Year: 2024

Screenwriter Ross Langil (HUSTLE FOR THE BUCKLE)

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A down-on-their-luck women’s rugby sevens team must win the prize money from the beer drinking-est rugby tournament, or else their club, and team, will fold.

https://www.instagram.com/perspectivefilms1990/?hl=en

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?
Hustle for the Buckle is about a down-on-their-luck women’s rugby sevens team who must win the prize money from the beer drinking-est rugby tournament, or else their club, and team, will fold.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Sports Comedy.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Hustle for the Buckle should definitely be made into a movie for three reasons. 1, it showcases an amazingly underrated sport. Rugby 7s is a fast-paced, action packed sport that takes place all in the span of 14 minute matches! 2, Hustle for the Buckle showcases strong women in sports. There aren’t enough good female sports movies out there, and Hustle for the Buckle puts the talents of expert female athletes on display! 3, It’s pure entertainment! When was the last movie that had hard-hitting action sports mixed with beer drinking antics, all lead by a female cast?!

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

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

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I’d say the better part of 4 years

7. How many stories have you written?
I have a solid 7 or 8 fully Finished scripts

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

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I think just time realistically. Finding the time to come back to it, edit it, and finish over the years while managing to try and balance work, family, friends, and life.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I love sports! I played rugby for over 15 years. But, unfortunately had to stop because of too many concussions. But, I love watching sports. The Olympics, hokcey, rugby. I lvoe ebing active getting outdoors, and playing team sports!

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
FilmFreeway has been super easy to use. Very intuitive and just helps limit the time and complications of submitting to festivals.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I enter the festival because I was looking for a festival that could offer more than just a selection into the festival. With the opportunity to hear actors perfofrma section fo the screenplay was a great incentive to submit; and I am very happy that I did!

Screenwriter Mary Oleske (THE LAWS OF THE GODS)

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LGBTQ+ Drama

This is a study in gender rights and the rights of all humankind. What truly makes one female or male?

A female attorney is assigned to represent a transgendering inmate seeking a transfer from a male to a female prison. This is a study in the struggle for the balance of rights: personal, political and global. A glance into our past suggests nothing has changed in 3,000 years. Insight comes from an unexpected source.

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?
A female attorney is assigned to represent a transgendering inmate seeking a transfer from a male to a female prison.

This is a study in gender rights and the rights of all humankind. What truly makes one female or male? Portrayed is the struggle for the balance of rights: personal, societal, and global and, how amazingly, this struggle has existed and been depicted in literature and theater for over 3,000 years.

The screenplay deals with where we are now, what should be guiding our actions, what rules or laws should govern us – especially when those rules conflict: the laws of man (US constitution), personal conscience, or God (whose god by the way).

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Drama, LGBTQ+, Women’s, Courtroom Drama, Period Drama

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

This is a firsthand insight into issues that govern how we live and the quality of that life. These issues have consumed mankind for thousands of years seemingly without resolution. What is the significance and effect of gender? How should society treat those who are classified as “different”? Who, if anyone has the right to decide? And how does any one of us, who walk this earth, determine how to proceed when the laws of one’s faith, country and conscience conflict?

The story is compelling and the events are an authentic depiction of many aspects of life in various settings, including the prison system, courtroom proceedings, raising an autistic child, and growing up “different”.

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

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
The March of the Wooden Soldiers (every Thanksgiving).

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

I’ve been working on this, and numerous other projects, on and off, for about 25 years.

7. How many stories have you written?

Dozens of short stories. Two full length screenplays and an outline for another.

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

I listen to Rock, Classical, folk, reggae, jazz all my life. I can’t think of a single favorite.

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

Having no connections to the industry, my biggest obstacle is being granted audience. In other words, if you are an unknown, unpublished, unconnected entity, even if you should have talent, it becomes extremely difficult to be read, heard, seen, entertained etc. FilmFreeway has been a refreshing exception in that it affords opportunity to those who reach out.

Also, being a woman, sad to say, has made it more difficult to be taken seriously. I do not say this lightly. I’ve often been naively surprised when being treated this way, since I’ve always felt so instinctively that we all are born with the same abilities. Interestingly, I’ve found that, having been a litigator especially in very high stakes, seemingly aggressive venues, that when my adversaries underestimated me for being a female ADA, opponent, it quite “bit them in the butt”. For example, when an older white male defense attorney doesn’t take a young, passionate Assistant Attorney General seriously and doesn’t, perhaps, prepare as much, they compromise their success at trial and the representation of their client. Basically what I’m saying is, when you assume things on “appearance”, you really screw yourself.

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

Friends, family, and trying as much as you can to make things better especially for those who especially need a voice.

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

I find FilmFreeway to be responsive, professional and inspiring in its efforts to find talent.

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

I feel this festival REALLY read the screenplay. Their analysis was detailed, nuanced and specific. I didn’t get comments that misstated facts of the plot, nor did I get boilerplate advice that could be applied to any writing.

Today’s FREE Film Festival Deadline: BLACK & WHITE Film Festival

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A showcase of the best of black and white movies and screenplays in the modern era!

Submit via FilmFreeway:

Festival will occur every single month.

BLACK & WHITE Film Festival VIRTUAL Events occurs once a month on the WILDsound Streaming Service.

All film submissions are FREE. Opportunity to have your film showcased on the popular streaming service for 48 hours.

(Other opportunities to garner a distribution deal with the company and have your film showcased always on the streaming service.)

This festival was created to celebrate the black and white aesthetics as a specific, peculiar and unique kind of artistic expression on film and video.

It also intends to showcase screenplays that the author visions is in B & W.

The image capture in the digital technology is born with colors but the artist’s intuition often urges for the black and white production. This proves the newness and interest in an aesthetic that can only be communicated through black and white.

Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: ROMANCE/RELATIONSHIPS Film Festival

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This is a HYBRID film festival with live screenings for the audience feedback video you will receive, plus an optional virtual 2nd showcase to enhance the film’s exposure. Festival also conducts blog and podcast interviews with the filmmaker. We have also started a filmmaker’s WhatsApp group with over 100 joined to date to chat about next project and make contacts etc….

Submit via FilmFreeway:

Submit your ROMANCE or RELATIONSHIP Film or Screenplay to the festival today.

Get your short or feature film showcased at the private festival with the sole purpose of getting the filmmaker an audience feedback promotional video.

– NEW OPTION: Submit for a guaranteed acceptance.

– 8 Film Festival events a year.

– Filmmaker also receives a chance to talk about their film on the Film Festival ITunes Podcast and also do a blog interview.

– All accepted films receive an audience reaction video of how they felt about your film.

Then you can use that video to promote your film to get into more festivals and obtain a distribution deal.

Romance Screenplay Festival happens monthly.

– Full feedback given on all submissions by industry professionals.

– Winners get their script performed by professional actors and made into a video for them.

– Winners also get to talk about their work and script on the Film Festival ITunes Podcast.

Watch Today’s Short Film: HEDGEHOG IN AFRICA short film. Animation/Family from Ukraine

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Watch on the WILDsound TV platform: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/hedgehog-in-africa

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
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HEDGEHOG IN AFRICA, 3min., Ukraine
Directed by Oksana Karpus, Alexander Sparinsky
Musical adventures cartoon for the youngest; because this continent attracts everyone – beasts, pirates, children…and cinematographers.

http://sparinsky.kiev.ua/

SCRIPT MOVIE: Thunderstorm, by Maria Mathis

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This eight-episode limited series is about the turbulent life, death, and afterlife of Henry “Stormy” O’Dell, a biracial escaped slave with paranormal abilities. Set in Gold Rush California, Henry’s mission is to stop a serial killer as he struggles to avoid forfeiting his soul to a demon who has wanted him since the day he was born.

Visual Design by Steve Rizzo

Produced by Matthew Toffolo

CAST:

Narrator: Hannah Ehman
Henry: Steve Rizzo
Kanaan: Sean Ballantyne
EMORY/TIM: Geoff Mays

Today’s Podcast:  Filmmaker Christel Veraart (Santa Fe & Esmeralda – Crossroads)

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Santa Fe & Esmeralda – Crossroads, 16min., USA
Directed by Christel Veraart
In the transformative backdrop of Argentina’s evolving democracy and vibrant art scene from 1987 to 1996, “Santa Fe & Esmeralda – CrossRoads” chronicles the profound and enduring friendship between Kita, a young Dutch woman, and Lorenzo, the gay son of a prominent Argentine family. United by their love for music, they navigate complex family dynamics and the harsh realities of AIDS, with Kita becoming Lorenzo’s caregiver and preserving their bond through storytelling after his death, celebrating a love that transcends boundaries.

