in with a chance of winning the Featured Script of the Month yourself, all you have to do is submit your script to a contest (CLICK HERE) or order a consultancy package (CLICK HERE) and you’ll be entered into the Featured Script of the Month FOR FREE!
by John | May 22, 2017 | Writing Insights
These WriteMovies Writing Tips will help with your struggles to go beyond the first part of the script – the stumbling block can often be going further..
“They say it is the first step that costs the effort. I do not find it so. I am sure I could write unlimited ‘first chapters’. I have indeed written many” J. R. R. Tolkien.
The idea, the first page, that first act can all come so easy to use, but the stumbling block can quite often be going further. Every story has a beginning, middle and end, but we never anticipate that the middle will be the tough part – yet it is. As writers, we may know where our story starts and where it ends, but getting from A to B can be difficult.
But don’t stop writing – keep pushing forward. If you don’t know what to write next we suggest two options:
- Go back to your outline, or create one if you haven’t already. Some don’t need one, but it’s so helpful to have one.
- Write what you DO know is going to happen, then fill in the blanks later. This might not be the most conventional work around, but if this helps you finish that script then what does it matter!
Use this for motivation this Monday to finish that script that never got past the first ten pages, or that book that is only a chapter old – then take a chance on it and enter it in the Spring 2017 Contest…
Exclusive to WriteMovies – To syndicate this content for your own publication, contact ian (at) writemovies dot-com.
© WriteMovies 2017
by John | May 8, 2017 | Featured Script of the Month, Our Winners, WriteMovies News
We are proud to be able to announce IDLE OF MAN by Joseph Campbell as the winner of our Featured Script of the Month for scripts submitted in April 2017.
This bonus prize has been created to reward and develop the most interesting script we receive in the previous month, and the result has no bearing on the result of other entries to any of our competitions. As always, it was an enjoyable challenge to pick the most interesting script from such a wide variety of scripts written to a high-quality, but Joseph’s certainly catches the eye.
For winning the Featured Script of the Month, Joseph receives free Judging Feedback, plus a free resubmission for a redrafted version of his script, IDLE OF MAN, to our latest main Competition! On top of that, we give Joseph and his script the kind of publicity that our previous Monthly Contest winners have received.
Honorable Mentions:
FAITH by Patrick Gamble.
NOBODY TRACKS by Guy Harvey.
HALLUCINATIONS by Mohammad Sadeghifard.
Here is a short biography on Joseph…
My name is Joseph Campbell. I am a highly imaginative Screenwriter/ Director. I began my interest in entertainment in theater, this is where i was able sculpt my knowledge of storytelling and directing. I aspire to be known for my Sci-fi/ Fantasy films for their dynamic and compelling story lines. I have always been a fan of really detailed Science fiction films especially the ones that were emotionally driven. This is what inspired me to begin the independent production company J. Wolfe. Productions.
Another venture that I have founded is a non-profit organization called The Lupo Production Company. There I and my Officers will conduct free Acting and Filmmaking classes for underprivileged youths in the surrounding Los Angeles area. Providing a safe place for children to learn about film.
My passion for film as an art form keeps me striving to create original pieces. I am constantly writing new scripts to make my place known in the world of film. My mind is constantly churning out new ideas that i will eventually make into award winning projects. Soon to come is a play I have been working on, Royal Flush, a play that is sure to dazzle the audience.
And here’s a quick synopsis on the script itself:
IDLE OF MAN follows the life of a depressed psychiatrist who is all of a sudden abducted by aliens and returns seeking a new perspective on life.
Congratulations once again to Joseph for winning the Featured Script of the Month! To be in with a chance of winning the Featured Script of the Month yourself, all you have to do is submit your script to a contest (CLICK HERE) or order a consultancy package (CLICK HERE) and you’ll be entered into the Featured Script of the Month FOR FREE!
by John | May 5, 2017 | Studio Consulting, Trainees' Examples
An example script consultancy on a reading of GONE GIRL script, a film that starred Ben Affleck and Rosalind Pike.
“The script is long, but tightly constructed and there is no superfluous detail…” Extracts from a script report by our trainee Sandy chapman, based on a reading of the GONE GIRL script: If you want to learn more about the internship, too, just email info@writemovies.com.
To see the full industry-standard format we use for Studio Coverage, purchase The Confidential Studio Manual to get the inside track on how the industry will really assess and process your script (CLICK HERE)!
WRITEMOVIES STORY DEPARTMENT COVERAGE
TITLE: GONE GIRL LOCALE: Missouri
AUTHOR: Gillian Flynn SETTING: Urban
PERIOD: Modern FORM: SP
PRODUCER: N/A BUDGET: Medium
SYNOPSIS
Sinister voice over suggests Nick is a threat to Amy, but also that she is guilty of something. This is a tense relationship. Nick drives to the bar he runs with his sister, Go. It’s his fifth wedding anniversary. Flashback/Amy’s diary entry of when she met Nick at a party. There was an instant connection between them.
Present day, and Nick complains to Go that Amy’s anniversary treasure hunt will reveal all his shortcomings. Back home, Nick finds the front door open, the living room wrecked and no sign of Amy. Boney and Gilpin arrive. Boney recognises the ‘Amazing Amy’ books – her disappearance will grab the media spotlight. Gilpin questions Nick, who comes across as remote, detached. Police teams find ‘Clue One’ of the anniversary trail and evidence that Amy paid for everything the Dunnes own.
Nick heads to a press conference with Amy’s parents. He appears uncaring, is photographed smiling. Her parents have a big campaign launched. Boney wants Nick to solve the anniversary treasure hunt, to retrace Amy’s steps. They get as far as Nick’s office, where Boney finds a red lacy thong. Flashback/diary entry: Amy has given her parents most of her trust fund. Nick is unhappy as they’re both unemployed, but accepts the situation…
COMMENTS:
Amy’s disappearance, the inciting incident, occurs early in the script and is an immediate hook: will Nick be charged with murder? It’s already been revealed that their relationship had soured, and this, combined with a series of media gaffs, points the finger firmly at Nick’s guilt. Yet the opening voice over has already alerted us that things will not be as they seem in this script: we might suspect Nick isn’t guilty, but have no idea how he will prove his innocence. The script drips mounting evidence against him carefully throughout act one and the beginning of act two, from money worries to violent behaviour. The most damning evidence is his affection for Andie. Her appearance urges the audience to think that perhaps Nick is guilty after all, he’s certainly less likeable, and that perhaps we were wrong to be rooting for him thus far.
The audience are thrown another twist at the mid-point. Even if we weren’t convinced of Nick’s guilt, the extreme measures Amy took to frame him are incredible and the initial hook remains intact. The shift is that we are no longer in any doubt that Amy is the driving force behind this story, and behind Nick’s future. Her motives and actions are believable: she may act beyond the boundaries of ‘normal’ behaviour, but she is disturbingly real. Nick is forced to play by her rules, and in a last-ditch attempt to save himself appeals to any vestiges of love she may have for him. Amy responds, but in true Amy fashion her plans require more extreme action that will keep the audience enthralled. Nick may have proved his innocence, but he is, in effect, sentenced to a lifetime with Amy. The ending avoids the cliches and neatness that one might expect from the genre, but is completely fitting for the characters, adding depth to the story and drawing greater empathy from the audience.
The script is long, but tightly constructed and there is no superfluous detail. It retains the feel and the drive of the bestselling novel on which it is based and has the advantage of having been written by the same author…
To see the full industry-standard format we use for Studio Coverage, purchase The Confidential Studio Manual to get the inside track on how the industry will really assess and process your script (CLICK HERE)!
by John | Apr 27, 2017 | Studio Consulting, Trainees' Examples
An example script consultancy on a reading of MOONLIGHT script, winner of Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 2017 Oscars.
“This screenplay is beautifully written, the central theme elegantly expressed in an almost poetic style…” Extracts from a script report by our trainee Edward Smith, based on a reading of the MOONLIGHT script.
This example report was completed by Edward Smith as part of his internship with us, which has recently been successfully completed.
To see the full industry-standard format we use for Studio Coverage, purchase The Confidential Studio Manual to get the inside track on how the industry will really assess and process your script (CLICK HERE)!
WRITEMOVIES STORY DEPARTMENT COVERAGE
TITLE: MOONLIGHT LOCALE: Miami, Atlanta
AUTHOR: Barry Jenkins SETTING: Urban U.S.
PERIOD: Present FORM: SP
PRODUCER: N/A BUDGET: Low
SYNOPSIS
This screenplay is divided into three chapters, each focusing on a different stage of the protagonist’s life and titled after the name he is currently using; in the first part, aged twelve, he goes by the name LITTLE. Chased by a gang of bullies, he takes refuge in an abandoned crackhouse, where he is found by the drug dealer, JUAN. Little spends the night with Juan and his girlfriend, TERESA, and starts to become close to them because his own mother, PAULA, is neglectful of him.
When Juan discovers Paula doing drugs, they argue about raising Little, with Paula implying that he is gay. That night, having been confronted by Paula, Little goes to speak to Juan, asking him what the word “faggot” means and whether he is himself gay. Juan reassures him, but is then forced to admit, to his shame, that he is a drug dealer and that he has sold Paula drugs.
In the second chapter, the protagonist, now sixteen-years-old, goes by his real name, CHIRON. In the intervening years, Juan has died and Paula has become even more abusive, but Chiron still regularly visits Teresa. He is now struggling with his attraction to his friend, KEVIN, while also still coping with bullies – particularly his classmate, TERRELL…
COMMENTS:
This screenplay is beautifully written, the central theme elegantly expressed in an almost poetic style. It deals with an oft-overlooked issue, studying what it is like to be a gay black man, charting the struggles the protagonist faces in establishing his own identity in a culture that is hostile to his sexuality; this is dealt with both delicately and realistically thanks to the high quality of the writing…
By portraying three distinct stages of Chiron’s life, we are able to see the intricacies of his situation and better understand how he develops as a character. He is forced to change because of the physical and emotional abuse he suffers, with very few nurturing figures to help him. From being a gentle, vulnerable child, he violently lashes out against his bullies and eventually reinvents himself as a drug dealer to hide who he truly is. In the end, he is only able to come to terms with his sexuality because of Kevin’s influence, bringing him full circle back to his true self after all the challenges he has faced.
Each chapter also has its own, miniature three act structure. For example, the first chapter has an inciting incident when Little meets Juan; the first act sees them become attached to one another, the second develops their relationship, and the third deals with the conversation between them when Little asks about being gay. Similarly, the other two chapters also have a three act structure, allowing each one to stand on its own as an independent story – albeit strengthened and given context by the others.
To see the full industry-standard format we use for Studio Coverage, purchase The Confidential Studio Manual to get the inside track on how the industry will really assess and process your script (CLICK HERE)!
by John | Apr 7, 2017 | Featured Script of the Month, Our Winners, WriteMovies News
We are proud to be able to announce THE CHERRY ROOM by Christine Stevens DeLorenzo as the winner of our Featured Script of the Month for scripts submitted in March 2017.
This bonus prize has been created to reward and develop the most interesting script we receive in the previous month, and the result has no bearing on the result of other entries to any of our competitions. As always, it was an interesting challenge to pick the most interesting script from such a wide variety of scripts written to a high-quality, but Lisa thoroughly deserves this.
For winning the Featured Script of the Month, Christine receives free Judging Feedback, plus a free resubmission for a redrafted version of her script, MARIGOLD, to our latest main Competition! On top of that, we give Christine and her script the kind of publicity that our previous Monthly Contest winners have received.
Honorable Mentions:
INSURRECTION, by Simon Bowler
THE ASHERAH, by Ronald Ecker
DRAGONS, by Jason Ginsburg
Here is a short biography on Christine…
Christine Stevens DeLorenzo is a creative writer. Her scripts have won and placed in a number of competitions and film festivals in the United States and internationally. She wrote and directed the short, Book of Nyx. The trailer is available to watch at bookofnyx.com. Christine’s “Writer’s Resume” is also available to read and view there. A graduate in Creative Writing and Literature, Christine’s education has taught her that when you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing. When not writing, Christine volunteers her time helping and encouraging other aspiring writers and filmmakers.
And here’s a quick synopsis on the script itself:
THE CHERRY ROOM (Inspired by true events.) – An undercover cop, a writer, and the owner of New York City’s most famous gentleman’s club discover a sophisticated baby-making network that supplies elite pedophiles and satanic cults with prepubescent children.
Congratulations once again to Christine for winning the Featured Script of the Month! To be in with a chance of winning the Featured Script of the Month yourself, all you have to do is submit your script to a contest (CLICK HERE) or order a consultancy package (CLICK HERE) and you’ll be entered into the Featured Script of the Month FOR FREE!
