Read full screenplays (TV Pilot/Spec or Feature Screenplay), followed by conversation with actors after reading. Session generally takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. All recorded. Writer owns all material after reading.
Text festival at 416-568-9046 to receive examples of previous readings for context.
SEE list of actors who have performed at the Zoom Table Reading Workshops in 2024.
I can’t thank Matthew and the actors enough!!! This was such an amazing experience and I am forever grateful. – Sami Richey
That was so awesome and so useful as well. Once I got over being a little self conscious it was truly rewarding on many levels. The best part was the discussion at the end of the session. Great to be able to get those opinions from professional actors who have spent the time considering the work. – Russell Knight
Thanks for the files for the reading. — this is such a great resource to have. – Shay Mourad
Thank you so much for providing this opportunity for me and my screenplay. The reading and the feedback were invaluable. I so appreciate this and all the opportunities you have given me! – Janna Jones
A documentary about a first nations community showing strength, forgiveness and resilience.
Review by Andie Karvelis:
When you’re a child, you rely on adults. You depend on them to feed you, clothe you, care for you and to teach you. You learn history in school from your teachers and you have no reason to doubt what the adult is telling you. It’s only later, when you’re older that you realize those teachings were unintentionally, ignorantly biased.
Ndazkoh was written, produced, directed and edited by Tracey Cochrane and it centers on the 1st nation indigenous people of the Ndazkoh tribe and the horrors they faced from settlers invading their land. This is not just a film about injustice. It’s about hope. Tradition. Community.
This film is beautiful in so many ways. First, the cinematography and camera work from John MacKenzie and drone footage from Rob Cochrane is gorgeous. It’s also beautiful because Tracey gave us an inside look at the ceremonies and traditions of the Ndazkoh 1st nation people. The interviews alone are amazing, meeting Chief Leah Stump and learning about the resilience this community has is emotionally moving.
George Santayana once wrote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. While we cannot change past events, we can make amends and learn from the mistakes our forefathers made. Bravo, Tracey. This film is invaluable, educational and heartfelt. I absolutely loved it.
Directed by Ali Imran Ch, Fatima Mughal Bumb Shah is a Pakistani rapper whose traumatic life experiences heavily influence his music. Like many artists, he began using drugs early in his career, hoping that they would fuel his creativity. Before long, he fell into a rabbit hole of addiction-centered depravity, something that was reflected.
Review by Julie Sheppard:
From the Health Advisory at the top of this stirring musical documentary, Quitting Drugs, it is obvious that the viewer will be exposed to the path to drug addiction and the aftermath. The actors, as mentioned in this advisory, are thoroughly convincing in their ability to create an atmosphere of temptation, leading the central figure to addiction. It is heartbreaking to see the young boy starting to smoke, and the clever use of CGI overlay gives these scenes a strong sense of reminiscence.
The props and locations of the piece are also well done. The vignettes of hard partying in front of tables littered with drinks, smokes and drugs captures the unfettered availability of these temptations. The bold imagistic titles and the catchy music video feel, complete with lyrics about this addicted lifestyle, demonstrates the musician’s multifaceted talent for word and instrumentals.
The phrase “what comes up, must come down” applies here. The piece does an amazing job portraying how the main character goes from exhilaration to suicidal. Fortunately, due to his steely resolve and many days of recovery, thanks to his heroic father’s help, he is able to come out the other side as a survivor, and the film enables the viewer to finally breathe a sigh of relief. The aftermath is positive – his talent for music, once glorifying a drug-infused existence, pivots to his love for a drug-free life.
It’s San Francisco in the 1950s and post war paranoia is at its height. Mitch Marlowe (niece of detective Philip Marlowe) lands in town to start a new life…. passing as a man. She’s brash, confident and very comfortable presenting as a man. What she discovers in North Beach is a vibrant world of artists, criminals, corrupt cops, jazz clubs and the LGBTQ+ shadow world. But is it safe for her anywhere?
This film seems to leap from the pages of a Raymond Chandler hardboiled crime novel but with a modern twist. It’s 1950’s post war San Francisco and Phillip Marlow’s niece is new in town and decides to follow in her favorite Uncle’s footsteps. In an age where women must only be seen as women and it’s unheard of to identify as a man, Mitch Marlow has ( most ) of San Francisco fooled.
Kip Pearson wrote, produced and directed this exciting crime thriller. She captured the noir feel perfectly and gave the viewer a story that was rife with intrigue as well as empathy. An underlying theme of being LGBTQ+ and living in 1950 and having to hide who you are, who you love or how you identify will tug on your heartstrings. Ezra Reaves was beyond amazing as Mitch Marlow. The confidence, swagger, and cleverness were all wrapped up in a sensational performance that was believable and genuine. The entire cast of this film did such a marvelous job acting and making me believe this was 1950.
The Director of Photography, David Waldorf absolutely knew what he was doing. David and Donal Mooney did the coloring on the film and gave it that aged, muted colors that further drew you into the world of gumshoe detectives. The music also was very reminiscent of the era thanks to Kevin Mcleod, David Fesllyn and Tammy Lynn Hall who performed in the film.
