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.

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!

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.