comedy stories

Director BIO: Marcus C. W. Chan (PENTHOUSE SWEET)

comedyfestival comedy short film, comedy stories, director, Uncategorized ,
Director Biography – Marcus C. W. Chan

san diego hotel

Marcus was born and raised in Hong Kong. After completing law school in Hong Kong, he practiced real estate financing law for nearly a decade before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an MFA in film directing & production at UCLA in 2012.

Marcus is primarily interested in the finer details and open-ended nature of everyday life. He prefers the psychological to the material and wishes to explore with his work the fragility of life and the lack of easy answers the world offers.
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During his time at UCLA he wrote, directed, produced and edited a number of short films that have been accepted by film festivals around the world. His UCLA thesis, “Palace”, is executive produced by James Franco and features Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg.
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He has also been honored with numerous awards during his time at UCLA, including a Hollywood Foreign Press Association Award, a Motion Picture Association of America Award and the Cirque du Soleil Fellowship. Since graduating from UCLA in 2016 he has continued to develop his own projects and also took part in Francis Ford Coppola’s experimental project “Distant Vision”.

In 2016, he was selected to join BAFTA LA’s Newcomers Program, an initiative by BAFTA to help promising British nationals fully realize their potential in the industry.

Director Statement

I was constantly asking myself the question: is total honesty in relationships really possible or is it something that you can only find in fiction? This eventually led to the sitcom vs reality story.

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HIGHLIGHTS, WINNERS & VIDEOS: February 2018 FEMALE/COMEDY FEEDBACK Film Festival

comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy short film, comedy stories, Uncategorized

AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS:

BEST FILM: GF

BEST PERFORMANCES: THE FUTURE RICHARD DENISONS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: PAPER PALACES

BEST MUSIC: MADEIRA

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Videos:festival posterTHE CRYING CHEF, 6min., USA, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK		 festival posterTHE FUTURE RICHARD DENISONS, 16min, USA, Comedy/Time Travel
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK
festival posterFORGOTTEN FLORA, 5min., USA, Animation/Drama
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK		 festival posterMADEIRA, 14min., USA, Drama
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK
festival posterPAPER PALACES, 6min., USA, Drama
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK		 festival posterTHE FBI BLEW UP MY ICE SKATES, 7min., USA, Animation/Drama
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK
festival posterAN ACTOR PREPARES, 4min., USA, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK		 festival posterGF, 25min., USA, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

The 2nd LOS ANGELES FEEDBACK Film Festival event of 2018 was a great success.
The theme of the event was “Perspective”.

Every film was about seeing a situation or person from a outside or future point of view.

Whenever you have a festival where every single film receives multiple votes for BEST FILM of the night, you know you have yourself a solid lineup of movies. In our over 100 FEEDBACK Film Festival events, this has only happened a few times; And this festival was one of those nights.

The February LA Festival was a showcase of the best of Female Director’s (1st HALF) and Comedy (2nd HALF) shorts. Eight of the most diverse and solid films from around the world.

Doing the festival in Los Angeles is still a work in progress. It’s almost like we are starting over again. The attendance has been great and the people really get engaged in the FEEDBACK portion of the evening. That said, people don’t know what to expect when they come. There isn’t that “regular” crowd yet because we’ve only done a handful of events so far.

One thing I’m still puzzled by is the lateness in Los Angeles. People have found it difficult arriving on time. Either because of the traffic, or because it’s a “state of mind”. There’s a saying about the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team: people arrive in the 3rd inning and leave in the 7th. They’ll get there – but they’ll get there on their own time.

The MVP of the evening was moderator Shepsut Wilson. She has only moderated 3 events and it seems like she’s been doing this for ages. There was a situation where one of the audience members tried to “overwhelm” the moderation with their negative comments about a film – without using the designated mic. Shepsut handled it so well. She and I have talked about a situation happening like this before, but you really never can be truly prepared for it. What a pro she was! A true talent in many forms, Shepsut has a bright future ahead of her. As you can see when you watch the FEEDBACK videos.

See you at the festivals. And make sure you get there by 6:55pm for the 7pm show!

– Matthew Toffolo, CEO, FEEDBACK Film Festival (Toronto & Los Angeles)

COMEDY Best Scene Script Reading of CESAR & MAX, by Susan Klos

comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy stories, table read, tableread, Uncategorized, wildsound festival review , ,

 

Genre: comedy, road trip, coming of age, bromance

When teenaged boys, Cesar and Max, best friends from very different socio-economic backgrounds, get into trouble at home and at school, they take off to Mexico in search of Cesar’s long lost father and along the way learn the importance of friendship and family.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Sean Ballantyne
Max: Nick Baillie
Cesar: Hugh Ritchie
Velo: Allan Michael Brunet
Espie: Sarah Evelyn

Get to know the writer:

 1. What is your screenplay about?

“Cesar and Max” is about two 17 year old best friends. Max, is the son of a well-to-do attorney and stay at home mom who are going through a divorce, and Cesar, is the son of an illegal Mexican immigrant single mom struggling as a housekeeper. The boys get into trouble at home and at school for which Max, with his lawyer dad’s help, only gets a slap on the wrist, but finds Cesar in deep trouble when his mom does not show up to court fearing deportation. Instead of suffering the consequences of being put in juvie or a group home, Cesar decides to run away to Mexico to find his long-lost father. Max has had enough of his parent’s fighting and decides to join him. The boys have many adventures and mis-adventures (as only immature teenaged boys can) along the way, and learn the value of friendship and family.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Comedy
Bromance
Roadtrip
Coming-of age

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It it topical in today’s society, dealing not only with stereotypical teenaged boy hijinks and stupidity, but also in the current political environment with so much controversy over illegal immigrants, Dreamers, and tensions between the US and Mexico over the Trump administrations policies. It also exemplifies how two people, from totally different backgrounds, can create a bond of friendship that overcomes their differences, obstacles and adversities.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Fun, interesting.

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

The Big Lebowski.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I wrote “Cesar and Max” when I was in the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA many years ago. Life and finances got in the way, so I shelved it until just recently. And now there’s some great opportunities in the screenplay for Trump jokes. I hope I can get an agent or production company interested in my script to one day see it up on the “big screen.”

7. How many stories have you written?

2 and a half and a third. I have two completed screenplays,”Cesar and Max” and “Voices,” a nearly finished screenplay called, “I Hate You, A Love Story” and one somewhat outlined called, “Seeds of Deception.”

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

Beethoven’s 6th symphony, but that’s not quite a “song.”
“Touch of Grey” by the Grateful Dead.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Deadlines, family, a business I ran, life.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I advocate for homeless and mental health issues. I have two adult children who live me who suffer from schizophrenia.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

I like FilmFreeway, better than MovieBytes. I just wish it didn’t take so much digging in these sites to find out the entry price, because often when I find this cost I discover it’s out of my price range at the moment.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I needed some feedback for “Cesar and Max,” and exposure, too. I feel it could actually get made one day – low budget, no name (but up-and-coming) young cast, built in audience. My other screenplay, “Voices” has won many awards, but “Cesar and Max” has not been submitted to many competitions or festivals because of money constraints. I also thought some people might find it offensive, and some do, but the story does redeem itself beyond those objections (mostly to stereotypes and crude behaviors) but also gives my characters rich “flaws,” which makes it interesting and real. These characters are based on real boys.

****

Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

January 2018 COMEDY Stories, Screenplays, Short Films

comedyfestival audience feedback, comedy feature screenplay, comedy festival, comedy short film, comedy short script, comedy stories, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival , ,

Submit your Comedy Screenplay or Film to the Festival Today: http://festivalforcomedy.com

Festival for Comedy-A FilmFreeway preferred festival:

 


festival posterTOO SOON?, 3min., UK, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK
festival posterJAKE & JULIA, 12min, USA, Comedy/Relationship
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

festival posterALTERNATIVE MATH, 9min, USA, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK
festival posterEDEN HOSTEL, 14min., Spain, Comedy/Drama
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK
ACTORTV SPEC Screenplay of RICK & MORTY TV Show
January 2018 Reading
by Daniel Richardson		 ACTORTV Best Scene Screenplay – FUNNY FARM
January 2018 Reading
by Deshon Porter
ACTORTV Best Scene Screenplay – A MATTER OF BAD TASTE
January 2018 Reading
by Gene Gwynne		 ACTORTV Best Scene Screenplay – CRUDE INVESTIGATIONS
January 2018 Reading
by Chris Roberts
ACTOR TV Best Scene Screenplay – ED’S DOOR AND WINDOW CO.
January 2018 Reading
by Parker Cross Jr.		 ACTORTV Best Scene Screenplay – AMERICAN SCHOOL
January 2018 Reading
by Michael Hager
ACTORCOMEDY 1st Scene Screenplay – THE WRECKERS
January 2018 Reading
by Kristy Leigh Lussier		 ACTORSCI-FI SHORT Screenplay – VIRTUALLY FINE
January 2018 Reading
by Gil Saint
ACTORMYSTERY Best Scene Screenplay – UNDER THE WELL
January 2018 Reading
by Max. J. Eber		 ACTORCOMEDY Best Scene Screenplay – ROCK AND ROLL MOTHER TERESA
January 2018 Reading
by Stefano Jay Bozzo
ACTORCOMEDY Best Scene Screenplay – MODEL U.N.
January 2018 Reading
by KC		 ACTORCOMEDY Best Scene Screenplay – MCSUCK
January 2018 Reading
by Christopher Grant & Frank Caggiano
ACTORCOMEDY Best Scene Screenplay – GRANDMA DEE AND THE LSOT CONTINENT
January 2018 Reading
by Mark Perlick		 ACTORCOMEDY Best Scene Screenplay – COURTING LUCREZIA
January 2018 Reading
by Christopher Hudson
ACTORCOMEDY Best Scene Screenplay – LULLABY
January 2018 Reading
by Peter E. Agbonifo

