Monterey Screenplay Competition Announces 2007 Winners
The Monterey County Film Commission has announced the winners of its 2007 Monterey Screenplay Competition, which this year attracted 183 screenplays from across the country.
The grand prize winner of $2,000 is Barbara Palmer of Whitefish, Mont., for her screenplay, "Robin's Boys." Runner-up winner of $1,000 is Kevin Leonard of Jessup, Md., for "Rickenbacker." Honorable mention went to Tom Schlegel of Salinas, Calif., for "Crossroaders."
Screenwriter Phil Mell of North Hollywood, Calif., won the $1,000 On Location Award for best screenplay with Monterey County settings or written by a county resident. His screenplay "American Cowboy" featured Monterey County locations. Mell was raised in Salinas, Calif., and attended California State University, Monterey Bay.
The winning screenplays gained immediate opportunity for optioning consideration by the competition's corporate sponsor, NESTech Management Group, Inc. of Salinas, which optioned two of the screenplays, "Robin's Boys" and "Rickenbacker."
For further information contact the Monterey County Film Commission at 831-646-0910 or www.FilmMonterey.org. This year's competition chairperson was Wendy A. Goldman.
Winning Screenplay Loglines:
"Robin's Boys" by Barbara Palmer
While searching for his mother who abandoned him as a baby, a black teenager is wanted for kidnapping when he rescues an abused mentally-challenged white boy.
"Rickenbacker" by Kevin Leonard
"Rickenbacker" is the true story of Eddie Rickenbacker, race drive, World War I fighter pilot, and World Ward II emissary for the U.S. lost at sea for 24 days. The story shows the real side of this 20th Century hero-a difficult, profane man with a hair-trigger temper, conflicted over his family history.
"Crossroaders" by Tom Schlegel
A small-time grafter named Stony Page is recruited into a crew of casino cheats called "Crossroaders." The plan is to bankrupt the last Dixie-Mafia owned casino in Tunica, Mississippi, in what could be a suicide mission.
"American Cowboy" by Phil Mell
A rough-around-the-edges cowboy goes on the road to rodeo-ing after losing his job and marriage. His one goal in mind-win the Calgary Stampede.
Updated: 02/20/2008
