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Final Draft Announces Contest Winner

Final Draft has announced the winners of its annual "Big Break" International Screenplay Contest. Selected from over 2,500 entries, this year's winner is "Do Not Remove" by D.J. Richardson of Los Angeles, CA. "Do Not Remove" is the story of a lonely traveling salesman who finds new meaning in his life when his offbeat secretary and her young son, who collects mattress tags, move in with him. He will receive $10,000 and take meetings with industry professionals. Winner D.J. Richardson said, "Everyone's heard the old saying that every journey begins with a first step. In 'Do Not Remove,' the lead character finally takes one tiny chance in his life - a chance that completely transforms his world in ways he never imagined. As someone who has put off entering the Final Draft contest every year until I finally filled out the form for 'Do Not Remove,' I'm kind of feeling a little closer to that character right now."

"Holliday's Girl," written by Bob Bridges, won second place and he will receive $3,000. "Holliday's Girl" tells the story of a New Age woman with a penchant for getting engaged who reunites with her father - a famous country-western singer - and they embark on a road trip filled with self-discovery.

"The Straight and Narrow," by Sam Nam, came in third and he'll receive $1,000. "The Straight and Narrow" follows a retired husband and wife mobster hit-man team who go on the straight and narrow, only to be pulled back into their mobster ways to save their lives and the life of their child.

All finalists will receive a copy of Final Draft scriptwriting software, a one-year subscription to Creative Screenwriting Magazine and scr(i)pt Magazine and a $50 gift certificate from The Writers Store.

"Our congratulations and best wishes to D.J., Bob and Sam and all the other writers who submitted their work," said Marc Madnick, President and CEO of Final Draft, Inc. "Our Big Break contest keeps getting more popular every year and we're happy to offer an opportunity to more and more writers and help start them on their way to a successful career."

The other "Big Break" International Screenplay Contest Finalists were:

Philippa Rizopoulos, "We Love Lucy": A blind man and an agoraphobic woman discover themselves and find love thanks to a lovable seeing-eye dog.

Nancy Pothier, "The Total Dummy's Guide to Marriage": A divorce attorney and a marriage therapist with relationship problems get married on a whim, and realize that they are good for each other.

Nisso Cohen, "MiG-21": An Iraqi pilot defects to Israel with the Soviet MiG-21, testing his bravery and honor when the Israeli military seeks information from him.

Kris Moore, "The Nelson's": An ambitious reporter struggles between family and career until the return of her husband and the antics of her zany mother-in-law force her to reprioritize her life.

Penelope Karageorge, "The Neon Jungle": An artificial intelligence pioneer is murdered and a journalist must unravel the motives behind it, against the backdrop of a sex club.

Michael Raymond, "The Passage": A young boy experiences time-travel through a secret passage and befriends his great-grandfather when he was a child.

Robin Brown,"Sane": An ex-con learns that his therapist was responsible for the murders he served time for and tries to put his life back together.

About Final Draft's "Big Break" Contest:

Now in its fourth year, Final Draft's "Big Break" Contest has become one of the most popular in Hollywood due to previous winners' success and its generous payout. The first contest's winner, "Dawg," by Ken Hastings, has been produced and shot by Gold Circle Films (starring Elizabeth Hurley and Denis Leary), and 2001's winner, "Breathing Underwater," by Torye Mullins, has been optioned by Stephen J. Cannell Studios and just recently, last year's winner, "8-Track," by Shawn Corridan, has been bought by Fox 2000.

A panel of industry professionals conducted the final judging: Marti Blumenthal, John Fasano, Jeff Gordon, James Mangold, Outerbanks Entertainment and Matthew Weinberg.

Updated: 11/19/2003

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