Sept. 2016 Winner: Feature Screenplay – LAWN BOYS by Steve Cleary

Watch the September 2016 Winning Comedy Screenplay. 

LAWN BOYS
Written by Steve Cleary

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Screwball Comedy

When a pretentious ad man levels down to work on his best friend’s landscaping crew, he must sharpen his new skills in order to prevent a rival lawn service from ruining their hometown’s natural beauty with artificial grass.

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Steve Rizzo
STEVE – Kaleb Alexander
SUNNY – Heather Dicke
MIKE/BRIAN – Steve Mitchell
MUNGO – John Fray
HEIKO – Dan Cristofori
RIPPY – Randy Baumer
VARIOUS – Norma Dawn Dunphy

Get to know the winning writer:

What is your screenplay about?

‘Lawn Boys’ is about a city guy who learns to bloom where he’s planted by taking a job on his buddy’s landscaping crew back in his South Jersey hometown.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

‘Lawn Boys’ is a broad comedy.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

‘Lawn Boys’ is outrageously funny, while being grounded in reality and has a lot of heart. It’s refreshingly original and sure to leave anyone who watches it with a smile.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Outrageously Funny!

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

That would have to be ‘A Christmas Story’, by default.

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I first came up with the idea way back in 2009 and picked at it over the years since. I fully committed to writing it last fall and it took me about six months to get it fully polished.

How many stories have you written?

I’ve written a couple dozen or so, but only six have made it into fully realized screenplays. I’m currently working on two other screenplay ideas and have several more in the pipeline.

What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I kept having situations and lines of dialogue coming to mind as if they were from a movie I’ve seen several times. This is the comedy movie I’ve always wanted to have playing on a lazy hungover Saturday afternoon.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

The ideal being to write full-time, I had to tear myself away from it in order to find freelance work to pay the bills.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about living a life of radical self-expression and freedom to explore the wonders of nature and mankind.

Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Yes! Get coverage wherever you can find it. When I posted an early draft of ‘Lawn Boys’ to a couple of listing sites, the feedback from reviewers and other writers helped me improve the script immeasurably.
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Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Editor: John Johnson

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne