It’s a theme of acceptance and respect for the unknown and unseen and all of the new friends that may be there.
2) What motivated you to write this poem?
I wrote this poem after a visit to The House of Wills for a modelling photo-shoot. Not only did I experience some extraordinary events, but they seemed to follow me home and have stayed with me ever since.
3) How long have you been writing poetry?
Several years
4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
Winston Churchill
5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?
I find it interesting to hear my words in someone else’s voice…it lends a degree of merit to them.
6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..? I write essays, blogs, short stories, novellas and novels as well.
1) What is the theme of your poem? This poem explores the simultaneity of speechlessness and the articulable in the wake of sudden trauma.
2) What motivated you to write this poem? Writing is equivalent to breathing; in is an elemental feature of being this version of myself.
3) How long have you been writing poetry? Since childhood, although it never occupied this central position before my stroke.
4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be? Jorie Graham, my favorite living poet.
5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor? I am eager for my voice to be heard after almost 2 years of silence since my stroke.
6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..? I am a poet and craft poetry on a daily basis as a survival mechanism.
7) What is your passion in life? I am passionate about language, about converting silence and suffering into a sacred ritual of music making.
When a New York City Nurse becomes trapped in the south because of their backwards bodily autonomy laws, she must brave the folks of Mississippi and the Appalachian Mountains in order to make it home.
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
My script is about Marie Voland, a nurse from NYC who travels to visit her boyfriend’s family in Mississippi. Her visit quickly turns from a vacation to imprisonment. When she does escape, she still needs to face the treacherous Appalachian trail on her way home to NYC.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
It’s the social commentary sub-genre of horror.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Many scenes of my screenplay are not even “embellishments,” because there have been news around the country of far worse things happening to women. A few scenes were taken from my own life. After Roe V Wade was overturned this idea—this feeling— had been circling me. I wrote this as a creative way to release my anger about the situation.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Embroidered reality.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Either any of the “Back to the Future” franchise or the three original “Indiana Jones” movies.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I wrote the majority of this between April 2024 and May 2024 for my screenwriting class.
7. How many stories have you written?
With this one—nine features. I’ve also written three TV pilots and fourteen shorts.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
That would be hard to track to be honest, because I love music. According to my Spotify, I’ve listened to 442 hours of music (not including my cassette tapes). Ironically, the song I’m replaying these days is “Yet Another Movie” by Pink Floyd.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I worried a lot about putting in the supernatural element and if that would take away from the overall message. I also wanted to make sure that Marie was a lived-in, believable character. Furthermore, I wanted to make sure that the “villains” were not cartoonish, but looked and acted like normal people.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Music! I love going to concerts out of town, especially 80s-bands like Metallica, GNR, Alice Cooper, and Megadeth. I collect memorabilia and cassette tapes. I catch guitar picks at concerts as mementos and I try to get the VIP experience when I can (meeting the bands).
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
I’ve not had any issues with it.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I was looking for horror-specific festivals to join and happened upon this one. Initially, I was surprised. As writer, I’m more used to receiving negative feedback and for a while I couldn’t believe I had received such positive comments. I think it took me a few days to reply from the shock.
A newlywed couple takes on a one time gig to make ends meet and wind up creating America’s very first sitcom in the process… based on a true story.
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
This is easily the hardest question – there’s so much to say about this!
This screenplay is a based on the true story of Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns, a couple of Broadway-bound newlyweds living in New York City during the dawn of the small screen. It’s an interesting time to be sure – post WWII, there are less TV sets in the U.S. than residents in all of of Manhattan. There’s more dead air than actual programming, and anything that does make it to air is done live. The pair manage to get their hands on 15 minutes of precious air-time, and are given carte blanch to make something great with it. They have no idea what they’re doing… but, then again, neither does anyone else! What they come up with is a show about their lives, featuring them as, well, themselves. In doing so, they accidentally create America’s very first sitcom, breaking barriers that would soon be too taboo to show on screen, from sharing a bed, to sharing a child years before I Love Lucy and The Munsters.
… And yet, nobody knows about it!
The reason for this is multifold. Some seasons weren’t recorded at all, or were recorded with lackluster equipment. Years later, company takeovers resulted in entire reels being thrown out. Of 300 episodes, only one remains.
