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Poisoned drinking water turns the town into vampire zombies.
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
It’s about a small town that is suddenly struck by a strange disease and the people who try to find out what’s happening.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
I believe it’s an interesting and entertaining story that could be enjoyed by horror lovers as well as those who enjoy zombie movies, and just a good, gripping story.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
Odd zombies.
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Star Wars or The Princess Bride.
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Around seven months.
6. How many stories have you written?
I’ve been writing and publishing books of short stories for ten plus years. My published collections of stories, including my novels, have well over one hundred stories.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
A person I met on Instagram, whose horror TV network I had advertised my book on, asked me if I was interested in writing a screenplay for his idea. I agreed, and have since written a pseudo-sequel to it, along with another screenplay I had been developing.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Time, of course is always a factor. But I went over it many times to make sure the characters were true to their voices. The story itself came to me quite easily. I just had to revise several times looking for plot holes and inconsistency.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Photography. I live in a rural area of Pennsylvania, and have many opportunities to take landscape and wildlife photos.
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I was excited to find out how good (or bad) my script really was, based on the opinion of someone who had read other scripts, with this being the first script I finished and put out into the world.
I was quite happy with the feedback I received. It was encouraging, but also showed points where I could strengthen my script. I’m always looking for helpful feedback that can help my writing improve.
11. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Horror/suspense
“Wit Happens” is a dramedy blending sharp satire and heartfelt comedy, capturing the unlikely bond between two souls at different stages of life. As Jack learns to break out of his “one-trick pony” role, Barbara guides him in finding his unique voice—one that has the power to connect, heal, and inspire.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
It follows Jack Demarrant, a struggling comedian known for his Trump impersonations, who is grappling with being typecast and ridiculed for his act. As he attempts to reinvent himself, he forms an unexpected connection with Hilary Steiner and her feisty grandmother, Barbara, which leads to personal growth, comedic challenges, and an exploration of legacy and relationships.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Comedy, Drama.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The screenplay offers a unique blend of humor and heart, addressing themes of self-identity, resilience, and generational wisdom through its comedic lens. Its sharp dialogue and cultural relevance make it both entertaining and meaningful.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Comedic Redemption.
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Raiders of the Lost Ark
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay
I crafted this over a period of three months this year.
7. How many stories have you written?
I have crafter over eight screenplays, with four of the being optioned and one working with a current studio right now.8.
8. What is your favorite song?
Hey Jude
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Quite literally, two presidential assassination attempts. The screenplay would have been dropped had things gone worse.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I write articles for my hometown newspaper (it’s not my full-time job) and collect exotic pine cones.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experience working with the submission platform site?
It makes things super easy to find the right festival for my project.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Not many festivals focus on comedy and provide options for getting input and other useful feedback on scripts. The Toronto Festival was able to organize that all in one spot!
After a twister rips a biker bar from its foundation, two rival biker gangs crash land in the mythical land of L. Frank Baum’s tales. Thinking they know the story, the two foes quickly unite, but encounter forces that they don’t know as well as they thought. In this Adult Swim style animated show, think of Sons of Anarchy surviving the twisted land of Oz. May also be live action.
Get to know writer
1. What is your screenplay about?
Instead of Dorthy’s house, a biker bar lands in Oz. On the surface, BOZ is a farcical comedy, but underneath it deals with much darker undertones and how people need to put their differences aside to defeat darker forces. Rick and Morty style story telling.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Fantasy
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
We wrote it as a pilot for a TV series. It takes a world we think we know, and turns it upside down.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Out there.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Wizard of Oz.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Ken Hewski and I wrote this two years ago and are still working on a set-up for the first season.
7. How many stories have you written?
I have three published novels and a script in preproduction. Plus several other screenplays. Ken has written several other award wining scripts. I forward this to him to also respond.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Don’t Fear the Reaper.
Amidst holiday chaos, Gaby and Fitz embark on a road trip to a spiritualist commune to confront Gaby’s estranged Aunt Tibby, leading to family revelations, spiritual meltdowns awakenings, and unexpected bonding.
Get to know the writers:
1. What is your screenplay about? Truth Falls is a holiday film about a family secret slowly and hilariously coming to light during the most wonderful time of the year. When Gaby loses her parents in an accident, she learns that her new-age, enlightened Aunt Tibby has been made the executor of her estate. Gaby and her best friend Fitz are forced to leave their swanky Chicago lifestyle for a spiritualist camp, Truth Falls, in Oklahoma to confront Tibby and demand her inheritance.Gaby gets more than she bargained for when she learns there’s way more to her family story than she was told. Like, WAY more… We learn that Tibby is Gaby’s birth mother. This secret has been buried for decades. This is a Film about what happens when a family secret slowly, painfully, and hilariously comes to light causing spiritual meltdowns and epic holiday awakenings.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Christmas Comedy
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? We wanted to write a movie that dug into what the holidays are really about – Family DRAMA. All great stories are about family. The inspiration for Truth Falls was to have a comedy that stems from your deepest secrets and wounds because those are the best stories people can see themselves in. We love a frothy, fun holiday movie and we thought – hey let’s do both. It can be fun, sad, tragic, and hilarious. Most holiday movies don’t look anything like what people experience. We all have family secrets – what better time to unwrap them than at Christmas? Truth Falls is an anti Hallmark Movie.
4. How would you describe this script in two words? Christmas Parody
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life? Jamie: Love Actually. Cristen – The Family Stone
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay? Two Years
7. How many stories have you written? Coppen has written three scripts and Jamie has written dozens. This is our first script together. Boy was it fun!
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Cristen: So many to choose from. In the spirit of Christmas – The Carpenters Christmas LP – specifically Merry Christmas Darling.
Jamie: I’m an Indie Rock kinda gal – so on them for me would be I was thinking I Could Clean up for Christmas by Aimmee Mann
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay? Cutting funny scenes we love that just don’t serve the story. So hard. Everytime.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about? Travel, Film, Philanthropy, and family!
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site? Easy, but some of the contests promise feedback and don’t really deliver much.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received? It focused on comedy and we were looking to get as many eyes on this as possible. Your friends and colleagues can only read it so many times! We were really excited about the feedback. They did a great job breaking down the story and offering notes and insight.
Get to know the screenwriter:
1. What is your screenplay about?
The central topic is a wildfire that grows uncontrollably, generating its own micro-weather followed by a downburst, which spreads destructive and fast winds of fire, while different civil defense officers try to fight it and save lives. It is a multicharacter plot, focusing on different layers of drama. At the same time, it’s also a conspiracy thriller, as a journalist tries to uncover the causes behind it.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Action, thriller, drama
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
First if all, it’s full of action and drama, possibly the main “ingredients” of any Hollywood blockbuster. Then, it’s a genuine, dramatic and heroic story with uncommon elements: wildfires are rarely depicted in movies; and, the story, which may seem incredible and fictional, was actually based on true events that no one could ever predict. So, if I do say so myself, I think it would be a great movie, something between “Band of Brothers” and “Dante’s Peak”.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Multicharacter cataclysm
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Matrix
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
This screenplay is an adaptation of a tale I published on my 3rd book, which took 2 months to write. Later, the adaptation process took approximately 3 months. So, counting with everything, from story design to finishing the script, was 5 months.
7. How many stories have you written?
Around 40
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
I cannot nominate just one, but this one comes to my mind at the moment: “When You’re Gone (Bryan Adams)”.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The biggest obstacle was, and still is, writing in English since it’s not my first language: writing fiction is very different than writing technical texts or having a conversation, but I guess it’s a matter of experience.
Also, and since it was the first time I wrote a multicharacter plot, combining all those different stories into a one was definitely a challenge.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
My other hobbies include cycling and playing musical instruments. And, of course, I’m passionate about my profession: software development.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Globally, it’s a nice platform to manage our scripts and submit them to festivals, but this was only the 2nd time I submitted via this site.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
The festival theme (action/adventure) felt right for my only script that has “action” as its main genre.
There’s not a lot of good opportunities to receive such a complete and detailed professional feedback about our scripts, so I really loved the feedback I received, especially because it was very constructive and addressed different topics.
The true story of a Bowie knife toting airline CEO and a Volkswagen van driving hippie who risk their live to save mixed race orphans from being murdered.
CAST LIST:
Jenkins: Christopher Bautista
Narrator: Sean Ballantyne
Daly : Malcolm Taylor
Cory: Luke Robinson
****
16 interviews in total conducted by Matthew Toffolo:
Interview with Screenwriter Josh Brushett (PERSEVERANCE)
Interview with Screenwriter Josh Brushett (PERSEVERANCE)
Interview with Screenwriter Anthony DeFoe (SUPERCUT)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/11/interview-with-screenwriter-anthony-defoe-supercut-2/
Interview with Screenwriter Nicole De Sapio (The Magnificent Mid-Century Met)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-nicole-de-sapio-the-magnificent-mid-century-met/
Interview with Screenwriter Ronald V. Micci (MARLISE)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-ronald-v-micci-marlise/
Interview with Screenwriter Samuel Zehr (MY FAVORITE PERVERT)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-samuel-zehr-my-favorite-pervert/
Interview with Screenwriter Raymond A. Porter (Himal Gold: Murder and Intrigue in the High Mountains)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-raymond-a-porter-himal-gold-murder-and-intrigue-in-the-high-mountains/
Interview with Screenwriter Justin Lifflander (THE PLOWSHARE PARADOX)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-justin-lifflander-the-plowshare-paradox/
Interview with Screenwriter Horton Emory (TRANSPARENT Spec Screenplay)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-horton-emory-transparent-spec-screenplay/
Interview with Screenwriter Gail B. Robinson (He Tried to Kill Me… He Died!!)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-gail-b-robinson-he-tried-to-kill-me-he-died/
Interview with Screenwriter Federico Carro (THE KING OF LIGHT)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-federico-carro-the-king-of-light/
Interview with Screenwriter Eduardo Ramirez (TRAVEL COMPANION)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/06/01/interview-with-screenwriter-eduardo-ramirez-travel-companion/
Interview with Screenwriter Alysha Nunez (SOW DON’T SING)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/05/28/interview-with-screenwriter-alysha-nunez-sow-dont-sing/
Interview with Screenwriter Morgan Schefflin (L.A.’s Finest)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/05/28/interview-with-screenwriter-morgan-schefflin-l-a-s-finest/
Interview with Screenwriter Louetta Jensen (Bittersweet Serenity)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/05/28/interview-with-screenwriter-louetta-jensen-bittersweet-serenity/
Interview with Screenwriter Janet Caulfield (LOTUS OPERANDI)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/05/28/interview-with-screenwriter-janet-caulfield-lotus-operandi/
Interview with Screenwriter Richard Trask (COSMOSIS OF WORLDS)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/05/28/interview-with-screenwriter-richard-trask-cosmosis-of-worlds/
Interview with Screenwriter Carol Hoffman (TO WALK AMONG WOLVES)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2019/05/28/interview-with-screenwriter-carol-hoffman-to-walk-among-wolves/
Interviews by Matthew Toffolo
Touch the link and read 35 different interviews with the best of new screenwriters from around the world.
Interview with Screenwriter Sara Landucci (STRONG ENOUGH)
Interview with Screenwriter 42 Tribes (Nyobaywa)
Interview with Screenwriter Rita Martinos (ON THE VERGE)
Interview with Screenwriter M.V. Montgomery (DON-JOHN’S DISAPPOINTED MAM)
Interview with Screenwriter M.V. Montgomery (DON-JOHN’S DISAPPOINTED MAM)
Interview with Screenwriter Colleen Asbury (The Dance of the Desert Mermaids)
Interview with Screenwriter Colleen Asbury (The Dance of the Desert Mermaids)
Interview with Screenwriter Chloë J. Hightower (Monochrome)
Interview with Screenwriter Travis Darkow (HOW DID WE GET HERE?)
Interview with Screenwriter Travis Darkow (HOW DID WE GET HERE?)
Interview with Debasree Banerjee (GERALDINE HALL)
Interview with Screenwriters Jeff & Julia Heinen (COFFEE IN SOUTHTOWN)
Interview with Screenwriters Jeff & Julia Heinen (COFFEE IN SOUTHTOWN)
Very good. Helps us track submission and awards very easily.
Interview with Screenwriter Daniel Cook (HELL ON EARTH)
Interview with Screenwriter Sheila Warren (MOVING ON)
Interview with Screenwriter Frank Baruch (WHERE KOMAINU CRY)
Interview with Screenwriter Frank Baruch (WHERE KOMAINU CRY)
Interview with Screenwriter Richard Geiwitz (WIGGLE ROOM)
Interview with Screenwriter Iannis Aliferis (Samantha Rutledge PI, A Killer Case)
Interview with Screenwriter Iannis Aliferis (Samantha Rutledge PI, A Killer Case)
Interview with Screenwriter Ricardo Fleshman (KILLING MOSES)
Interview with Screenwriter Ricardo Fleshman (KILLING MOSES)
Interview with Screenwriter Hank Biro (SPACE FISH)
Interview with Screenwriter Toni Nagy (The Masses)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Agnese Pagliarani (TO HELL AND BACK)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Agnese Pagliarani (TO HELL AND BACK)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Adam Lapallo (WOLFPACK FENCERS)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Adam Lapallo (WOLFPACK FENCERS)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Terry Connell (PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Terry Connell (PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Todd Bird (LITTLE EARTHQUAKES)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Todd Bird (LITTLE EARTHQUAKES)
Interview with Screenplay Writers Charzette Torrence & Danielle Johnson (JILLIAN’S PEAK)
Interview with Screenplay Writers Charzette Torrence & Danielle Johnson (JILLIAN’S PEAK)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Waide Riddle (Dear Tom Hardy: I love you)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Waide Riddle (Dear Tom Hardy: I love you)
Interview with Winning Screenwriters Nicholas Downs, Susan Mac Nicol (SIGHT UNSEEN)
Interview with Winning Screenwriters Nicholas Downs, Susan Mac Nicol (SIGHT UNSEEN)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Dallas Rico (MARRED)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter S.W. Andersen (SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOVE AND JUSTICE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter S.W. Andersen (SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOVE AND JUSTICE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Robert David Simpson (THE HUNT FOR CHUCK BERRY)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Robert David Simpson (THE HUNT FOR CHUCK BERRY)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Fritz Mueller (ANAHNA)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Christianne Charles (CAKE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Christianne Charles (CAKE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Leah Pollack (MARKED)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Andrew Ward (BROWN DOG)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Michael Zielinski (CHRISTMAS PAST AND PRESENT)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Michael Zielinski (CHRISTMAS PAST AND PRESENT)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Julian Blondell (Xightfall)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Julian Blondell (Xightfall)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Nate Yacos (Tugnutt: A Love Supreme)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Nate Yacos (Tugnutt: A Love Supreme)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Cicely Wynne (REMEMBER KENT STATE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Cicely Wynne (REMEMBER KENT STATE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Mirka Kettunen (MAJOR TOM AND THE ALIEN GIRL)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Mirka Kettunen (MAJOR TOM AND THE ALIEN GIRL)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Rodrigo Juatco (HERO OF HEROES)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Rodrigo Juatco (HERO OF HEROES)
DEADLINE: Submit your best scene from your screenplay. Have it performed using professional actors:
http://www.wildsound.ca/submit_your_favorite_scene.html
Best Scene Reading of AMONG US
September 2015 Reading
Written by Renana Hancock
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Allison Kampf
EDDIE – Ben Hur
MERAZURE – Angelica Alejandro
VEE – Holly Sarchfield
Best Scene Reading of FEI JI
September 2015 Reading
Written by James C. Peters
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Laura Kyswaty
TOM – Ben Hur
HUNG BO – Chris Reid-Geisler
COLONEL PAO – Gabriel Darku
JOAN – Angelica Alejandro
Best Scene Reading of CHILDREN WANT WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WANT IT
September 2015 Reading
Written by Carolyn Reese
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Holly Sarchfield
THE DUKE – Ben Hur
MARSHALL – Laura Kyswaty
CONTESTANT 1 – Gabriel Darku
CONTESTANT 2 – Chris Reid-Geisler
CONTESTANT 3 – Angelica Alejandr
Festival Reviews 