Month: August 2025

Today’s Podcast: EP. 1562: Screenwriter Wesley Steven Drent (NECROTICA)

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Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5QkTVemr88

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

Necrotica is about breaking new ground in the sacred (but tired) Zombie Apocalypse genre. It’s about uncompromising survival, family, and finding meaning in the face of devastating loss.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Horror/Zombie Apocalypse with a healthy spoonful of Lovecraftian terror.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Necrotica is a character-driven story that flips the zombie genre on its head. It’s something new that still feels familiar. With only two characters who have a lot of speaking lines and easy set pieces, it would be a great showcase for two actors to demonstrate their character chops while being producible.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Festering doom.

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Today’s Writing Deadlines: August 10, 2025

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Submit to these exciting festivals today. Festivals that offer feedback from the industry, plus performance videos.

FAMILY & KIDS Short Story Contest (everyone wins):
https://festivalforfamily.com/family-kids-short-story-contest-everyone-wins/

Submit your FAMILY short story to the festival here, and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video.

DRAMA Novel Festival:
https://festivalfordrama.com/drama-novel-festival/

Get FULL FEEDBACK on either the 1st chapter or entire novel book from our committee of Professional Writers, and Writing Consultants. Get your novel performed by a professional actor at the festival.

NEW OPTION: Or, just submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published. (see examples on the video playlist below)

SPORTS Screenplay Festival:
https://sportsfilmfestival.video/

This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.)
1) Full Feedback on your script
2) Actors performance video reading of your script
3) Blog interview promotion.
4) Podcast interview on the Film Festival ITunes show.

Today’s 5 STAR FilmFreeway Review: WILDsound FEEDBACK Festival

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Submit to the WILDsound Festival Today:

This festival was amazing. WILDsound is full of surprises is the best place to go if you want your script reviewed. They will even get actors to do a script read! Who does that! You rock WILDsound!!!! until next time:)
Best!
NLKimmel (Kimmel Screen Productions)

August 2025 EXPERIMENTAL, DANCE & MUSIC Festival Testimonials

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Deadline Today to Submit to the Festival via FilmFreeway:

I really enjoy my experience with them. It is a geat honor to have my film selected for this festival.
The attention they have to make the most communication on my film is very satisfaying.
I would recommend this festival to anyone who wants to live a fabulous experience.

I am impressed with their support for filmmakers and attention to details. It has been a great experience and i highly recommend this festival.

We love this festival! Restless Dance Theatre and our collaborators were thrilled to win ‘Best Performance’ for Counterpoise. The festival have shown so much care in supporting us and sharing audience feedback on the film.

The folks behind this festival really go out of their way to support the artists. They’re personal and involved, and I love their audience feedback videos. I’m really grateful to have been a part of this festival.

This was my first time submitting to this festival, and I was just so pleasantly surprised and excited of the professionalism, the communication, and also the feedback and opportunities! HIGHLY recommend hands down.

Turning 54 Today: Justin Theroux

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QUOTES:

If I was roped into a seven-year TV contract I’d probably hang myself. It’s a TV show – selling cars, cereal, soda pop. TV is like that. The shows are incidental to the commercials. I always laugh when TV shows pat themselves on the back for being cutting-edge. I mean, an interracial kiss on Ally McBeal (1997) is cutting-edge? I’ve never been shocked by anything on television, except the news.

I didn’t have a lot of ambition, which I think was a good thing. I was ambitious about quality, but I wasn’t ambitious in the “I’ve got to get a pilot!” way.

It’s like, once you’ve seen Tom Hanks win the Golden Globes, the Oscars, you’ve seen his wife, what kind of car he drives, when you watch his movies, you can’t fully get really lost in them.



Turning 65 Today: Antonio Banderas

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QUOTES:

I hate that cat [“Puss in Boots” from Shrek 2 (2004)]. Ever since he appeared in my life he’s more important than me. Now women always say, “Oh, I love that cat. He’s so cute”. Before, it was, “I loved you in [The Mask of Zorro (1998)]. And sometimes you think, “Is she saying that because she has some other… intention?” But no. They love the cat, and they hate me.

To be married in our profession is not an easy thing. There’s too many beautiful people around, very interesting people. It’s just a matter of really having-being patient and probably having the capacity and the faith of falling in love with your own wife again. That happens to me.

I don’t want anything I don’t deserve, [but] if they offer me more money, I’m not stupid.

Turning 46 Today: JoAnna Garcia Swisher

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QUOTES:

I’ve made my share of mistakes, but had the good fortune to have them not be so public.

I kind of live a private life. I am out a lot, I have amazing friends and see a lot, so it’s not like I’m a hermit. But I just know what I do for a living and that there are certain sensitivities.

I definitely am afraid of the dark. Somehow, in my mind I can always come up with some horrific stuff to worry about.

Turning 53 Today: Angie Harmon

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QUOTES’

[on her character’s voluptuousness in Agent Cody Banks (2003)] We had so much stuff in there: shoulder pads and things that look like chicken cutlets. It’s not The Hours (2002), I know – I had prosthetic boobs instead of a prosthetic nose.

I’m half Greek and half American Indian, so my dermatologist told me I’ll never age.

When I feel like I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do as a mother, I torture myself. I find some consolation in the fact that all mommies feel it. If there was a way to cure mommy guilt, I would bottle it and be a bazillionaire

You’re not pretty on the outside unless you’re pretty on the inside.

Watch Today’s FREE Film Festival: EUROPEAN Shorts Festival

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Watch the festival NOW for the next 48 hours by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca

Watch today’s Festival:  https://www.wildsound.ca/events/european-shorts-festival

Kazbegi, 5min., Slovakia
Directed by Yakiv Antypenko
Set to a traditional folk song recorded live at a Georgian wedding, this short documentary immerses viewers in the natural and cultural rhythm of the Kazbegi region. With no narration, the film focuses on the detailed sound design and visual atmosphere — where every insect and breeze plays like an instrument in a living orchestra.

https://instagram.com/jackfoto1

TOY, 11min., Greece
Directed by Natasha Smyrnaiou
New Years Eve. Nikos is looking for a New Year’s gift for his godchild in a toy store with a strange salesman. During his stay there, he evoked memories of his own childhood. He finally gets a toy, but not what he thinks..

https://instagram.com/natasha_smyrnaiou

KINOKARENINA, 1min,. Ukraine
Directed by Andrii Makarchenko
She really wanted their wedding day to last forever. But… Dedicated to Jean Cocteau and Leo Tolstoy.

Retrato (Portrait), 1min., Spain
Directed by Ignacio Rodó
Your portrait can capture you. You decide how to shine in it.

https://www.instagram.com/ignacio.rodo

Glasout, 2min., Germany
Directed by Mert Akbai
A couple communicates their love and the glass.

http://www.edition-abel.de/