“Don’t Eat Paper!” script reviewed in a YouTube podcast

So, this was a surprise to me: a YouTube podcast reviewing my script, “Don’t Eat Paper!”. The Portland Comedy Film Festival just put this out yesterday. What’s cool is that the other reviews are for some of the films that will be shown at the festival but so far, I’m the only script that’s gotten talked about on the channel. (Click on the picture)

Portland Comedy Film Festival YouTube podcast link

(It’s 99% percent positive but the one negative is actually moot now. They got an earlier version of the script so the current version is 7 pages shorter which should address any questions of pace.)

Comedy, Don't Eat Paper!, Film Festival, Screenplay Competitions, Uncategorized

“DON’T EAT PAPER!” named Best Comedy Screenplay at Film Crash, currently a Finalist at Austin Comedy Film Festival and an Official Selection at San Pedro

Film Crash has been around for nearly 40 years, starting in NYC and currently held in Los Angeles (at the Royale Theater), while the San Pedro International Film Festival is at the gorgeous old Warner Grand in that Los Angeles harbor neighborhood.




Comedy, Don't Eat Paper!, Film Festival, Los Angeles, Screenplay Competitions, Uncategorized

Austin Comedy Film Festival – both “Limping Towards Babylon” and “Don’t Eat Paper!” are Official Selections

Just got notified that my screenplays “Don’t Eat Paper!” and “Limping Towards Babylon” are Official Selections of the Austin Comedy Film Festival. Also “…Paper!” is an Official Selection of the San Pedro International Film Festival (located in Los Angeles).



Comedy, Don't Eat Paper!, Limping Towards Babylon, Los Angeles, Screenplay Competitions, Uncategorized

2024 DON’T EAT PAPER! successes at screenplay competitions (so far)

Amongst many strong reader feedback’s:
– Blue Cat Screenplay Awards 1st reader analysis: “Despite dealing with ghosts (and the chilly physics of the air around them), this script is full of warmth, a big-hearted and earnest read with endearing characters and a clever, original setup from the first scene. Joanie and Roy never wear out their welcome individually, but their dynamic together is fresh, compelling, and constantly changing — the writer smartly uses Roy’s neurotic transference to illuminate and twist the relationship between the two, as they shift from therapist and client to friends to near-partners to an almost mother-and-child kinship (which is healthier than the real mother-and-child relationship between Dottie and Roy). I appreciated that the script quickly inverts the predictability of Roy’s unrequited love for Joanie into a more complex journey for both of them, as he moves toward self-discovery and freedom while she moves toward commitment and purpose. The rules and details of the ghost world are fun to learn about as they unfold, but they never overwhelm the story, and the wonderful supporting character of Lyuba acts as an exceedingly funny tool for exposition as well as an emotional, bruised soul in her own right.”

– 2024 – First Prize Comedy Feature Screenplay – Film Crash (40th year)

– 2024 – Best Comedy Screenplay – Woods Hole Film Festival (32nd year)

– 2024 – Finalist – Catalina Film Festival

Screenshot
– 2024 – Finalist – Houston Comedy Film Festival

– 2024 – Finalist – Northeast Film Festival

– 2024 – Semi-Finalist – Table Read My Screenplay (Hollywood)

– 2024 – Best Screenplay, 3rd place – Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival

– 2024 – Best Fantasy Romance Screenplay – Golden State Film Festival (at the Chinese
Theatre in LA)

– 2024 – Semi-Finalist – Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition

– 2024 – Semi-Finalist – Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival

– 2024 – Semi-Finalist – Los Angeles Comedy Film Festival

– 2024 – Quarter Finalist – Richmond International Film Festival

– 2024 – Quarter Finalist – Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition

– 2024 – Honorable Mention, The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival / Screenplay Contest

– 2024 – Official Selection – Austin Comedy Film Festival

– 2024 – Official Selection – Portland Comedy Film Festival

– 2024 – Official Selection – San Pedro International Film Festival

– 2024 – Official Selection – Hollywood International Indie Screenplay Awards

– 2024 – Official Selection – Berlin International Screenplay Festival

Comedy, Don't Eat Paper!, Film, Film Festival, Los Angeles, New York City, Screenplay Competitions, Uncategorized

“PRAY WITH A BULLET” – 2024 Screenplay Competition Successes

I revised thriller “PRAY WITH A BULLET” and sent it to various screenplay competition. Here are the successes from 2024 so far:

Here’s feedback from a Slamdance reader 1:
“‘Pray with a Bullet’ is a riveting tale, strong in its purposeful tone and vivid writer’s voice. A minor fix to note, the scene ins and outs within this screenplay could be tightened, as could the economy of language given we have some flow and pacing issues. However, this is an easy adjustment with a minor editing pass…. Nonetheless, this is an excellent ride and adventure. Wonderful job.”

Slamdance reader 2″:
“‘Pray with a Bullet’ has really stellar character build and development. It’s clear the writer has a strong understanding of people as a whole and how change in them comes about. The dialogue is relatively strong as well– natural and engaging…. A little bit of revising in act 2 for structure would immediately tighten up this script. Great job!”

Slamdance reader 3:
“In ‘Pray with a Bullet’ we have some excellent character work at play. There are fantastic creative choices as well within the writing; the writer’s voice shines in this screenplay…. This is such a fun ride to embark on as a reader and it’s clear this script is near its final form. Wonderful job!”

– 2024 – Semi-Finalist – 28th Annual Fade In Awards Thriller Competition

– 2024 – Semi-Finalist – Ojai Film Festival

– 2024 – Quarter-Finalist – ScreenCraft Action & Adventure Screenplay Competition

– 2024 – Quarter-Finalist – Table Read My Screenplay

– 2024 – Official Selection – Berlin International Screenplay Festival

Action, Film Festival, Pray with a Bullet, Screenplay Competitions, Thriller, Uncategorized

“THE LOST TREASURE OF THE MAYANS” named a Quarter-Finalist in the 2024 ScreenCraft Feature Competition

Here’s some short feedback from the competition:

“The genre elements truly shine here, ensuring the project’s commercial appeal comes across on the page. The historical context and physical location of ancient Mayan ruins provide an exciting backdrop for the drama and action. You write visual spectacle so well: Mick and Kabah’s underwater struggle against the skeletons, for example, the Jaguar War Goddess’s dark ritual, and the thrilling showdown with the giant mythical serpent. Beats like these make for an entertaining and visually compelling read.”

Action, Comedy, Film Festival, Screenplay Competitions, Uncategorized