What I’m proposing is a show about the making of this show. This screwball dramedy miniseries would follows the three season timeline of the original, and be in the vein of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but with the self-awareness of Kevin Can Fuck Himself.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Too many! For sure it’s historical by default. It toes the line between Comedy and Drama (both according to myself and the Austin Film Festival, where it placed as a Second Rounder in both categories). I like to describe it as a Screwball Dramey, with Screwball being a farce of RomComs.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a TV series?
There is nothing more sour in my mind than a life’s artistic work being thrown in the trash. To be fair, the remaining reels were technically thrown into the Hudson, not the trash, but still! I want more people to know about these two and what they did for the sitcom landscape.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
“True Story”
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Family car trips have forced this one on me – Dodgeball. Still, I love it.
Of my own accord, I’d probably go with “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Off and on for a year or two.
7. How many stories have you written?
Not including several NANOWRIMO attempts, I have written a handful of short scripts and pilots alongside hundreds of articles. I am hoping to complete my first novel and my first feature film within the next year.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
God, I am such a dork… it’s probably from a musical, like Cell Block Tango from Chicago? I wish I had a cooler answer. My husband has be on an Epic: The Musical kick. Snippets of lyrics from it keep making their way into my everyday earworm. I’m also a sucker for stand-up.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Maybe other neurotypicals will respond to this better, but I found it so hard to motivate myself to finish the last 1/3 of this project. I didn’t want it to end. I had a clear picture of what I wanted to happen, and was just like, can’t you see it? It’s right there! Openings and closings are my specialty… it’s all the in between nonsense that gets in the way.
A technical note – I’m a stickler for accuracy where it matters, so I’ve been working with a local school’s law clinic to make sure I’m covered on the technical details. Talk about nail biting! The good news is, I am. Still, a lot of this is educated guesses and inferences due to the lack of original source information. I’d love to get in touch with surviving cast and family members to hopefully get their insights, and, of course, their blessing.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Aside from the obvious answer of movies and tv, I am passionate about my work in libraries. I’ve been in the field for the past decade, and cannot wait to see some of my own stuff on the shelves! It should go without saying I’m a reader.
After years participating in every sport imaginable, from softball to fencing, I’m now making up for lost time by signing up for ice skating lessons in an attempt to take back the Mighty Duck seasons I never had as a kid. I’ve tried just about everything on the ice rink, from Theater on Ice and Synchro to Hockey. Needless to say, this might not me the brightest idea considering my age, but I love it!
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
I have worked with FilmFreeway as both a Filmmaker and as a Festival Subuser (I’m a Script Reader on the side). It’s fairly simple to use, with a name based URL that’s easy to remember in a pinch. Plus, the more you add to it, the more you get out of it.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
After years to submitting to anything and everything, I’ve been motivated more recently to only submit to competitions that promise tangible winnings for readers – actual meetings, monetary compensation, table readings, etc. Of the latter, I thoroughly believe that having our work as a screenwriter played out is a necessary part of development. Things like tone, cadence, gaps, are all picked up by speaking the words aloud… and having an actual person versus an AI voice doing it makes such a difference!
My initial feelings on the feedback I received were, and I quote: “WOW! They Liked it! They actually LIKED it!”. I’ve only started submitting this work to competitions in the past few months, and have received mostly positive results. The outpouring of support for this work has been absolutely incredible… and the notes, both positive and negative, will be easy to implement. At the end of the day, I just want someone to enjoy what I put out there, and I believe this script does just that.
The tenuous and precarious social links we have in our places of work. How our self-worth and self-perception in our work lives is warped and unreliable. And how we resist change.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Psychosupernatural horror.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
I think it’s an interesting peek into the inner life of a normal guy who’s just trying to live his life.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Work/life balance. =)
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
I want to say something cool like Jeanne Dielman or 8 ½ but it’s probably Innerspace because it played on HBO 5 times a day in the late 80’s.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
We wrote it in a couple of months. Once we have a cool idea we like to get down to it…
7. How many stories have you written?
Millions….in my head.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Impossible to answer. But I can tell you that Operator by Jim Croce is as close to a perfect song as it gets.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Self-loathing and procrastination.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Black Sabbath, the late 70’s/early 80’s, geography, and the Oxford comma.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Film Freeway is the only platform I’ve ever used, so I can’t compare it to how people did it before. I love the ease of use, but the rejection can be really tough. I’ll be skimming my phone laughing at memes one minute and the next minute I’m seeing I’ve been rejected from Telluride. The joy of getting accepted is worth it all, though.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I love getting feedback, even if it’s tough. Sending it to people who read lots of screenplays is a good way to get strangers to comment as opposed to friends who might not want to hurt your feelings. Our initial feelings about your feedback was reassuring, and made us more confident going into the actual production of the film!
A hot-tempered writer finds redemption after losing control, he connects with an unlikely neighbor.
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about? Silent Redemption is about a man struggling with anger issues. When he loses his temper with a deaf neighbor, it forces him to take a look at his own life and make amends with his new friend.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Drama
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? I think this short film could touch a lot of people who struggle to cope with life in general, people with disabilities, and feeling like they do not fit into society as a whole. It also focuses on the ability to change, for the better.
4. How would you describe this script in two words? Overcoming Challenges
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life? Hmm, I think I have seen Office Space the most, it never gets old. (The Star Wars old franchise might be a close second)
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay? I worked on this screenplay for a short time, then it sat on the shelf for like 2 years, I re-worked it a bit, and then entered it into several competitions.
7. How many stories have you written? Oh my gosh – more than 100+
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?) I love Viva La Vida by Cold Play. It makes me happy to sing it and I can’t help but get up and dance. – also anything by Prince gets me moving.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay? Putting it down for a while, but always believing in it!
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about? Art and music
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site? Very simple
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received? I enjoyed the feedback. I have never entered any contests before, and I really believed in this short film. When I finally felt like it was finished – I wanted to see if I was right.
A widow finds herself in a toxic relationship with a younger man after losing her husband and finds herself in a relationship where he is forcing her to give money to invest in his cryptobusiness. After some lengthy back and forth, Valerie is approached by an investigating officer who let’s her know that her boyfriend is indeed a criminal who preys on older women for their money
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
– This is a story about a young widow named Valerie. It is a gripping psychological thriller that follows the journey of a young widow grappling with loss, identity, and unexpected romance. Adopted as an infant, Valerie’s life takes a tumultuous turn when she loses her husband and becomes entangled with a mysterious younger man. As she navigates her grief and newfound passion, she unwittingly becomes embroiled in an international criminal investigation, forcing her to confront her past and fight for her future.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
– The screenplay primarily falls under the genres of psychological thriller and drama, with elements of romance and crime.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
– This screenplay deserves to be made into a film because it offers a nuanced exploration of complex themes such as identity, grief, and redemption through the lens of a compelling female protagonist. The story’s blend of personal drama and high-stakes criminal intrigue provides a rich canvas for cinematic storytelling, while also addressing timely issues of mental health and the impact of social media on modern relationships.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
– Dramatic psychological thriller.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
– The film I’ve viewed most frequently is the epic historical drama “Cleopatra” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Its grand scale and timeless themes continue to captivate me.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
– This screenplay represents three years of dedicated crafting and refinement.
7. How many stories have you written?
– In addition to this screenplay, I’ve authored two other substantial works: “The Godmothers” and its adaptation “This Thing Between Us.”
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
– “The Look of Love,” “The Way We Were,” and “Walk On By.” These timeless melodies inform the emotional landscape of my writing.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
– The journey to complete this screenplay was marked by creative challenges and personal loss. Overcoming writer’s block and processing grief became integral parts of the writing process, ultimately deepening the emotional authenticity of the story.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
– Beyond writing, I’m deeply passionate about child development and family bonds, finding profound joy and inspiration in my role as a grandmother. I’m also keenly interested in exploring life’s deeper meanings, which often informs the themes in my work.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What have been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
– FilmFreeway provided a user-friendly platform for my festival submission, though as a first-time user, I encountered a learning curve that I successfully navigated.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
– The opportunity for exposure and professional growth motivated my festival entry. The initial feedback was invaluable, offering both validation and constructive critique that has fueled my commitment to honing my craft.
After being released from a psychiatric clinic, Dwayne is one a on-track mission to get revenge against the supernatural forces of Moonlight Ridge.
1. What is your screenplay about?
Spiritual Awakening is a coming of age story about an African American teenager, Edris Johnson, who grapples with the fast life and materialism while seeking deeper meaning and fulfillment through a journey of redemption and spiritual growth.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
It falls under a coming-of-age, spirituality/religion, crime drama, romance, comedy, etc.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
This screenplay should be made into a movie because it is a compelling and relatable story of redemption, self-discovery, and spirituality. Its coming-of-age/romance aspects can relate to audiences and the spiritual themes can also resonate with those who are religious and curious.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Redemptive journey.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
I have seen Spider-Man 3 a lot in my life.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I wrote the first draft back in 2020 and recently rewrote in June, so about four years.
7. How many stories have you written?
I have written about 12-20 screenplays.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
I have listened to “The Bees Knees” by Juice Wrld a lot in my life, but I don’t have a particular song.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I was writing my screenplay during the first semester of my freshman year, so I had to preserve through the homework and classwork.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am passionate about boxing, and hope to compete one day.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Submission platforms have been okay to work with. Lack of updates and communication can be frustrating to work with.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
What influenced me was the chance to win and get the accommodations. My feelings on the initial feedback were good. I acknowledged the weak points of my script, and looked forward to changing it.
“Shadows of Stardom” (Inspired by True Events) is a screenplay that follows the journey of Jack, a middle-aged man with unfulfilled dreams of acting and dancing. The story delves into the stark contrast between Jack’s vivid dream sequences, where he experiences success and fulfillment, and the harsh realities of his daily life in his dimly lit living room. Through a series of poignant scenes, Jack grapples with perseverance, resilience, and the pursuit of his passions as he navigates the challenges of pursuing his artistic ambitions. The screenplay explores themes of longing, disappointment, and determination, offering a character-driven narrative that resonates with the complexities of human experience.
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
My screenplay, Shadows of Stardom, is inspired by true events and explores the intense pressures and hidden struggles of an up-and-coming actor in the entertainment industry. It delves into themes of ambition, identity, and the cost of fame, as the protagonist navigates the fine line between personal integrity and the seductive allure of stardom.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
It falls under drama with elements of a psychological thriller. The narrative focuses on the emotional and mental conflicts within the protagonist, blended with suspenseful and introspective moments that challenge their sense of reality.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Shadows of Stardom offers a fresh and poignant look at the entertainment industry, providing an introspective and authentic portrayal of the challenges faced by actors behind the scenes. It speaks to universal themes of ambition, self-discovery, and the human cost of success, making it a story that resonates with a wide audience. Additionally, the script’s blend of drama and psychological tension, grounded in real-life experiences, makes it a compelling piece for the big screen.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Emotionally charged.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
The Godfather is a film I find myself returning to repeatedly. Its complex characters, rich narrative, and impeccable direction continue to inspire me.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I’ve been working on this screenplay for about a year. The process has involved extensive research, multiple drafts, and continuous refinement to ensure the story’s authenticity and impact.
7. How many stories have you written?
I’ve written several stories across various mediums, including theatre and film. This includes numerous scripts, some of which have been performed Off-Broadway and at major film festivals. My portfolio reflects a deep exploration of human emotions and social themes.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
My favorite song is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. The song’s complexity, emotional depth, and innovative structure never fail to move and inspire me.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Balancing my work as an actor and scriptwriter posed significant time management challenges. Additionally, ensuring the script’s authenticity required intense emotional introspection, which was both a creative and personal hurdle. The detailed exploration of the protagonist’s psychological state also demanded thorough research and sensitivity.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Beyond writing, I’m deeply passionate about acting and mentoring young talent through my talent agency, Wood House & Archer. I’m also keenly interested in exploring different cultures and places, as well as continuing my education in the performing arts.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
My experience with FilmFreeway has been positive. The platform is user-friendly and provides a comprehensive range of festivals, making it easier to find suitable opportunities for my work. The submission process is streamlined, and I appreciate the ability to track my entries and receive feedback.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I was drawn to the festival because of its reputation for showcasing innovative and impactful stories. The initial feedback I received was encouraging and constructive, reinforcing my belief in the screenplay’s potential while also offering valuable insights for further refinement.
An artistically-gifted pizza delivery boy, caught up in a criminal enterprise that funds his creative pursuits, confronts otherworldly and possibly dangerous forces when a mysterious girl sprung from his dreams appears at his next drop.
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
The story centers around Jesse, a gifted artist, who delivers both pizzas and cash for the illicit gambling ring his boss Angelo runs. Shady turns spooky when a girl from Jesse’s drawings manifests in the flesh at one of his cash drops. Only the girl, mysterious and beautiful Taria, is very much real and powerfully psychic. Cryptically, she warns that working for Angelo, the father Jesse’s never had, will have dire consequences. That his true life path is to embrace his calling as an artist. If only Jesse believed Taria really can see the future.
Soon after Taria disappears, broken-hearted Jesse is haunted by a series of strange, even supernatural, encounters, forcing him to make harrowing choices if he ever wants his girl back. If he even wants to live. Only after Angelo is beaten inches from death, and the ring’s big boss is murdered, does Jesse take a life-altering mindf*ck of a journey to the nearly unfathomable truth.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Set in a south Florida teeming with high strangeness, lurking violence, and romance, the genre is best described as supernatural realism. A sexy, unsettling, and ultimately celebratory tale of selfactualization, DELIVERED will appeal to audiences fascinated with mysticism, the occult, and the romantic charm of a unique love story. Beyond the glitz and the scantily clad on Florida beaches, the story inhabits the dark and gritty underbelly teeming in the shadows of the sunshine, combined with an ominous sense that unseen forces are at work, impacting lives in mysterious ways.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
More than ever, there is a cultural fascination with alternative spirituality, mysticism and the supernatural, along with a yearning to understand how these unseen realms affect our lives. With all of life’s uncertainties, all the fear of the unknown, so many of us have the desire to pull back the veil and understand our place in the Universe. Or as the ancient Greek maxim instructed: to “Know Thyself.” What our destiny is, and how to tap into forces that can shepherd us onto a path that manifests it. This universal and timeless human desire to make sense of the inexplicable, and our own particular place within its mystery, forms the thematic heart of DELIVERED and its place as an essential story for our time.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Sexy, thought-provoking.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Probably the original Star Wars, mostly because my kids now watch it all the time and I’d already seen it countless times before they even discovered it. It certainly resonates more now than when I first saw it in the theater.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I originally published the novel, Delivered, from which the screenplay is adapted, in 2013. That took a few years to complete. The screenplay has gone through a few drafts over the course of three years.
7. How many stories have you written?
Too many to count.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
It’s difficult to say what my favorite song it, but overall I’d have to say my favorite alltime band is Led Zeppelin. Three of my favorite Zeppelin songs are “The Rain Song”; “Ten Years Gone”; “What Is and What Should Never Be.”
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The original challenge for the story, when I was first writing the novel, the opening chapters of which would become “Dream Girl,” the pilot script, was how to combine the story of the artistic delivery boy working for a bookmaking pizza maker with the part about the mysterious girl. A girl who literally disappears, breaking his heart in the process, but is actually operating in the shadows, so to speak, in order to protect him from the danger all around him. As it turned out, I needed to consult a bona fide witch (not kidding) in order to figure out how to weave those two main parts of the story together. She was amazing, and taught me all sorts of things about the occult, the supernatural, and especially what some practitioners can actually do.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Fitness, health, literature, art, photography, film, not to mention the supernatural and the unknown, which is really at the top of the list.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Somehow when I submit via FilmFreeway, my work always either places or wins, while on other platforms I rarely have the same success. So FilmFreeway is now my go to.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I call “Dream Girl” a supernatural thriller, but in actuality the story is somewhat genre-bending. So I’m always on the lookout for festivals and competitions that are looking for genres along these lines. While not a perfect fit, the script works within the Sci-Fi/Fantasy and horror worlds, though it doesn’t quite fall neatly into those genre boxes.
Festival Reviews 