Film and Writing Festival for Comedy. Showcasing best of comedy short films at the FEEDBACK Film Festival. Plus, showcasing best of comedy novels, short stories, poems, screenplays (TV, short, feature) at the festival performed by professional actors.
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A lazy father takes his four-year-old daughter to rural North Jersey to meet her favorite movie character, Bambi, in hopes of proving to her that he is a fun dad and to gain a parenting win over his ex-wife. He soon learns that finding Bambi is much more difficult than anticipated.
A boy pranks his sister, on her 10th birthday, which results in the entire family getting in on the fun.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Jane Hailes
Valerie: Kelci Stephenson
Jennifer: Penelope Park
Mark: Nick Wicht
Chandler: Charles Gordon
David: Todd Thomas Dark
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
A: When a boy pranks his younger sister on her 10th birthday, her payback leads to the whole family getting in on the fun.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
A: Comedy.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
A: The characters are entertaining. The story is fun and engaging for children, as well as adults.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
A: Fun and whimsical.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
A: Hot Shots
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
A: 1 month, approximately.
7. How many stories have you written?
A: 3 features and 10 shorts.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
A: Even split, between These Days by Bon Jovi & Tremor Christ by Pearl Jam.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
A: Finding a way to give relevance to the 2nd act. Initially, it did expand the characters, but wasn’t necessary to the story. Also, understanding the core relationship, between Valerie and her brother. Once that happened, it established the desired tone of the story.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
A: My son is now a young man, so our relationship has changed greatly, over the past few years. We both listen to a lot of music, and like to talk about it and movies. Songwriting has been another passion of mine. My son and I both took up guitar at a young age, so we also talk a lot about that.
11. You entered your screenplay via Film Freeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
A: I’ve found it useful.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
A: Entering your festival came as a result of challenging myself to attempt a genre, other than horror. Regarding your feedback: it shaped the final draft of the story. Specifically, the evolution of the 2nd act.
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.
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!
