LIVING IN CRIME ALLEY, 8min., USA, Fan Fiction
Directed by Rob Ayling
A single father struggles to bring up his child, a huge fan of the dark knight, in downtown Gotham, known to citizens as Crime Alley.
CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!
Watch the August 2017 Winning FAN FICTION Screenplay.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Family.
Based on the 1991 movie “The Rocketeer”. The grandson of a high-flying hero will do anything to live up to his grandfather’s legacy, including battling a new global threat. The odds may be against him, but he’s got a secret weapon: a prototype jetpack that’s destined to make him a legend.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Hugh Ritchie
Charlie: Nick Wicht
Lex: Julia Baldwin
Valentina: Alicia Payne
Tour Guide: Beck Lloyd
Bodyguard: David Occhipinti
Air Traffic Guy: Michael Lake
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
In the spirit of something like TRON: Legacy or Jurassic World, ROCKETEERS is a modern day “legacy-quel” that pays tribute to its source material, but takes the mythos in an exciting new direction. It’s a passing-of-the-torch from the jazzy 30’s world depicted in the original 1991 Rocketeer movie… to what the golden age hero might look like in today’s high-tech universe. My story follows Charlie Secord, a thief with a good heart who will do anything to protect his grandfather’s heroic legacy — that of Cliff Secord, the original Rocketeer. Yes, the jetpack doesn’t fall far from the tree, as we see Charlie forced into taking up the mantle of becoming the Rocketeer when a frightening new global threat emerges with designs on ruling the skies. Charlie may be in over his head, but he won’t have to battle evil alone… hence the title, ROCKETEERS. The ‘s’ -the pluralization of that word- is meaningful in more ways than one.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Hopefully, like its blockbuster predecessor, it’s a Family Action/Adventure.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Of all of Disney’s live action fare from the 80’s and 90’s, I firmly believe The Rocketeer is the most deserving of a sequel. Aside from the fact that I believe he’d feel right at home in the superhero movie landscape –especially with the homegrown, All-American Steve Rogers defending the multiplex for the MCU; a square-jawed Cliff Secord type– I think the universe of The Rocketeer is ripe for re-discovery and exploration. The original movie is a classic, no doubt, but it’s really a comedic look at the classic hero’s origin story. We’ve seen him learn to fly and juggle his secret identity with his masked one, with kind of a wink and a smile. But we’ve also seen that now in countless other superhero movies. What excites me is the possibility of seeing this “aw shucks” hero through the lens of a modern day action film; seeing him go up against other high-flying villains that are, perhaps, villains better suited for a Liam Neeson actioner, and not a family film. How does that affect the tone of The Rocketeer when, yes, we believe he could be in real mortal danger? And yes, we’ve seen him in the golden age of zeppelins and biplanes. Now let’s see him survive high-stakes threats in an age of drones and stealth military tech wonders and power-mad dictators. And, what they could achieve with the modest optical FX of the 90s was great, but how cool would it be to see The Rocketeer in an ILM-style action sequence with updated VFX?? I get a big, goofy grin on my face just thinking about how cool it would all look. Look out, Iron Man! This Rocketeer would straight up OWN aerial action sequences.
How would you describe this script in two words?
As you can probably tell, brevity is not my strong suit. Two words…. aw jeez… how about: ROCKETEER. INSANITY.
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
I’m an action and sci-fi nut, but funny enough, the movie I’ve probably watched the most is ED WOOD. I love watching movies about making movies, and I also am something of a Tim Burton apologist. I used to be a Tim Burton defender, now I’m an apologist. It’s not easy these days for us Burton fans. Well, before Alice and all that, he made what might be the best movie about making a movie ever made… ED WOOD. It’s Depp in his prime before he started annoying people. It’s touching, uplifting, humanizing… and it’s honestly the funniest movie I’ve ever seen. I’d put it above Spinal Tap for best comedy movie, no joke. The late, great Martin Landau powers the movie with an all-timer performance as Bela Lugosi. That accent. Every line out of his mouth is a quotable gem. And when I’m feeling down, or creatively empty, the movie inspires me. It reminds me of everything I love about movies and the creative process in general. It teaches me to rise above the odds, to shake off the hate and second thoughts. It makes me want to create. Plus, it’s got gorgeous black-and-white cinematography and an awesomely gothy score. Runner-up is PUMPKINHEAD.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I’ve honestly been toying with this story for 26 years. Ever since I saw the first Rocketeer in the theaters back in ’91, I was imagining a sequel. I kept holding out hope that Disney would make one, but they never did. I scribbled little notes here and there, I’d put it down, I’d pick it up, and back down again. It was only recently, in the last year, that I sat down and made myself streamline the ideas and turn it into a screenplay. Once I got writing, I cranked it out over a couple of weekends; full days of writing – mornings for new stuff, afternoons for rewrites.
How many stories have you written?
Several. I don’t have an exact number thanks to all the false starts, but it’s I’m sure it’s up there. I have stories I keep going back to, and I have inklings of ideas for things all the time. Let’s guesstimate that it’s between five real stories and about a zillion fragments of others.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Man, this is tough. It’s not my favorite, but you know what song I listen to A LOT? “Epic” by Faith No More. When those drums kick in, it gets me so pumped up, I feel like steam shoots out of my ears like a real life Looney Tune, and I bounce around the city all day after I hear it. I feel like I could run through a wall, or take on the world, or at least mosh a bit and not be self-conscious about it.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I’m my own worst enemy. My biggest obstacle is my stupid mind. My first instinct is to second guess everything I put on the page. “Is it good enough?” “Will people think this is cool?” “Does this make sense?” I have to fight those demons back every page, and remind myself that I’m writing for me. No one else. Yes, it’s good to know your audience and all that, but you have to please yourself first and foremost. If you yourself like it, chances are others like you will enjoy it too. Once I get over that little voice, the scenes geyser out. Movie magic happens.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Animals – especially, my cat. I’ll keep his identity a secret, but his nickname is Boo Man. He’s freakin’ adorable. I also am an avid movie watcher. I am passionate about seeing film and discussing it; I average 1 to 2 trips to the theater a week. I like to see everything on THE BIGGEST SCREEN POSSIBLE. Big releases, indies, classics. Specialty screenings are my favorite. I recently saw a 35mm print of the original Robocop on the big screen and it was a transcendent experience. The audience was cheering and hollering at every classic scene, it was like an interactive Robocop rock concert. “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me!” APPLAUSE. “Your move, creep!” DOUBLE APPLAUSE. I also pretend I’m interested in cooking, but I think I’m more interested in eating.
You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
So far, so good. They’ve made submitting easy, and I’m extremely grateful for that.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Fan Fiction Festival seemed liked the premier fest for fan-driven stories, so it felt like an organic choice. I wanted the script to find an audience of like-minded creators and fans that not only celebrate the properties they love, but create within those worlds as well. I’m happy your fest exists, honestly; it seems like fan fiction stuff is hard to get out there, so thank you for doing the good work. In terms of feedback, I’m always gobsmacked anytime anyone likes anything I do, so I was flattered by my reader’s kind remarks and warm reaction to the script. I also thought he was gentleman, and phrased his constructive criticism in a very polite manner. If you’re reading this now, Mystery Reader Man, thank you for that.
****
Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Watch the May 2017 Winning Fan Fiction Screenplay.
| Winning Screenplay – ALL OF THEIR COLORS Written by Wendy Appelbaum CAST LIST: NARRATOR – Val Cole |
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Action
In an alternate Marvel Universe, the world’s superheroes are infected by a virus brought by a powerful being from another dimension. Can the undead former heroes be stopped before they devour the entire world?
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
Marvel Zombies is based on several Marvel comic book series that take place in an alternate universe where most of the Marvel superheroes and villains have been infected with a virus that makes them undead and hungry for human brains.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
I would say it’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi plus horror, and if you count superhero films as a genre, it obviously falls into that category also. Believe it or not, there’s some humor in there as well.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Marvel movies and TV series are among the hottest properties around, and so are zombie shows such as The Walking Dead. Add in the fact that there’s a trend to make ‘R’ versions of their properties, such as Deadpool and Logan, and I think there’s an undeniable recipe for success.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Nightmare Scenario
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
The original Star Wars (A New Hope), with Blade Runner as a close second.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I originally wrote it two years ago, then put it aside for a long time. I recently spent a few weeks on a rewrite.
How many stories have you written?
I’ve written around twenty screenplays, TV pilots and specs, two novels, a history book, and had quite a few short stories published in science fiction anthologies.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
That is an extremely difficult question, and the answer changes over time. Right now, I’d say “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel is something I’ve listened to and enjoyed a lot.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I wanted to make this screenplay work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also base it fairly closely on the comic books. That meant I had to replace some of the characters who were important in the comic story, such as Magneto, with characters that Disney/Marvel owns the film rights to. Originally I left Spider-Man out, but now that he’s part of the MCU, I added him in the latest draft. I also had to figure out how to write the script without making the zombies the main characters, so I chose a few ordinary people who were in the first Marvel Zombies story in (Fantastic Four Unlimited), and made it mostly from their POV.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I’m a social studies teacher, and I love history and government. I also love music, movies, drawing, and video games.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
A friend of mine won a few months ago with his How I Met Your Mother script, and that’s when I first heard about it. I immediately decided to enter this script after I read the rules. And the feedback was fantastic. Critical where it needed to be, but not negative at all. I really appreciated it.
*****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
 SUBMIT your Best Scene Screenplay or TV SPEC ScriptVoted #1 TV Contest in North America. |
 SUBMIT your Best Scene Screenplay or FEATURE ScriptFULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed |
 FIRST SCENE (first 10pgs) Screenplay CONTESTSubmit the first stages of your film and get full feedback! |
Watch the February 2017 FAN FICTION Screenplay Winner.
| Winning Screenplay – SPINACH RUN Written by Neil Chase CAST LIST: NARRATOR – Ursina Luther |
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Tasked with capturing a nefarious chemist, Navy SEALs Popeye, Bluto, Sweet-Pea and Wimpy find themselves at the mercy of an infamous drug lord.
Get to know the writer:
What is your Fan Fiction screenplay on the cartoon “POPEYE” about?
Spinach Run is a fresh take on the Popeye universe, where four Navy SEALs (Popeye, Bluto, Sweet-Pea, and Wimpy) are sent to a South American jungle to capture a wanted chemist and recover a sample of his experimental toxin, code-named Spinach. Their mission goes sideways and they’re captured by the chemist’s employer, a notorious drug lord, who decides to use them as guinea pigs for the toxin.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Popeye’s been around for almost 90 years, and through all that time, he’s been portrayed pretty much the same way. This is a completely different way of seeing the characters we all know and love, while staying true to who they are at heart.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Action, thriller.
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Probably Star Wars.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
It took me about three days to write it. Once the initial idea came to me and I started writing, it came pretty fast.
How many stories have you written?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid, so it’s hard to say how many short stories there have been. That said, I’ve written a dozen feature screenplays, numerous short screenplays, and I’m awaiting publication of my debut novel.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I always wanted to try my hand at fan fiction, so I thought I’d take a crack at a character that’s not so mainstream, yet one that’s still recognizable.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
None that I can think of. It was a fun experience from start to finish.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
My other passion is acting, which actually helps me to be a better screenwriter, as I’ve learned where to focus in terms of dialogue, action lines, and so on. I try to write the kinds of scripts I would want to read as an actor.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
The Fan Fiction Festival is well known, and seemed like a perfect fit for this script. It was a great way to gauge if I was onto something with my take on a classic character. I’m so glad to have entered, not only for the win, but for the fantastic feedback. It’s good to see the script’s strengths and areas for improvement. This was a fun script to write, and I’m grateful for the useful advice to make it even better. Thank you for the great notes!
| SUBMIT your Best Scene Screenplay or TV SPEC Script Voted #1 TV Contest in North America. |
SUBMIT your Best Scene Screenplay or FEATURE Script FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed |
FIRST SCENE (first 10pgs) Screenplay CONTEST Submit the first stages of your film and get full feedback! |
****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Watch the January 2017 FAN FICTION Screenplay Winner.
| Best Scene from the screenplay UNIVERSAL SAINT BATMAN Screenplay Written by Nathan Trumbull CAST LIST: NARRATOR – Catherine D’Angelo |
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery
Decades after the disbanding of the Justice League, Gotham citizen, Birdie Vale’s public and private fight with a cutting-edge robotic policing initiative leads her on a collision course with not only her clouded past, but the Dark Knight himself.
What is your screenplay about?
Universal Saint Batman is about a future where Gotham has begun questioning Batman’s relevance after the dawn of hyper intelligent AI systems and androids. Birdie Vale, a new character to the Batman Universe, seeks to find out from the Bat himself what he thinks about the new robots as well as explore her own personal relationship to him.
What genres does your screenplay under?
In typical Batman fashion, I’d consider this a neo-noir sci-fi mystery.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Fun and fresh
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
I think this would make a great film because it doesn’t follow Batman or Bruce Wayne, but rather a whole new character for people to rediscover the Batman universe with. It offers a fresh story with a cast of characters you may be familiar with, but shown in an entirely new light.
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
I’d bet Jaws
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I’d had the idea for the script for quite awhile before sitting down to write a draft, of which I wrote three in about two months time before it came to how it exists now.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I’d always wanted to give fan fiction a try and contests like this one seemed as good a reason as any.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Finding people to generate good feedback on fan fiction is difficult when no one in your creative circle has done it before so I’d say that was the hardest challenge… That or deciding to gender swap the main character after the first draft.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I enjoy bouldering, movies, and video games when I have the time.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
The festival was great motivation to get the script done and the feedback was indispensable in regards to bettering myself as a writer.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Don’t dwell on the advice of other writers. Do what lets you write and write as much as you can.
****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
| SUBMIT your Best Scene Screenplay or TV SPEC Script Voted #1 TV Contest in North America. |
SUBMIT your Best Scene Screenplay or FEATURE Script FULL FEEDBACK on all entries. Get your script performed |
FIRST SCENE (first 10pgs) Screenplay CONTEST Submit the first stages |
Watch the May 2016 Fan Fiction Screenplay Winners.
STAR WARS Episode 1: The Redemption of Skywalker Feature Screenplay
Written by Bryan O’Flaherty
Read 10 Questions with the writer
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Synopsis: Some stories are too important, some stories must be retold. The story of Anakin Skywalker will be molded between the pressure of separate forces vying for his soul, which will determine the fate of the galaxy.
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Sean Ballantyne
ANAKIN – Chris Ormrod
SHALI/MARA – Isabella Bontorin
OWEN/VARIOUS – Neil Kulin
ADMIRAL LEOPOLD/VARIOUS – Mark Sparks
OBI-WAN – Dan Cristofori
*****
POWER TV Pilot (Green Lantern Pilot)
Written by Hisonni Johnson
Read 10 Questions with the writer
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Comic book, Drama, Sci Fi, Action, Superhero
Synopsis: A tragic turns of events leaves one of the world’s greatest heroes injured, without his powers and public enemy number one.
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Sean Ballantyne
JOHN – Mark Sparks
SANDRA – Lavinia Latham
SHIERA – Isabella Bontorin
DENNIS – Neil Kulin
LAWTON – Dan Cristofori
***
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Warner Brothers just posted their new Suicide Squad trailer today.
Here’s what people are saying on Twitter:
Watch the April 2016 Fan Fiction Screenplay Winner.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE “Punchline” Fan Fiction
Written by Jaime Medina
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Sean Kaufmann
VIC – Michael Lake
SCRATCH – Noah Casey
TRIXIE – Kiran Friesen
LITA – Sandra Krstin
BENNY – Dennis Barham
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
A failed comedian makes a deal with the Devil to switch places with the Vegas star who stole his act!.
Interview with Jaime Medina:
1. What is your Twilight Zone fan fiction screenplay about?
It’s about a failed comedian who makes a deal with the Devil to switch places with a Vegas star who stole his act.
2. How did this screenplay fit into the context of the TV show?
I think it would fit right in nicely, especially in the first few seasons.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Envy kills.
What TV show do you keep watching over and over again?
Twilight Zone and classic Star Trek. Those are two of my favorites!
What is your all-time favorite Twilight Zone episode?
I’d have to say the Christmas episode, “Night of the Meek” starring Art Carney of “Honeymooners” fame. It’s a great story that really touched me emotionally.
How many stories have you written?
I’ve written three feature screenplays and about half a dozen short screenplays.
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
Rod Serling was a genius, and a big part of why I got into writing in the first place, so I wanted to pay homage to him.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I took some great notes from the Fan Fiction guys and incorporated their suggestions.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Family, politics, religion, sports.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I had always wanted to try my hand at writing a Twilight Zone episode. It was kind of a fantasy of mine, and this festival made that possible. The feedback I got was excellent and it really helped me to finish the story.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Write as much as you can. You only learn by writing and making mistakes. You may write something great, then look at it later and realize you have to chuck half of it. That’s okay. Writing is not easy, but it’s worth it! Follow your dreams!
*****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
DOCTOR WHO “The Time Cuckoo” by David Gilbank & Paul Renhard
Submit your Fan Fiction Screenplay to the Festival: http://fanfictionfestival.com
Watch the Fan Fiction Table Reading “The Time Cuckoo”
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Amaka Umeh
DOCTOR – Hugh Ritchie
AMY – Victoria Urquhart
NELSON – Julian Ford
VENTRILLIS – Sean Ballantyne
REGAZZA – Mohogany Brown
HARDY – Isaac Alfie
Get to know writers David Gilbank & Paul Renhard:
Matthew Toffolo: What is your Doctor Who screenplay about?
David Gilbank & Paul Renhard: The Doctor is forced to kidnap Lord Nelson by an alien race who believe Nelson’s battle skills will help them win a war that has been raging for centuries.
Matthew: Where does this episode fit into the context of the series?
David & Paul: It was written for Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. Although I’m pretty sure with a bit of tinkering, we could adjust to suit Doctors past and present.
Matthew: Your screenplay ends with a twist and a setup to a future conflict with the Doctor. Do you have episode 2 and beyond of your Doctor Who universe written or outlined?
David & Paul: Not yet but it’s on our list of ‘things to do’. We’re currently in pre-production on a screenplay that we wrote about sport and love. That’s right a love story mixed up in a sport story. Think Rocky meets Pretty Woman and Love Actually. Or Slapshot in Love. Or something like that. We did it for the money.
Matthew: Who is your all-time favorite actor who played Doctor Who?
David & Paul: Tough one – it would come down to Tom Baker or Jon Pertwee and we’d probably for Baker just because of The Seeds of Doom! Or Pertwee in the Planet of the Spiders. We did like Davis Tennant too.
Matthew: Who is your favorite non-Doctor character in the series?
David & Paul: The Daleks. Every hero has to have his or her antagonists and the Daleks are just the best bad guys in fiction. Also liked Mike Yates, Sgt Benton and The Master (particularly Roger Delgado – Moriarty Deluxe). Also have to say I (Dave) loved the Tomb of the Cybermen. A beautifully written adventure with a claustrophobia akin to Alien (made some 10 years later). I love the way the old series (60’s and 70’s in particular) had to rely on storytelling to make up for the sparse FX and miniscule budgets.
Matthew: What TV show do you keep watching over and over again…besides Doctor Who?
David & Paul: The Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy TV mini-series – Alec Guinness as George Smiley. Perfect telly. I also loved Callan. Edward Woodward as a deadeye killer with a whiff of conscience was mesmerising. Loved the rebooted Battlestar Galactica. That story deserved to be re-made and those guys did it. Spectacularly written and wonderful acting. One of the best TV series ever made, scifi or other. I’m also re-watching The West Wing again. It’s like revisiting old friends. Aaron Sorkin has the IQ of Skynet.