****

Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

COMEDY Best Scene Reading of MCSUCK, by Christopher Grant Frank Caggiano

comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy stories, funny scripts, matthew toffolo wildsound, table read, tableread, Uncategorized, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival , ,

CAST LIST:

Counter Girl – Victoria Urquhart
Narration – Julie C. Sheppard
Tommy – Sean Ballantyne
Frankie – Geoff Mays
Drive thru teen – Hugh Ritchie

****

Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

COMEDY Best Scene Reading of LULLABY, by Peter E. Agbonifo

comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy stories, matthew toffolo wildsound, table read, tableread, Uncategorized, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival , ,

 

CAST LIST:

Armstrong – Hugh Ritchie
Denzel – Sean Ballantyne
Narration – Lada Darewych
Cleo – Geoff Mays
Monica – Victoria Urquhart

Get to know the writer:

 1. What is your screenplay about?
It is about a guy who disguises to an old man (grandpa) to lull some kids spying on him whenever he is with his girlfriend, causing some trouble for him with his elder brother who he lives with, and how he suddenly got entrapped with the promised of a great wealth from the grandma of one of the kids who is falling in love with him (grandpa) and also seeking a relationship. It shows how he lusted over the great wealth, the difficulties he faced while trying to stay in the relationship with the Grandma and how he eventually submitted and gave up.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Comedy

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It should be made into a movie because it is entertaining, captivating, inspiring and a four-Quadrant Film appealing equally to all four demographics – young and old, male and female.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Entertaining and Captivating.

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

Comedy movies (I don’t know if I answered this right for you).

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I have been working on it since 2003.

7. How many stories have you written?
9 (Nine) feature length screenplays

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Gospel praise song

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The obstacle I faced to finishing this screenplay is the fact that I am not based in the environment where I want the screenplay to be performed, and I have not even been there before. It is continent apart.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am also passionate about making good movies.

****

Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

COMEDY Best Scene Reading of COURTING LUCREZIA, by Christopher Hudson

comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy stories, pitches, table read, tableread, Uncategorized, wildsound festival review , ,

CAST LIST:

Murray – Geoff Mays
Doorman – Sean Ballantyne
Narration – Hugh Ritchie
Evelyn – Julie C. Sheppard
Lucille – Victoria Urquhart

Get to know the writer:

 1. What is your screenplay about?

Dracula comes out of retirement to take a bite out of the Big Apple in
a quirky, romantic comedy that pays homage to classic cinematic battles
between the sexes.

Posing as Sir John Renfield, a successful English Barrister,
Dracula’s on a mysterious mission to Manhattan, to see a brilliant young
scientist, Dr. Victor Potemkin. Victor has invented a miraculous serum that
promises eternal life, but he’s been cheated out of his discovery by
his former employer, Evelyn Ferret, and her inept scientist boy-toy, Dr.
Murray Cravenwitz. For reasons unknown to Victor at the time, Dracula
agrees to represent him in a lawsuit.

Evelyn’s attorney is Lucille Borget, known in legal circles as “The
Barracuda,” she’s never lost a case. But Lucille has a dark
secret. She’s really the legendary sorceress Lucrezia Borgia –
Dracula’s lover from the sixteenth Century. They’re shocked to find each
other after crossing oceans of time and the flames of their passion are
quickly rekindled. Only Dracula and Lucrezia know the secret of her
eternal youth.

Lucille tries to persuade Dracula to settle Victor’s case out of
court, but she inadvertently makes light of his legal competency, and
he’s spoiling for a fight, so the strange case goes to trail. They agree
to keep it friendly in court – no funny stuff, but they don’t trust
each other for a New York minute. Their verbal swordplay escalates into a
supernatural donnybrook with hilarious consequences.

2. What genres does your Screenplay fall under?

Comedy … however, but at it’s core, it is a romantic comedy … with a twist.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

A funny and entertaining story that would appeal to a wide audience.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Drac’s back.

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

I love movies, so this is a a toughy … but probably Casablanca … I never miss it when it shows up on TCM.

6. How long have you been working on this script?

Ten years.

7. How many stories have you written?

Two books (Headwind and Northern Cross, both on Amazon) and two screenplays.

8. What is your favorite song?

That would be impossible to say … kinda like, what is your favorite breath of air?

9. What obstacles did you face in finishing this screenplay?

Working with a co-writer (Marcel DeClercq) presented some challenges because we weren’t working in the same space, so it was passed back and forth many, many times.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

That one is easy … music. I perform … casually … under the banner of Aerial M.

****

Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox