Watch readings of the winning screenplays performed by professional actors:
![]() March 2018 Reading by Marisaa Lessman |
![]() March 2018 Reading by Travis Darkow |
![]() March 2018 Reading by Robert Cox |
![]() March 2018 Reading by Melissa Willis |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
TV CRIME BEST SCENE Reading of LASTVIEW, by Candace Taylor Johnson
Genre: Crime Fiction
Lastview is a Crime Fiction in which a former police officer who witnesses the past events of dishonesty, war, love and loss of her former partner at a mystifying crime scene. She struggles to forget the vision and must gain control of her new position as the Warden of a Prison called Lastview.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Val Cole
Tasha: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Wills: Peter-Mark Raphael
Thomas: Scott McCulloch
Teal: Ali Chappell
Oren: Gabriel Darku
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Op: Mary Cox
TV COMEDY BEST SCENE Reading of A MATTER OF BAD TASTE, by Gene Gwynne
Genre: Adult Comedy
The Grubb family experience the effects of advertising as Sis appears on voyeur TV; little Brother stays home to watch porno; while Mon and Dad eat out at a crappy restaurant; sponsored by Queerios, S&M’s, Pap Smear Ribbon Beer, and B S Coffee.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Jacqui: Ali Chappell
Host: Scott McCulloch
Jack: Gabriel Darku
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
Society
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Dark comedy, satire, parody
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It’s funny?
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Adult sitcom
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Take The Money And Run
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
It’s never-ending
7. How many stories have you written?
Myriad
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
None. Film scores only.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Computer and format glitches
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Sothern fried chicken
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Op: Mary Cox
TV COMEDY BEST SCENE Reading of FUNNY FARM, by Deshon Porter & Donnell Porter
Genre: Comedy, Political
A hotshot young politician pus his campaign on hold when he pleads insanity to escape jail time, but he spends more time trying to earn his career back than his sanity.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Jessica: Ali Chappell
Server: Scott McCulloch
Sam: Gabriel Darku
Cashier: Val Cole
Delivery Person: Peter-Mark Raphael
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
Funny farm is about a couple who is just about to get married and want a change in their lives, they don’t want to live in the noise of the city. They want to be in the subs where it is a lot less noisier. this would be perfect for either a sitcom or a film.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
This is really good for TV sitcom but it can also be good for a funny movie.
. 3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
This film should be made into a movie because a lot of people need to laugh in the theaters again, it will be fun to go see a funny movie.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Real fun
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Titanic
7. How many stories have you written?
Fur
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Hall of Fame
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Getting tired at times when I really wanted to get it done.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I Love to host and produce my own online radio show the big d zone. I also enjoy helping the church get out to more places on the radio.
in memory of my late wife tresa donnell porter
Let me add that my late wife would have been proud to see this day for this is her work as well my only wish is she was here to see people enjoy the work .
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Op: Mary Cox
TV HORROR BEST SCENE Reading of PEEL, by Matthew Torti
Genre: Horror
Logline: A struggling make-up artist is given the opportunity to work alongside the industry’s most successful actor, who is secretly a real life monster.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Jimmy:Peter-Mark Raphael
Creedance: Scott McCulloch
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
PEEL is a television series about a struggling make-up artist that is gifted the opportunity to work alongside the industry’s most successful actor, who is secretly a real life monster.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Horror.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
PEEL focuses on people who wear masks, in both the literal and metaphorical sense, which I feel touches on some important current issues we are facing. But it also tells a story that is entertaining, fun, creepy and serious in equal measure, since horror is one of the most important genres in that, historically, it can adopt a variety of different tones without losing sight of its true identity.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Honest. Fantastical.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
BEETLEJUICE.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Seven months.
7. How many stories have you written?
7 features and 4 pilots.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
The Grand Finale by Danny Elfman (from EDWARD SCISSORHANDS)
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
It was a challenge to find where the characters wanted to go. Even though I write treatments, once I start writing a script I often let the character choose their own path. More often than not, the challenge is making sure they make decisions that serve them and the story.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Reading, playing music, spending as much time as I can with my son.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Op: Mary Cox
2017 TV SPEC Winners (11)
![]() November 2017 Reading by Jimmy Prosser | ![]() September 2017 Reading by Leslie Lyshkob |
![]() September 2017 Reading by Cameron Chapman | ![]() August 2017 Reading by Daniel Richardson |
![]() July 2017 Reading by Jessi Thind | ![]() June 2017 Reading by Paul Hewitt |
![]() May 2017 Reading by Bonnie Bonaduce | ![]() April 2017 Reading Written by Matthew J. Gonzalez |
![]() February 2017 Reading Written by Nader Hobballah | ![]() February 2017 Reading Written by Neil Chase |
![]() March 2017 Reading Written by Marc Mulcahy |
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Winning TV PILOT Reading of PSI-COM 5, by Ed Vela
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR: Becky Shrimpton
Lynx: Merlin Simard
Lucien: Allan Brunet
Joselyn: Mahtab Sabet
Liticia: Kate Varadi
Titansor: Anthony Tran
Hadley: Scott Beaudin
Cho: Salma Dharsee
What is your TV Pilot screenplay about?
At a secret government facility, young psychics are being trained and their psychic gifts developed but when one group: Psi-Com 5, finds out about an enhancement program that is killing and maiming some of the younger less powerful psychics, while at the same time discovering a powerful young psychic on the outside being used as a pawn, they decide to try to escape the confines of the Clinic.
Why should this screenplay be made into a TV show?
Psi-Com 5 has at its core a few elements that make it very appealing for episodic television or platform viewing: it has well drawn characters relatable for who they are and who they aren’t, it has a basic “chase” plot element as PC5 works to stay hidden from society at large while staying one step ahead of the Clinic as they relentlessly pursue them, and it combines both a sci-fi and thriller element as it deals with both psychic powers and the danger of the pursuit.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Super Psychics.
What TV show do you keep watching over and over again?
Game of Thrones.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
A few years.
How many stories have you written?
About 60, if you count stage plays, screenplays and teleplays.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
The Longest Time by Billy Joel.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Firstly, the framing device, it seemed natural once I realized that Lynx is such a acerbic character that if you didn’t know what he was thinking he wouldn’t be near as likeable as he ended up being, so I told it thru his eyes. Secondly, the age old dilemma in a pilot: making sure ask more questions than you answer.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I love producing, directing and acting in my own short films, and web series. It offers me a creative smorgasbord.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
As a TV pilot there aren’t that many festivals to enter a script like: Psi-Com 5, and this is the 1st contest I have entered it. I found the feedback thorough and helpful.
You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
I find FilmFreeway a fantastic way to search, find and enter festivals all over the country and the world.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
If its not a story that you feel you have to write… Don’t write it. If you think it’s interesting… The audience will too.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox