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2009 Screenwriting Contest Finalists

By Screenwriting Contest Results

Grand Prize Winners Blind Spot by Randall Greenland Deserted by Ziba Shadjaani Lycan or Not by Frank Reavey The Eleven by Troy Taylor Finalists Alien Skin Boots by Matt Lutz Belle Starr by Cynthia Pullham Black Tide by Kevin Jones Denny Delivers by Sean Fallon & Charlotte Barrett Djinn by Matthew Altman Eden by Tom Zmiarovich Forsaken Hero by Dave Long Honor Among Thieves by Matt Allen Inheritance by Jeannette Manning & Joseph Yuan InvisiBill by Jason Carreiro Iron Horses by Tony Zavaleta Neland Circle by Charles Borg The Eleven by Troy Taylor The Stakes by Philip Gardner The Winery by Richard Guimond Trial and Erin by Larry Shulruff Wake Up by Gordon Smith

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July 2009 Script Sales

By Script Sales

Well-known classic and recent video game franchises will see film adaptations, in addition to a spattering of biopics, sci-fi/adventures, and other remakes and prequels. The “Saw” series will also see another sure-to-be gruesome installment. Some selected/notable sales: –“Castlevania,” based on the mega-popular video game franchise. James Wan tapped to direct. –A prequel to “King Kong”: the adventure “Kong: King of Skull Island.” –The David Cronenberg project “Cosmopolis,” adapted from the Don DeLillo novel. Story revolves around a 28-year-old multimillionaire who is chauffeured across Manhattan for a haircut but the journey takes 24 hours due to a presidential visit, anti-globalization demonstrations, and a celebrity funeral. –Perhaps drawing inspiration from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, a Calico Ghost Town screenplay is in the works to be based on the old Knott’s Berry Farm attraction. –Kids of the 1990s rejoice: World of Warcraft will finally get a film rendition. Sam Raimi set…

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June 2009 Script Sales

By Script Sales

Comedies, actions, and thrillers (and alien-based scripts) dominate this past month—expected, since some of the biggest box office money-makers of the year have thus far fallen into one of those categories. Some selected/notable sales: –“I Am Number Four,” a science-fiction story based on an as-of-yet unpublished novel. With Steven Spielberg on board to possibly executive produce. Michael Bay will produce. –Tom Cruise returns for “Mission: Impossible IV.” J.J. Abrams will produce. –A remake of the 1981 classic “An American Werewolf in London.” No writer attached as of yet. John Landis producing. –“Go Mutants!”, where aliens assimilate with other high school kids. In development with Universal. –A modern adaptation of the hit film “Meatballs.” No writer attached as of yet. –The Warner Bros. project “Thieves of Baghdad,” set in the 10th century and will revolve around Ali Baba and other notable figures. –A remake of the 1980s cult classic “Short Cicuit.”…

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May 2009 Script Sales

By Script Sales

As is the current norm, remakes of previously popular films and series comprise at least part of May’s script sales, including a screenplay based on the comic strip “Bazooka Joe.” An animated film, “Nick Ratchet,” based on an idea by Stan Lee and the latest Disney project in development, revolves around a police officer’s online alter-ego, Nick Ratchet, who tries to usurp the life of his creator. “Looking for Norma Desmond,” presumably based on “Sunset Boulevard,” is also in the works, as is an adaptation of “Jekyll and Hyde” and the life of Frank Sinatra. Other selected sales include: –Remake of the 1980s classic (well, moderately classic) “Flight of the Navigator,” about a 12-year-old boy who discovers a spaceship that takes him to the future. –A comedy script based on The Blue Man Group. –“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”: a remake of the fan-favorite series. –A project from Dreamworks detailing the…

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April 2009 Script Sales

By Script Sales

A somewhat quiet month in April, as lower-budget comedies and dramas, film adaptations from popular novels, and a handful of sci-fi thrillers and fantasy screenplays round out the script sales, joined by a few higher-profile projects from acclaimed writer/directors Robert Rodriguez and Sofia Coppola. Selected sales include: –“Born to be a Star,” co-written by Adam Sandler, about a Midwestern nerd who discovers his parents used to be porn stars. –The latest Robert Rodriguez projects: a crime/drama entitled “Machete” and a follow-up to the “Predator” series. –Another incarnation (presumably live-action) of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” –The Sofia Coppola project “Somewhere,” drama starring Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning.

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March 2009 Script Sales

By Script Sales

A broad handful of biopics stand out in script sales through mid to late March, including films revolving around the lives of Houdini, Lou Rawls, Steve McQueen, and H.P. Lovecraft, as well as adaptations of popular novels and TV series. Selected sales include: –From the Image Comics graphics novel, “The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft” touches upon the struggles of the well-known horror fiction writer. Ron Howard will produce and is rumored to direct. –“Through the Eyes of a Son,” based on the career of musician Lou Rawls. –Arguably the world’s most popular magician, Harry Houdini will be featured in “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero,” chronicling his experiences as a British spy and debunker of con artists. –Andy Garcia, and Anthony Hopkins thus far, set to star in “Hemingway and Fuentes,” centering on the friendship between Ernest Hemingway and Gregorio Fuentes. –The new Coen…

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Writers Workshop “Recommend” a Global Success

By Slider

Strength and Honour, a huge festival hit worldwide, was developed through Script Pipeline and received a “Recommend” grade in 2007. Writer/director Mark Mahon received tremendous accolades for the Irish drama starring Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, The Hateful Eight) and legendary actor Richard Chamberlain (The Thorn Birds). The film won 22 awards worldwide in 2008, and Mahon and Madsen were interviewed on NBC’s The Today Show as word-of-mouth on the film spread. From Mark: “I went to Script Pipeline with Strength and Honour back in early 2006. The constructive feedback I received during the development stage allowed me to take it to another level. After receiving a Recommend on my final draft, this allowed me to hand out my project to potential cast with confidence, eventually bringing on Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, Patrick Bergin, and Richard Chamberlain. Once complete, the film took over 22 wins around the world, 37 nominations, as well as being hosted by Prince Albert of Monaco in a…

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February 2009 Script Sales

By Script Sales

One of the more notable developments this year so far: the musical “Damn Yankees” is set for a remake, with Jim Carrey and Jake Gyllenhaall confirmed as leads. As anticipated, “Friday the 13th” will see a second incarnation, and for those interested in further reliving the 80s, “The Neverending Story” has been given the green light, though no writer is attached as of yet. Other selected sales include: –The drama/comedy “Downsizing,” with Reese Witherspoon, Sasha Baron Cohen, and Paul Giamatti to star. –“Rape: A Love Story,” based on the Joyce Carol Oates novella. Abigail Breslin, Samuel L. Jackson, and Maria Bello attached. 3 Arts Entertainment to produce. –The DC Comics story “Suicide Squad” –“Little Fockers,” the third installment of the Stiller/DeNiro comedy series. And as Hollywood has been infected with the remake bug, expect to see a fresh, new, “improved” version of the Schwarzenegger classic “Total Recall.”

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January 2009 Script Sales

By Script Sales

Adaptations (and an adaptation of an adaptation) continue to share the spotlight with a spattering of comedies, science fiction, crime dramas, and family scripts. Notable sales include: –“Cowboy Bebop,” based on the popular Japanese anime series. Keanu Reeves set to star. –A Cher and Jonny Knoxville (not a typo) project, “The Drop-Out” –A Warner Bros. adaptation of the animated series “Tom and Jerry” –“The A Team,” a polish of a script and project first announced in 2001. –The sequel to “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” –“Lowriders,” based on a Brian Grazer concept. Feeling as though “Tomb Raider” deserves another go-around, the popular comic (and Angelina Jolie film) will get a re-imagining as well. No screenwriter or director attached as of yet.

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2008 Screenwriting Contest Finalists

By Screenwriting Contest Results

Grand Prize Winners A Mate for Lonesome George by Sharon Clark Freebird by Hilary Graham Neither by Christian Heinze Shrapnel by Evan Daugherty Finalists Alpha Male by Spanner Spencer A Revolution in Urination by Christian Heinze Beckwourth by James K. M. Watts Drill Queen by Andrea Seybold & Kate Wharton Hidden by Noah Ruderman His Fair Lady by Russell Bryan Sommers Honor Bound by Michael Amato In the Garden of the King by Paul Ian Johnson Maid of Dishonor by Sophia Trone Palestine by Suzan Flamm The De-haunters by Calvin Field & Bryan Bagby The D Line by David O’Donnell The Stacks by Edward Cound The Tollbooth Operator by Christian Heinze The Well by Julie Anne Wight

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2007 Screenwriting Contest Finalists

By Screenwriting Contest Results

Grand Prize Winners Fuel by James Roman & Chris Donaldson Living in Limbo by Mike Amato Monstrous Passions by Deborah Baxtrom The Rise of Fred Amazing by Scott Cunningham Finalists Bad Rap by Mark Grisar Birdman McGee: World’s Greatest Demolition Derby Driver by Todd Shapiro Broken Hearts Revenge Club by Ian Schnee Canaries by Craig Cambria Deadbeat Boyfriends by Marc Conklin Doll by Edward Windus Fuel by James Roman & Chris Donaldson Ghost Music by Knut Arne Vedaa Living In Limbo by Mike Amato Monstrous Passions by Deborah Baxtrom One Armed Bandit by Bruce Dundore Second Skin by Kim Alan Pederson Spyder by Willie Price The Banner by Tina Juarez The Best Man by Jack Davidson The California Hotel Murders by Rusty Rhodes The Great Quest by Steve Weissman The Melon Man by Mike Palmisciano The Rise of Fred Amazing by Scott Cunningham Whisper by Cory Marciel

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2006 Screenwriting Contest Finalists

By Screenwriting Contest Results

Grand Prize Winners Control;Alt;Delete by David Flores Fragile by Eric Maran Spy Camp by Frank Naccarato Tucker by Travis Simmons Finalists Bad Girl by Dave Richards Cougar Run by Sean Kelly Dark Mission by Mark Marinovich Davinci’s Angels by Baron Brady Home by Matthew Allen Infected by Steve Nolan Last Arrow of Eros by Michael Starrbury The Macabre World of Lavendar Williams by Nicolas Del Gado The Red Baron by Richard Fox Santa Claus Goes to Pirate Island by Patrick Bates Silencer by Sean Mick Smilers by Mike McGeever Telepatrol by Jack Messitt Under Sirius by Ryan Faust Unity by Eugene L. Langlais III Waltzing Emily by Julie Tortorici

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Creative Screenwriting Reviews Script Pipeline Competition in 2006

By Press

by Peter Clines April, 2006 SCRIPT PIPELINE SCREENWRITING COMPETITION Now heading into its third year, the Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition sprung out of a recurring complaint Chadwick Clough was hearing in his online community. “Our writer clients continued to express their frustration with smaller screenplay competitions and we set out to do it right,” says Clough, who also writes CS’s “Production Co. Spotlight” column. Clough’s experience with script consulting and production companies, along with his management position at Script Pipeline, convinced him he could also be a contest director. “Before launching the Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition, I entered dozens of ‘screenwriting contests’ as a test of the entire process,” he explains. “We approached A-level production companies and agencies to not only consider the finalists but become involved in the judging process of the competition. Each of the last three years, Script Pipeline has had over twenty A-level companies reviewing submissions….

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