I wish I could tell you how Mitch faired in the city of San Francisco, but you’re just going to have to stay tuned next review to find out if Mona’s was raided by corrupt coppers and our clever gumshoe Mitch is alright. Now over to you, Kip. Tell us when we find out what happened…
This gripping drama is set in 21st century Brooklyn, New York, wherein Talia, a young Orthodox Jewish woman strategizes how to subtly conceal her perceptible bruises before disrobing and immersing herself into a Mikvah, a Jewish ritual bath.
drnavasilton.com/
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
My screenplay is about a young, Orthodox Jewish woman named Talia, who finally breaks free from harrowing domestic abuse and reclaims her true sexual identity and life purpose.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama, Faith/Religion, LGBTQIA
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
This film addresses a variety of taboos in a sensitive way and it has an authenticity to it, since it’s written by someone who is a part of and very familiar with Orthodox Judaism. While the film is intended to be viewed by the general public, I would imagine it might be particularly helpful and meaningful to those who struggle with how their religious and sexual identities can often conflict. It also gives a strong voice to those who are vicitimized by physical, sexual and domestic abuse; those who often feel silenced.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Deep, inspirational
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Pretty Woman
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I started it during the pandemic
7. How many stories have you written?
This is my fourth screenplay and I currently have TV shows in development with the Jim Henson Company, LeVar Burton Entertainment, Two Shakes Entertainment and Neptune Studios.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Madonna’s La Isla Bonita!
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The story really wrote itself; it had been in my head for a while. Often the hardest part is determining what feedback to take from reviewers and what to keep from the original screenplay. I also always love a good happy ending, so creating conflict in a story is sometimes difficult, I just want everyone to get along and be happy-especially in the end! 😉
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I have seven children, so I am clearly passionate about kids! 😉 I am also a Psychology Professor at a University and a Mental Health Professional at my kids’ school. But beyond that, I love creating TV, film and tabletop games for children and adults. I am currently working on my fifth game.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
It’s been a wonderful platform. All four of my screenplays have really received a lot of attention, astute feedback and lovely awards – so that is really nice to see. It is very user-friendly and I would highly recommend it to others.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Attaining feedback is always invaluable and I so appreciated the opportunity.
Get FULL FEEDBACK on your entire novel, from our committee of Professional Writers, and Writing Consultants. Get your novel performed by a professional actor at the festival.
SUBMIT your novel now (full novel accepted) To be eligible for our Writing Festival Events. Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation
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A great way to get your words out there, obtain the Agent you’re looking for or just get your story seen by more people. If you win, your story will be seen by 100,000s of people when it’s read online using a top professional actor. It’s a rush you’ll never experience in your life seeing it come to life that way.
A showcase of the best Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Thriller Films and Screenplays from around the world.
Festival takes place every single month.
Submit via FilmFreeway:
Screenplay submissions offers writers at all levels the fantastic opportunity to hear their stories read aloud using professional actors. Full feedback on all submissions as well by our team of professional screenwriters.
We have created a hybrid festival with 4 tiers to enhance your film and your festival experience. All accepted films receive all four tier options:
Tier #1 – Your film plays at a public film festival event where the audience will record their comments/reactions to your film on their camera or phone, then we edit them and send you a promotional video. No matter what you will receive a promotional video of your film of people commenting on your film.
Tier #2 (optional) – Your film plays on the Film Festival streaming service for 30 hours and invite a select industry audience to watch it. With this system, some films have already received a distribution deal as many platforms are looking for solid feature and short documentaries. We can not guarantee anything of course but this has been very helpful to many in the past. (see testimonials below)
Then (Tier #3) we will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your film. Then after that (Tier #4) we will set up a podcast interview on our popular ITunes show where will we chat with you about the process of how the film was made.
THE NEXT BELLS, 16min., USA Directed by Joey LaFrance In this musical, Lily is waiting for an important phone call and navigates life assuming the worst, leading her down a dance-filled, spiraling path of self-discovery.
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INTO ZEPHYR, 30min., Iran
Directed by Seyed Morteza Sabzeghaba, Amin Nazari
The teacher of “Tengeh Dez” village spends a sweet but difficult experience every week on a walk and a trip in nature, and by being with the people of this deprived village. In order to cross the raging river in order to educate the children of this village, he has no other tools at his disposal except his feet, body and life.
BACKWARD LAMENT, 11min., USA
Directed by Lomai
While servicing a malfunctioning android, a renowned A.I. scientist reflects upon the controversial exhibit the robot is featured in.
SANJAY, 20min., USA Directed by Claudine Pierre-Louis, Vanna James Sanjay, a young actress in L.A., not only has to deal with the constant pressure of having to look a certain way for Hollywood but battles insecurities she tried to hide when entering a new relationship with Kenneth. Kenneth’s mother dying at a young age has left him apprehensive of women mothering him. Both their demons rely on each other to fix the insecurities they carry.
Alone in a hotel, Jan has the solitude and freedom to shed the identity imposed on them by the tight constraints of the era’s societal norms. Relieved of that burden, Jan relishes the opportunity to transform into the person they believe they truly are. Bolstered by newfound confidence, they push their own boundaries, only to discover that nothing is as it seems. When compelled to decide between what the world expects of them and who they want to be, Jan embraces who they truly are.
The short film “This is Jan” is a moving tribute to the joy that can result from truth and liberation.
The performer playing the central character of Jan is remarkably sensitive, able to move from caution and hesitation to nervous excitement, to full-blown delight.
The premise of the narrative is highly satisfying, as Jan sheds the facade of the suit, and all its trappings. It is a genius cinematic choice when a harsh, judgemental blurred character of self-talk becomes no more than this oppressive suit, which in turn is rejected for freedom. Speaking of clothing, the 1950’s wardrobe is consistently well-researched and accurate across the board, as is the lavish hotel setting and the various props such as radios, telephones, and handbags of the period. The inquisitive camera gets right in there, with extreme close ups of Jan’s expressive face and emotive fingers reaching for the lovely, deliberately chosen fashion items.
This film is a testament to the courage required of those who reveal their true selves to the world and the joyfulness and relief that can result from this revelation.
Festival Reviews 