michael lake

Winning TV PILOT Screenplay – THE VISA by Conrad Haynes

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Watch the October 2016 Winning TV PILOT Comedy Screenplay.

THE VISA TV Pilot
Written by Conrad Haynes

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Animated Comedy

A goofball prince and a determined refugee team up to steal coveted travel visas out of their Kingdom and into New America.

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Erynn Brook
LEA – Viktoria Napoleonova
KHAN – Michael Lake
STEPHAN – Martin Huss
PRINCE – Brogan Caulfield
QUEEN – Michelle Alexander

Get to know the winning writer:

What is your TV series about?

Khan realizes being in line for the throne totally sucks, so he tries to escape to New America with his friend Lea, but first they’ll need a visa.

OR

A goofball prince and his best friend team up to steal coveted visas out of their kingdom and into New America!

Why should this screenplay be made into a TV show?

The Visa creates an engaging, original world that feels unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, the characters have a charming and hilarious friendship, and the story lays foundation for an interesting and enticing adventure.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Unlikely Friendship

What TV show do you keep watching over and over again?

I am addicted to Mr. Robot, Archer, and BoJack Horseman!

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Too long haha.

How many stories have you written?

I’ve written several short films and a few comedy pilots.

What motivated you to write this screenplay?

The Visa, at its inception, was written to be a reflection of my life experiences. I take elements from the racial climate in America, my relationship with ornery family members and bizarre friends, my obsession over pop culture, films, and irrelevant ‘macguffins’. They all influenced me in the creations of these engaging characters and fish out of water storyline. Also, I’m a huge animation fan!

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

The biggest obstacle I faced was finding the right balance between world building and character development. As the pilot takes place in a futuristic world with sea monsters, cellphones, and wizards, it wasn’t always the best to just drop the audience in mid-story. I had to work to build the characters and world first, and then let the story take over.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I have a passion for working at the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling! I act and I’m actually producing my first short film this month about ‘anxiety’ entitled HeadSpace.

I also really enjoy traveling and meeting new people, hearing their stories. I’m working to visit every state in America within the next year!

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

I entered this festival because I love comedy and really enjoyed the idea of having my script performed by actors. Hearing my words come alive on screen definitely beats me creating terrible voices for all of the characters haha.

The initial feedback I received was extremely helpful in sharpening my scenes. The notes from this festival helped me to tighten my script and strengthen my ‘unique’ humor.

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

Write what makes you laugh. Chances are, it will make others laugh too.

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

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: John Johnson

Watch the April 2016 Winning TV Comedy Screenplay

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

TV PILOT: MARRIAGE EQUALITY
by Jamie Pierce

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Comedy, Romance

A gay couple deals with two life-changing events on Mother’s Day.

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Sean Kaufmann
ANDREW – Michael Lake
ANTHONY – Noah Casey
STACY/ANDREW – Sandra Krstin
JUDY – Kiran Friesen
DAD – Dennis Barham

Short Comedy Screenplay Reading – Gary’s Girls by Mckenzie Trent

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Watch the April 2016 Winning Comedy Short Screenplay

Short Screenplay – Gary’s Girls by Mckenzie Trent

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Comedy, Drama

A young woman with too many bumps in the road is in the process of giving up on life when an unlikely source, her dad’s new girlfriend and her former high school resident mean girl, pushes her out of her comfort zone.

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Sean Kaufman
STEPHANIE – Sandra Krstin
MEREDITH – Kiran Friesen
GARY – Michael Lake
HOST – Noah Casey
CARL – Dennis Barham

Get to know writer Mckenzie Trent:

1. What is your short screenplay about?

A young woman is forced to go to dinner with her dad’s new girlfriend, who happens to be a former school nemesis.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Ultimately it’s a story about an unlikely friendship between two women. For it to be funny and still a woman’s character story is a tougher accomplishment these days. If expanded, I think it could be quite an adventure for these women and their goofy man in common.

This story has a lot going for it. How would you describe this script in two words?

Rival comedy

What TV show do you keep watching over and over again?

The Office, Arrested Development

This is a very tight, emotionally engaging and fun screenplay. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

About a year

How many stories have you written?

Too many? Probably 6 or 7 that were finished and shot.

What motivated you to write this screenplay?

A really fun and successful improvised scene in a class. I just couldn’t let the idea go afterwards.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

It was originally a small web series and expanding it into a longer short provided its own challenges with character development and story pacing.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Acting! And I’m really into my women’s basketball league.

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

I was looking for guidance and some approval that I was on the right track. I agreed with most of the feedback.

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

Keep writing. And write what you love, not what you think other people want to read. Force them to pay attention to your material first.

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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson