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I managed to grab 2nd place for my short script titled "Missing in Action" at the NJ Film Festival (finalist in the 2003 American Gem Short Script contest).

Now if I could only get someone interested in making it .

Congratulations, Kim!

Yes, it's a long journey from script to screen, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

All my best,

Michele

not much? there's only one placement that could be better!

congrats! any placement in any contest is worth bragging about!

KIm,

Congrats..

Why don't you let Gary Winick of Indegit know of your high placement. He's located in NYC. Gary produces a lot of interesting award winning low budget digital indie features in the $100,000. range. The recent ' PIECES OF APRIL ' is an example.

Good luck

ron

Thanks folks. I was bummed because I had wanted to go down and accept my award in person and attend a writing seminar they were holding, but I had to work (it was held on a Friday). I figured it would have allowed me to make some possible connections. There had been some actors/directors/producers that work out of the NYC/New Jersey area attending the festival. I think William Baldwin had been honored for helping bring movies to NJ or something like that. It was a small deal, but when you don't have ANY opportunities, something is better than nothing. Not to mention sometimes it's interesting to meet other people and realize we're all in the same boat .

Thanks Ron! I'll look into it. I feel strongly about this piece (don't we all), but I do think it's a good story.

...but what? It's awesome!

Congrats!

Congrats, Kim. Nicely done.

CH

From Jerseyite(?) to another, congrats Kim.

I think Ron's idea is a good one.

Did you do the "Set in Philadelphia" contest this year also? I think the deadline was December 1.

Again, congratulations.

-Rich

No I didn't Rich. In many ways I've sort of shelved this short - I wrote it well over a year ago.

Actually, it's sort of funny how this short got written. The first script I ever wrote was a spec script for a TV show that had been canceled. I wanted to see if I could write a story. After that I started writing a feature length and at the same time had joined an online writers group. One of the bi-weekly theme's was "Missing in Action." The purpose of the group is to write a scene and then everyone critique's it. I had a lot of positive feedback and people wanted to know more about the main character - a short script was born. It touches upon September 11th so I wasn't sure how receptive people would be.

The 2003 American Gem contest was the first contest I entered in and I couldn't believe it when I made it to the semi-finals. I've entered it in a few larger contests and I'm still waiting to hear, but I'm not expecting much, it is a short after all.

Congratulations Kim.

The little victories help you appreciate the bigger ones.

Doug

It's the little things in life that make me happy. And this should definitely make you HAPPY!

If you have expanded it into a feature-length script, I would change the title.

Last month, I went to a seminar where this girl was in front of me who showed me her script she wanted to get an opinion on from the speaker.

I looked at the cover and said, "THE RIGHT STUFF? That's a very famous movie."

She said, "I've never heard of it."

When she was talking to the speaker (a producer) after the meeting, he asked her for the script. First of all, it looked like it was only 60 pages. He said, "That looks way too thin for a screenplay." As she handed it to him, he saw the cover and looked at her with an odd smile and said, "THE RIGHT STUFF? That's a very well-known movie."

She said, "Really? I've never heard of it."

He answered with, "You need to familiarize yourself with movies."

I have this one friend who really knows a lot about production. But as far as movies and knowing who any actors are--SHE'S TERRIBLE. She's always coming up with titles for her scripts that have already been used. When I tell her that it was a movie, she says, "Well, I've never heard of it."

And I say, "It was a very popular movie. It was a hit."

I think it's best to, at least, appear knowledgable in the craft you've chosen.

If it's a short script go out and film it yourself and do it on digital. I've filmed around 5 of short scripts. Just recently one was shown a film festival in November.

A lady who put a posting on here a few months ago just received two my lastest short films and is going to show them on her tv program.

It's good experience. Just grab a couple of books for a book store on filmmaking and your on your way. There is a small market out there for short films. My first film I made for around 20 dollars made me close to 3000.

The others didn't fair to well but such is life, there is good and bad.

mf

I'm not the greatest at coming up with titles either, but at the time I did realize the "Missing in Action" title has already been used and what genre it is typically associated with. I don't think the title of the short is a far stretch for the theme of the story, but hell, if someone wanted to film it and change the title I'd be open to anything :)

That's an idea Marcel, I'm just not sure I'm the type of person with the drive and resources to pull it all together. I may look into it though as I'll have some free time over the summer to devote to it if I decide to do it. Thanks for the info!

Of course, it gets harder all the time to name a script something that hasn't been taken.

I'm thinking of SWEET (2000), Elyse Couvillion's acclaimed 4-minute short, in which all of the movements of the male love interest are scanned from left to right, and his female counterpart is shot only from right to left as they make their way toward each other through the length of the film; and SWEET (2000), David DuBois' short about a girl named Josie who's caught in the crossfire between her stepfather and her neurotic mother.

And don't confuse either of these with SWEET (2000), Jim Pilkington's hilarious story about the consequences of two-timing an imaginary girlfriend -- HYSTERICALLY funny, and yes, sweet.

Kim, it's the small steps that get you where you're going. Congrats.

Congratulations Kim! That's a great performance right out of the box. Plus, your script is likely to continue to perform well in contests, you should keep entering.

Kim

Congrats. Savor the moment.

You may want to contact film classes in your area about shooting the script. I don't know how complicated it is, or what kind of budget it would take, but they may be interested.

You also might want to contact local independent film coalitions. Most cities have them. Go to a meeting and tell them you have a good short you would like shot. You might find local resources who would be interested.

You may find this article of interest...

http://www.scriptmag.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/scriptmag/newsletter/s.pl?which=1-12-11-2003-13-24&page=/www.scriptmag.com/articles/view_article.php?id=289

Thanks Michael, I can't wait to read it.