Winning COMEDY SHORT Screenplay – ALMOST NEVER TOO LATE, by Jeffrey Howe

October 19, 2017October 19, 2017 comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy short film, comedy short script, comedy stories, short screenplay, table read, tableread, Uncategorized, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival ALMOST NEVER TOO LATE, by Jeffrey Howe, carina cojeen, David Occhipinti, dennis barham, fabio abreu, norma dunphy, Winning COMEDY Short Screenplay

Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Adventure

In suburbia, a toddler plays innocently in a sandpit. Meanwhile next door, an android called Steve has arrived from the future with a mission to kill the child before it grows into an evil tyrant. But before he can do so, he is caught up in a fight with Beth, another time traveller, who claims that Steve’s actions will cause the future timeline.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Carina Cojeen
Steve: David Occhipinti
Beth: Norma Dunphy
Evil Imperion: Dennis Barham
Ajax One: Fabio Abreu

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

A succession of time travelers attempts to change history–or to stop each others’ attempts–until their original target takes matters into his own three-year-old hands.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Sci-fi (parody), comedy

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

Principal photography would take a day, tops. A fourteen-year old could *probably* do the simulated computer graphics.
*double checks with fourteen-year old son*
Make that *definitely*.

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

Briefly amusing.

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

“The Little Mermaid.” Don’t judge me, it was a weird time in my life.

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

About a day and a half. I wrote it mostly to stay limber waiting for the NYCMidnight finals (a timed scriptwriting contest), since I had never written short-short comedy. Well, not since high school.

7. How many stories have you written?

If we’re including novels and short stories along with various length scripts…thirty-something that I’ve finished. Maybe forty.

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

At the moment, “The Hell of It,” off the “Phantom of the Paradise” soundtrack. An underappreciated Paul Williams classic. Later today, who knows?

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

Self-imposed: I wanted to finish a workable draft in one sitting (see number 6 above).

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

Dissecting other people’s writing. You may know this as “reading” or “watching stuff.”

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

Generally good. The one time a festival contest turned out to be a scam, FF refunded the entry fee. Same for contests that canceled. The review system needs some tweaks, though–right now a festival or contest can kind of be held hostage by a hostile reviewer.

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

The working screenwriter in my writers’ group said the script was good enough for a comedy-centric contest. I guess that counts as initial feedback? In any case, it was reassuring. Writing comedy scares the crap out of me.

****

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

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

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

COMEDY Best Scene Screenplay of BRENDA IN DHARMALAND, by Anne M Robinson

October 19, 2017October 19, 2017 comedyfestival comedy festival, table read, tableread, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival BRENDA IN DHARMALAND, by Anne M Robinson, carina cojeen, COMEDY Best Scene Screenplay, David Occhipinti, dennis barham, fabio abreu, nick ballie, norman dunphy

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

A softball coach with anger management issues becomes entranced by the benefits of meditative yoga.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Carina Cojeen
Edwina: Norma Dunphy
Announcer: David Occhipinti
Edgar: Nick Baillie
Pete: Dennis Barham
Ted: Fabio Abreu

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

A woman with anger issues seeks inner peace.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Comedy

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Enlightening entertainment! The audience will identify with the feelings of the characters, if not their actions. If Brenda can have an epiphany and find inner peace, then anyone can.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Quirky. Offbeat.

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

Maybe SOME LIKE IT HOT

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

3 lifetimes

How many stories have you written?

I’ve written 4 screenplays and 1 pilot.

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

Dancing in the Moonlight

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

It’s not the finishing, it’s the rewriting…..

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love to tango, ride my motorcycle, hang with my cats, practice yoga, hit the beach with my husband…

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

It’s a comedy festival. I write comedy. My initial reaction to the feedback was that it was well thought out, clear, objective and rang true. I do get derailed from the plot. All the time. I need a leash.

****

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

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

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

COMEDY Best Scene Screenplay of VAMPIRE ACADEMY, by Melissa Birks

October 19, 2017October 19, 2017 comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy stories, short screenplay, table read, tableread, Uncategorized, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival best scene reading, by Melissa Birks, carina cojeen, COMEDY Best Scene Screenplay, Comedy Screenplay, dennis barham, fabio abreu, lindsay gerro, nick baillie, norma dunphy, VAMPIRE ACADEMY

Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi

In a world where mortals and vampires share an uneasy co-existence, an unemployed young woman enrolls in a trade college that teaches vampire skills, only to discover the college is actually a front for a sinister plot to overthrow humans.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Carina Cojeen
Claudette: Lindsay Gerro
Ad Narrator: Nick Baillie
Student #1: Fabio Abreu
Student #2: Dennis Barham
Recruiter: Norma Dunphy

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

In a world where vampires and mortals co-exist, an underemployed young woman attends a trade school that teaches vampire skills to mortal students…only to discover that the school is engaging in a nefarious plot to secretly turn mortals into the undead. This screenplay is about the heroine’s journey from not believing in her own value to embracing her self worth.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Sci-fi/fantasy

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

This screenplay should be made into a movie because 1. It features a flawed yet smart and resourceful heroine 2. It features a unique world where vampires and mortals live together in an uneasy truce 3. It features a world where you can attend a trade school to get vampire skills that could help you thrive in certain careers. Think dental hygiene and phlebotomy.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Vampire quirkiness.

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

Probably It’s a Wonderful Life.

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I wrote several drafts of this screenplay over two years.

How many stories have you written?

I have written seven screenplays (first drafts).

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

Hard to pin this down. I like a lot of ‘80s classic rock (when I was growing up, it wasn’t yet “classic”). I’m also a big fan of Christmas carols; because they are seasonal, they are, I suppose, the songs I’ve listened to most often in my life. I like the polarity of “I Believe in Father Christmas” and “Here Comes Santa Claus.”

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I struggled with how to raise the stakes for my heroine, Claudette. I struggled with keeping the momentum of the second act, including developing a clear midpoint.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Animals. I think the only animal I may dislike would be the mosquito. Otherwise, I love all animals.

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

This is an excellent submission platform site. It opens your world to a wide range of contests in all genres, locations, and sizes. I recommend it.

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

I liked the idea of seeing if my logline could generate any interest. The feedback that I received was constructive, targeted, and helpful. Much appreciated!

****

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

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

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

September 2017 COMEDY Stories, Screenplays, Short Films

October 14, 2017 comedyfestival comedy feature screenplay, Comedy Novels, comedy short film, comedy short script, comedy stories, short screenplay, sitcom tv, table read, tableread, Uncategorized, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival comedy festival, comedy movies, Screenplays, September 2017 COMEDY Stories, Short FIlms

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

TV THRILLER Best Scene Screenplay – JOYTON SHREW
September 2017 Reading
by Ian Bradburn

SHORT Screenplay – BREAKDOWN
September 2017 Reading
by J. Logan Alexander

1pg. COMEDY Short Screenplay – CLEAN BEAT
September 2017 Reading
by Bernhard Riedhammer

COMEDY Short Screenplay – TWITS
September 2017 Reading
by Alison McGrath

INGENUE-ISH, 10min, USA, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

SUITCASE, 13min, France, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

BAGGAGE, 17min, USA, Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

UNICORNLAND, 7min, USA, Comedy/Webseries
WATCH Audience

MANEKI-NEKO, 12min, USA, Romance/Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

LAST NIGHT WAS A MISTAKE, 15min, USA, Romance/Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

ONE PER PERSON, 10min., Canada, Animation/Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

OUR CRAPPY TOWN, 8min, USA, Animation/Comedy
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK

STAGE PLAY BEST SCENE – VENGEANCE OF THE SHREW
September 2017 Reading
by Bree Katz

****

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

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

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

Winning COMEDY Short Screenplay – TWITS, by Alison McGrath,

September 22, 2017 comedyfestival comedy festival, comedy short film, comedy short script, comedy stories, short screenplay, table read, wildsound festival review, winning screenplays, writing festival by Alison McGrath, carina cojeen, comedy festival, katelyn varadi, Nick Wicht, peter nelson, shania belton, TWITS, val cole, Winning COMEDY Short Screenplay

Genre: Comedy

How one community deals with life when technology goes dark for a brief moment in time.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Val Cole
Paul: Nick Wicht
Demi: Carina Cojeen
Emergency Alert: Peter Nelson
Barista: Shania Belton
Cheryl: Katelyn Varadi

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

TWITS is a satirical look at humanity’s addiction to technology, and what happens to people when their (de)vices are taken away from them.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Comedy, Satire

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

I think in this “game of life” we need to laugh at ourselves a little bit, and take a look in the mirror to see the real person–the one without the snapchat or iPhone filter–staring back at us. Films help us do this. TWITS in particular sheds light on our addiction to technology and how it’s shaping everything from our sex lives and our relationships with our kids, to how we navigate–literally–through life. To me, TWITS lends itself to some personal exploration: Do I see a little bit of myself in these characters? How do I feel about that? Am I OK with the real-life role I’m playing and where we’re headed as a society? There is no wrong answer, as long as you think about it and be honest with yourself. That’s what’s so magical about film, and comedy in particular. There is no pressure, and you’re supposed to laugh. Humor is a great way to half-ass explore your emotions without feeling too much! I think many people will be able to identify with TWITS and I really hope it gets made into a movie.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Scary. Outrageous.

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

Bridesmaids

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

A few months

How many stories have you written?

Ten. Eleven if you count the one I wrote when I was 9 years old about a rotten banana named Eachanonie who was finally happy once he was made into banana bread. Even bruised bananas can find their place in this world.

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

Jump in the Line, Harry Belafonte. Every time hear it, I become Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I didn’t face obstacles with this one, which is a crazy thing for me to say. I’m usually stumbling, breathless, army crawling to the finish line. TWITS had been swirling in my head for quite some time. I’d been taking notes for a couple months and then when I sat down, it just flowed. It was really fun to write.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love being a mom. I love to boogie board, ski, and travel. I am especially passionate about jalapeño margaritas. No salt. I feel like this should be on Tinder. Please swipe right.

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

It’s been amazing. I love how organized and easy it is.

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

I feel so passionate about TWITS coming to life on screen, and the thought of having it read at your festival seemed like an awesome next step. I can’t wait to hear it!

The feedback I received was encouraging, very helpful and respectful. Being kind goes a long way, and I thank you so much for that!

****

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

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

Camera Operator: Mary Cox