Tom Pratt wrote a novel called ONE MAD APPLE about a small town school board election gone haywire. It’s based on a true story. Tom wrote the screenplay the novel is based on as well. He talks about the major importance of small town politics and how the politicians need to be held accountable.
A dark comedy feature inspired by a true story and based on the book of the same name.
After a man moves to a small town to care for his dying father, he embraces the community and his new life as a stepfather and husband, until he finds himself in the crosshairs of an unhinged townswoman who challenges him in a school board election and makes him look like the crazy one.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Thriller/Dark Comedy
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The story is inspired by real life and will be relatable to the viewer. Everyone has a crazy aunt like the antagonist!
From winning screenwriter Ama Adair, ORIGIN STORY is about a woman, Elyse Tyson, who wakes from a coma to find herself in prison with no memory. Everything that made her who she was is gone; her life turned into a living nightmare. And she’s still responsible for what she did. She’s a serial killer. Or at least she was. We follow Elyse as she tries to piece together who she is now by delving into her past, even if that means losing herself again.
The vicious attack that almost killed her erased all that she was. But not what she did. Elyse Tysoni s shocked to learn her taped confessions remove any hope of escaping her nightmare. Desperate for a lifeline, her only option is to be studied by Doctor Steve Bennett, a psychologist who specializes in psychopaths, to prove she is no longer a threat. But as the study progresses, it’sclearthere’smore to herstory than anyone knew.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
ORIGIN STORY is about a woman, Elyse Tyson, who wakes from a coma to find herself in prison with no memory. Everything that made her who she was is gone; her life turned into a living nightmare. And she’s still responsible for what she did. She’s a serial killer. Or at least she was. We follow Elyse as she tries to piece together who she is now by delving into her past, even if that means losing herself again.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Psychological Thriller
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Beyond immersing the audience in a thrilling journey into the dark recesses of the human mind, ORIGIN STORY explores what makes us who we are and the meaning of justice. By putting those concepts to the test in a scenario that is an extreme contrast to what most of us experience, it makes difficult subjects easier to digest and provokes discussion.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Relentless suspense
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
It’s a toss-up between Terminator 2 and The Princess Bride.
Matthew Toffolo, on his daily filmmaking podcast, chats with award-winning screenwriter Wesley Steven Drent (NECROTICA) on breaking into Hollywood after his career in the military. It’s a common thing happening and Wesley gives his candid reasoning why so many military veterans are attempting to get into the industry in screenwriting and filmmaking. HINT: They have an unique point of view to tell a great story!
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.
Conversation with novelist Barry Lindstrom on the process of writing his book into a TV pilot. From hiring others to do it, to finally realizing that he needs to do it himself.
Based on, Concepts from the novel Considering Someplac Else By Barry B.L. Lindstrom
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
The Galactic Council has seen enough and has voted 8 to 1 to eliminate all humanoid Earthlings. Padrin, the lone dissenter, an expert extra-terrestrial world saver, must now save humanity using only the positive actions and interactions of individual humans as evidence. In this, the pilot episode, Padrin’s android, Facto, unexpectedly connects with the plight of suddenly, violently, orphaned 18 year old Charlene and her 12 year old sister, Jennifer who, apparently, are being forced into a polygamist cult run by their only next of kin. Padrin, sensing that Facto’s discovery is something far beyond coincidence contemplates invoking Galactic Assertion 5: There MUST be something that moves a system from its current state to one that is better for the planet and its population, in defiance of all probabilities, patterns and past behaviors.
We Earthlings call it Fate, Destiny, Faith, Luck and Random Chance, but the rest of the galaxy calls it: NaturalAwe.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Consider, if you will, “the twilight zone” as genre.
Half hour serialized Character driven episodes centered around the idea that: The Galactic Council has been monitoring the behavior of planet populations for eons.Whenever a planet’s ecosystem is threatened or a planet’s population threatens other planets, the council, after following due process can directly intervene without warning, Unless, of course, there is significant evidence of NaturalAwe.
Why should this screenplay be made into a TV show?
Sometimes it seems like things have never been worse, That we are incapable of fixing that which is broken, That those who blame everything on those not-like-us are in control, That the doom and gloom dystopian vision of our entertainment depicts our destiny. As one who was raised on lessons gathered from Good-triumphs-over-Evil 50s and 60s Broadcast Television, (Occasionally impacted by exemplary public education), built a highly successful Information Systems career based on Richard Feynman’s “Perspective is worth 80 IQ points”, and has extensive experiential evidence that there is no such thing as coincidence, I feel we need to deliver SOMETHING that might just move us to ways that are better for the planet and its population, in defiance of all probabilities, patterns and past behaviors.
When a bitter nobody becomes convinced that Tom Hanks is the cosmic reason his life sucks, he drags a new friend on a chaotic cross-country mission to confront destiny-and maybe punch America’s dad in the face.
Conversation with Evan Neill on screenwriting, and the art of storytelling.
Military veteran and award-winning screenwriter Hannah Augenstine (PRIORITY ONE) chats about how she taught herself to write scripts while on a US military base in Italy.
Three interconnected teams – firefighters, police officers, and 911 dispatchers – face relentless emergenies in Indianapolis, balancing personal struggles with the split-second decisions that determine life or death.
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.)
1st Tier: FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay (all submissions)
2nd Tier: Accepted scripts (25% on average of submitted entries) get a best scene of their screenplay performed by professional actors and made into a promotional video.
3rd Tier: We will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your film.
4th Tier: Then we will set up a podcast interview on our popular ITunes show where will we will promote the winning writer and script.
(BONUS: 5th Tier. A winning screenwriter’s WhatsApp group has just been formed. Over 50 writers to date. Great way to share ideas and contacts with people in the industry.)
ACTION/ADVENTURE Screenplay Festival (Feature, Short, TV Pilot)
Get your screenplay performed by professional actors at the Action/Adventure Festival.
The Fastest Growing ACTION/ADVENTURE Festival and Contest in the World today!
– 0ffers screenwriters at all levels the fantastic opportunity to hear their stories read aloud using TOP PROFESSIONAL ACTORS (see below for recent performance readings).
– No matter what happens, you will receive full feedback on your work by our established committee. No other place in the world will you get coverage for the price you pay.
– Even if you’re just looking for feedback of your work, this is the festival for you.
– It’s there for all to see. The proof is in the viewership. These videos garner 1000s of views online. Some of the screenplay readings are more popular than actual studio films made!
– We specialize in showcasing Action/Adventure stories and making sure that when the work is ready, the writer will benefit by at least obtaining a solid agent.
Watch over 150 1st Scene Screenplay Festival Winners on the WILDsound Flagship SiteHERE
Festival takes place every single month. At least 4-15 winning screenplays read monthly.
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 by industry professionals.)
1st Tier: FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay (all submissions)
2nd Tier: Accepted scripts (25% on average of submitted entries) get their screenplay performed by professional actors and made into a promotional vehicle.
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.
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In the first 10 pages the writer needs to let the reader know in general terms what the story is about, and what is at stake. Plus, set the tone of what world and genre the writer has created, while also introducing the main characters. All the while you need to engage and entertain the reader.
The contest was created because this is an industry where agents/producers and their team are so busy and are reading so many scripts that if you do not grab them right away then they will put down the script and move onto another one. So you have to capture their attention when you’re writing on spec.
Submit your Animation Short or Feature Film and get it showcased at the FEEDBACK Film Festival. 10 film festival dates a year held in Los Angeles and Toronto.
Screenplay Festivals occur every single month. Submit your animation geared script.
FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay from our committee of Professional Screenwriters, Production Heads and Script Consultants. Get your entire script performed at the writing festival. SUBMIT your FEATURE, TV or SHORT SCREENPLAY.
Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation. Looking for screenplays from all over the world.
Festival Reviews 