Synopsis:

Two ladies have been living together for many years. One of them, Maria, has to face an old family hostility for having chosen to live love…

Review by Victoria Angelique:

The short film, THE TWO SPINSTERS, begins with Maria in the kitchen to set the tone of the entire narrative. This is a woman who is burdened, afraid of everything except her ailing wife that lifts her spirit up on a hard day. Maria’s past has haunted her through her entire adult life, almost as if the only thing she doesn’t regret is leaving her family to be with her wife.

The story conveys a powerful message that life might not be easy, but it is worth it if there is someone to love. Maria’s composure appears weighed down, but that weight is lifted when she is finally able to stand up to her homophobic brother. Her wife supported everything she wanted, as Maria took care of her during her last days and it is implied that they have done this for each other for the majority of their life. 

Rarely do films look at homosexual couples that have been together for decades. This film showed the hardship that this lesbian couple have gone through as it is stated they got together before it was socially acceptable. The term ‘spinster’ was easier for families to explain why a female family member is living with another woman and it’s a moment of triumph when Maria is finally able to stand up to her brother after years of emotional trauma weighing her down. 

This is a powerful film that shows that when someone chooses a life of love, rather than yielding to familial pressures, that they can live a life of joy. Maria proves this as she takes care of her wife and makes it clear to her brother that she didn’t regret choosing to follow her heart rather than be miserable by following the societal norms that were in place when she was a girl.

Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/piece-of-cake

You may think that breaking up a wedding is a piece of cake, but sometimes you get a slice that’s fully loaded.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Val Cole
News Caster: Andy Camp
Gina: Hannah Ehman
Mike: Sean Ballantyne

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

Piece of Cake follows Gina and Mike as they try to stop her sister’s wedding. But they find out, that stopping a wedding is no piece of cake, and they get a much larger slice than they expect. It’s full of comedic twists and turns!

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Piece of Cake is written as a Comedy.

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

This script is fun, playful, and relatable. The very human feeling of wanting to conquer something, and destiny choosing a different outcome, is all too familiar. I feel like audiences would be pleasantly entertained with this piece.

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

If I had to describe the script in two words, I would use: Playful twists.

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

Bridesmaids. I feel like I embody all of the characters in this movie (including “Stove”).

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

I believe it’s been about 3 months, on and off. I work a “real job,” so I would write on my off times.

7. How many stories have you written?

I’m working on my 3rd Feature, and I have a two shorts, which I have submitted to some festivals. Mostly in Comedy.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I’m fuelled by music, so that is a hard question, but I would say any song that takes me on a journey. Florence + the Machine is a favourite artist of mine. Sometimes we all need a break from reality.

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

Every screenwriter faces obstacles when working on their scripts (that is what makes our writing great). Our daily interactions and struggles feed our work. I would say balancing my professional life, with having a toddler, and travelling for business, has been both challenging and empowering.

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

Besides writing, I am a family man, who loves being with my wife and child. Oh, and travelling. I love travelling!

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

FilmFreeway has been fantastic to use in marketing and submitting my scripts. It allows me to focus on my work, and easily submit to various festivals with one click.

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

I submitted to this festival because of all the amazing reviews. People said the feedback was game-changing, and I couldn’t agree more. The feedback I received was fantastic. The critiques both illuminated, and reaffirmed, changes I could make to have a perfect script. Very happy with the feedback!

Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/night-court-spec

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

It’s a spec script of Night Court on NBC. The episode that I wrote is about Judge Abby Stone, a sympathetic arbitrator dealing with the arrival of AI-powered lawbots in her courtroom. Because Abby relies on her heart and faith in humanity to make decisions she is more than disturbed by the soulless robots. Abby’s troubles are multiplied when she finds out that her Nightcourt cohorts actually like the robots. She fears that the justice system is losing its connection to humanity.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

30-minute Multi-Cam Comedy

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

Well, I’m not sure if it can be made into a movie. At least not without the permission of NBC and the Night Court production. But in a hypothetical scenerio where they would consider it, I believe it could make a great movie. With the spec script, I explored the coming reality of AI, especially in the courtroom. Which already exists. And the research I did do about AI or law-bots, suggested that it could be a big help to people who can’t afford legal representation. That being said, I’m far from being on Team-AI.

All this to say, I think the topic is significant to our times and audiences would be intrigued by a film about robots taking over a courtroom. If Night Court was to make a feature film, this could be a starting point. There’s a lot of room to expand on the creation of the lawbots and how they function in a courtroom. Like in real life, there are a number of positive possibilities with AI and robots. I believe that makes them an interesting antagonistic force.

A feature film version of this spec would have to dive deeper into the protagonist, Abby Stone’s conflicted relationship with the new technology. She’s someone who unapologetically acts and judges with her heart. Robots don’t have any hearts. But they’re not always wrong. I think that dynamic would be a lot of fun to flesh out into a feature-length film.

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

Robot Lawyering

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

I’d say it’s probably Back to the Future.

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

It was an assignment for my TV Comedy writing class at Cal State LA with Professor Ligiah Villalobos. So I’d say I worked on it for 4 months.

7. How many stories have you written?

Gosh, I don’t know the number or what counts as a story. I have written a lot of different types of scripts. Dozens of sketches. A couple of features. About 5 pilots. A few spec scripts as well. And hundreds of ideas copied down somewhere. Also, I’ve written a lot of poems that I’ve performed on stage. I consider those stories.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the

most times in your life?)

I love music. It’s a big part of my life. This is a tough question. For the longest time I would say my favorite song is Jimi Hendrix’s All Along the Watchtower. Sam Cooke is my favorite singer. The Beatles are my favorite band. Nowadays, I might say The Beatles’s I Am The Walrus is my favorite song. Every time I hear it, it still has the potential to surprise me or sound like something I haven’t heard before.

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

Deadlines and the coursework of other classes. When I wrote this in the Fall of 2023, I was taking more classes than I was supposed to and I was an intern at the New Filmmakers of LA. So finding the time to devote to the script was an obstacle. Also fitting in the B and C storylines was an obstacle. I like that obstacle but there were times when I was giving too much of the page to the C storyline and I had to cut down on that. I really enjoy writing for multicam and I hope I can find work in that TV format.

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

Sports, music and gardening. I’m a sports fanatic. I always have been. I’m a big Orioles, Bengals and Lakers fan. And improv, too! I perform improv for The Pack Theater house team, Pleather.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your

experiences working with the submission platform site?

I dig it. It’s easy and it’s user friendly. I like how organized it is. It’s easy to find competitions and festivals. I like that it keeps your information on file for future use.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feeling on the initial feedback you received?

Every couple of months or so I check out festivals for possible entries. I have never entered a spec script into a competition before so that really intrigued me. I know as writers, that’s not too much we can do with a completed spec so that was a great opportunity to give it more legs. I loved the feedback! I appreciate anyone’s opinion and notes about anything I write. I received feedback from classmates and my professor but they were around for the entire process. It was nice to hear notes from someone who was reading the script for the very first time.

A film student makes a call, the answer changes his life.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Val Cole
Nathan: Steve Rizzo
Police Officer: Sean Ballantyne
Grandma: Hannah Ehman

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

This one page script The Answer is about the moment I received the phone call that my father had died while I was at film school in New York. I wasn’t told at the moment he had committed suicide, but that was the moment I knew that the only real parent I had passed away.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Drama, tragedy.

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

I’m not sure that this screenplay, as a one page experiment, should be made into a movie. It could be, and perhaps it would work because of the voice over, but it certainly lends itself to more. The whole story itself, because of the nature of suicide and what it could tell about the film school experience definitely has some merit, but it is a story I’ve struggled to adapt for over 20 years.

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

Tragically poignant

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

Full Metal Jacket. A friend was going to basic training and when we were teenagers and watched it everyday over a period of several months. I had seen it before and since, I was about 14 at the time. A tie might be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for when I was a kid I received the first TMNT movie starring Corey Feldman for Christmas and watched it a few times a night for a while. Last I remember the count was 47.