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Subscribe to the podcast:

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Short Film Review: ANTI-SOCIAL CLUB. Directed by Danny Germansen

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“A futuristic tale about human freedom in modern society.”

“They enslaved her and took away everything she loved … Her freedom.”

Inspired by the life of and talks with Suzana Lungu

Anti-Social Club is a 24min art-house film about a young woman named Suzana who is living emancipated in nature but then is being forced by norms and rules of society to assimilate into to being a good, productive and law obedient citizen and contribute to society and the economics of the state, thereby becoming a slave of the system.

Project Links

Review by Andie Karvelis:

Inspired by the life and ideas of Suzana Lungu, Anti Social Club explores living off the land and being completely self-sufficient without having to answer to the government or modern society. In this very artistic film written, produced, directed and edited by Danny Germanson modern society is controlled by the government and it has the ultimate power. It can deem a person “deviant” and arrest them for not contributing to society and not paying taxes. Once arrested you are then brainwashed into being a productive member of society.


Suzana Lungu stars in the film as herself and the locations where this was shot are absolutely stunning. Steffen Graumann handled all the cinematography, lighting, coloring and he really did an outstanding job. Areas where the film swapped to black and white were equally as well balanced.


What really stood out to me was the music, the original score by Daria Balocchi was beautiful! It flowed with the peaceful countryside and then became much more sinister as we shifted to the government’s involvement.

Short Film Review: THE DIVIDE. Dystopian Thriller from UK

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Following a global humanitarian disaster, mankind seeks survival in the midst’s of more dominant predators on the earth.

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Directed by Paul Parker Parker, Nigel Woodley, Dom Reece Roberts

Review by Victoria Olson:

The short film, THE DIVIDE, is a brilliant dystopian landscape that perfectly molds contemporary themes in a way that should cause this narrative to win awards. The film captures the attention right away with the nightmarish setting of a woman running through a city with war-torn buildings and a car graveyard. It’s clear time has passed from the grass that has grown around the shells of the vehicles. Rarely is such cinematic detail seen in a short film.  

The character development is phenomenal. Two individuals that are from enemy clans are forced together to escape a predator that is never seen on screen. The themes that we deal with in the modern world are brought out as the man and woman spend the night together in a cave. They have misconceptions & beliefs about each other’s clans, something that we still do as we are stuck in our ways. This film shows that if forced to communicate that we might have more in common than we think. These characters proved it as they hid from the unseen monster, deciding at the end it would be better to work together to cause a distraction in order for the woman to return home. 

The choice to never show the predator is intriguing, leaving mystery as we hear the breathing and view the characters through a point-of-view lens. The post production turns the view of the creature black and white, while the characters see in color. It makes the predators even more ominous. 

The strongest portion of this film is towards the end, making it a great message to end with as the characters lament on their divided world as they long for a world of peace and harmony. The phrase a “Garden of Eden” is familiar, suggesting that the characters believe that paradise could be possible, which leaves a message of hope for this dystopian world. 

Short Film Review: LAND MASS. New Media from UK

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A new kind of liturgy is about to begin… a Land Mass. This is a spontaneous, vocal-visual liturgy for the land, sung by a unique choir, The Improvisers’ Choir, conducted by composer Jenni Roditi, who is creating her conducting directions as the improvised music is sung.

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Directed by Jenni Roditi, Sara Pozin

Review by Julie Sheppard:

Land Mass, this fabulous, liturgically-styled piece from the UK was structured into 12 unique sections. These sections were brought to life by three major elements: gorgeous visuals, moving poetry, and a cacophony of sounds by The Improvisers’ Choir. 

The first element of visual imagery was adeptly presented by superimposing and blurring items and playing with intense light and shadow. There was also captivating footage of wildlife — from the humblest of insects, to majestic birds, to humans in action.  

The second prominent element was the stirring poem, which asked sage questions and offered a host of rhymes and observations about humanity and nature, oftentimes repeating phrases for emphasis.  

The final element which gave the piece both a sense of reverence and of play was the vocal work of the choir, which shifted from hauntingly lyrical to frightening and discordant, always in direct line with the visuals. The fact that we got to see the singers performing near the end made the work all the more dynamic and immediate.

While the 12 sections were quite distinct, the overall film had strong cohesion, demonstrating consistency in the artists’ energy and their passionate commitment to the project.