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

I wrote it the day I sent it in, this one page iteration of the story put into one moment… But this true story occurred in June 2003.

7. How many stories have you written?

A lot.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I really don’t know. That is a tough one for me. I will say that when I write most times, I play one song on repeat over and over, or an album that sets the tone for a story. I was listening to Beethoven’s symphonies during the writing of The Answer.

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

Just getting that moment whittled down to one page so it made sense and had a beginning middle and end.

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

Acting and directing/producing films. History and the study of historical figures, or just true life stories.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

The platform is fine. The spam emails from festivals is not so great.

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

I really loved the challenge to write a one page screenplay and the enticement of having actors read it afterwards was very motivating. It was a very fun exercise.

LAST DANCE, 12min., Mexico
Directed by Fernando Garzafox
Dance like everyone is watching, Love like nobody is.
When Diego meets Raúl, he finds love within.

https://www.instagram.com/fergarzafox

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The year 2023, when we filmed Last Dance, was the year when I finally fully accepted myself and my sexuality and decided to celebrate it to the fullest doing what I love, acting and directing, filming in general. It was a broken heart that could only be fixed with self love that inspired this story and the idea of filming in Pride Day that made me move forward with the idea.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

When the idea hit, I knew I wanted (needed) to film during Pride Day, but I did not have a lot of time prior to that date. We spent less than month pre producing, and shot in 2 complete days. Post-production did take a while because of a lack of budget, but once we could move forward with it, it was a three week process.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Love and Pride

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Probably money, but I can say that everything went really smooth during shooting.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I got the video when I was at the gym and could not wait to click on it. I literally shed tears while watching and got really emotional since it was the first time I got feedback from an audience I did not know. It was incredible the kind words they said, the overall reaction and their take on the film’s story.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I wanted to be an actor since I was about 10, but it was until I started doing, at 25, that I knew I wanted to film, produce,write, direct, everything, I am now 34, so almost 10 years.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Probably Emperor’s New Groove (lol) it is my feel good film

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Everything has been great so far, being new in the festival experience, I can only say it has been gratifying to have access to these International platforms.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Really satisfying, easy to submit once you complete your profile and project info and files, and again, just having access to worldwide festivals is great.

10. What is your favorite meal?

pizza!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I am currently writing and promoting an LGBTQ+ tv series, hopefully you’ll hear from it soon!

FLOWERS, 4min,. USA
Directed by Yijia Sun
Flowers are brought home by a man who attempts to transform them into his desired appearance.

https://www.instagram.com/cherinocean/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve witnessed many female friends around me, myself included, suffer from gaslighting in relationships. I want to use this film to vividly showcase the absurdity and cruelty of this behavior. Moreover, I want to tell everyone who has been or is going through this that it is not your fault—you are already good enough. Being loved should never come with conditions.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

About one year or so.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Poetic, Cruel.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The most challenging part was the post-production Foley work. As a student with a very limited budget for making this film, I chose to do the Foley at home with my boyfriend. Due to environmental constraints, our sound files would often pick up conversations, footsteps, or furniture moving sounds from the neighbors. After countless retakes, we finally managed to get a clean, satisfactory Foley recording.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was initially concerned that my experimental short film would be difficult for people to understand, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the audience’s reactions grasped the theme of the film. I strongly agree with some of the views expressed, such as the idea that the relationship between ‘flowers’ and people in the film is not just about interpersonal relationships, but can also represent the relationship between humanity and the environment. Films are like that—audience interpretations often turn out to be more fascinating than what the director initially envisioned.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

It was after I graduated from business school that I gradually became aware of feminist issues. I started noticing the many injustices in the society I lived in and the widespread misogyny in society. This made me angry (anger and love are my motivators), and I felt a strong urge to express and change some of these realities. Film, being a medium loved by the masses, seemed like the perfect way to make a difference.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Everything everywhere all at once

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I hope I can have more opportunities to communicate with female filmmakers.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

So far, everything is going smoothly.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Hot pot.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m going to produce my first feature, Angels Near Death this October. And I’m going to direct my feature next year.