Matthew: How long have you been working on this screenplay?
David & Paul: About three months.
Matthew: How many stories have you written?
David & Paul: Loads. We wrote a SciFi horror screenplay in 2010 called ‘Cull’ that won several screenwriting awards around the world. Think Soylent Green meets Alien. Its horrifying but a wild ride. We’ve also written several TV series, usually involving gangsters and aliens. We’ve just made a short film that is being well received. We’ve also written a ghost/horror screenplay which is currently doing well on the festival circuit.
Matthew: What motivated you to write this screenplay?
David & Paul: We just love Doctor Who and the creative possibilities are infinite! We are ambitious writers and thought we could write something pretty exciting.
Matthew: What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
David & Paul: A 9 to 5 job and, clashing personalities. Fortunately Dave is pretty obsessive and is pretty driven to complete projects. Dave finishes. Paul rewrites. Dave changes it back. They argue. They don’t talk for a week. Paul changes it back, Dave sulks. Paul thinks he’s got his own way. Dave sneakily changes it without Paul knowing…and voila a perfect writing team.(I didn’t know you did that!) (Just joking) (Really?) (of course) (I knew it!) (here’s a bottle of Johnny Walker. Drink it now) (Ok, but I will be checking in future) (sure you will, Drink…drink…driiiiink) (I love you) (shut up).
Matthew: Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
David & Paul: We both love making films! So far we’ve only had the resources to make short films, but watch this space! Dave loves cricket, physics, Rugby League (Brisbane Broncos), Evolutionary archeology, history, carnivorous plants, digging holes and road rage. Paul likes writing and nothing else.
Matthew: What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
David & Paul: We’re always on the lookout for festivals to enter and this is the only one we know of that would let us enter a script based on an existing TV franchise. It’s always great to receive constructive criticism of your work, it’s the only way to make your writing better.
We accept we probably tried to cram too much into the episode, but we just couldn’t help it!
Matthew: Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
David & Paul: We’re really not in a position to offer advice, as we’ve never had anything made, barring our own short films, which are of varying quality. However, the only sage advice is to write! Just start writing, anything. The more you write the better you get at it. We’re both advertising copywriters during the day and we’ve learned that anything down on the laptop screen is better than nothing at all. Also listening to music and listening to the voices in your head is good. Unless they tell you to rob a bank or overthrow the government.
—
Producer/Director – Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director – Sean Ballantyne
Editor – John Johnson
Submit your Fan Fiction Screenplay to the Festival: http://fanfictionfestival.com
Read Interview with Star Wars Storyboard Artist Kurt Van der Basch
IRON MAN
Movie Review
Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges,
Review by Salome Bell
SYNOPSIS:
When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.
REVIEW:
You can’t send a boy to do a man’s job, and you can’t put a man in a role that calls for him to be smarter than he is.
Fortunately for “Iron Man,” Robert Downey Jr. carries enough weight for any ten metallic suits, and seems like exactly the kind of guy who could build them
Popcorn movies have a tendency to underwhelm, but “Iron Man” has managed a pretty miraculous feat — to sneak in almost under the radar with few television ads and deliberately vague trailers, and to be the best flick I’ve seen this year and a natural to go on my list of top comic book films of all time.
Everything works. The casting is perfect. Paltrow shines as the essential but overlooked Poppy Potts, despite a last-moment shoe choice that says just about everything you can about fashion victimization. Jeff Bridges has just as much chemistry cast as the mentor/father figure to Downey Jr.’s obsessed Stark. The script is everything you could want — witty, intelligent, and steering clear for the most part of the usual comic cliches.
Even the ubiquitous Stan Lee cameo is a treat, which I will not spoil. .
If there’s one thing I could criticize, it’s that the story bogs down briefly while it shifts its bearings between Stark pre- and post-captivity, where it seems to be reinventing its moral center, much as Stark is at the same moment. Current films self-consciously walk the thin line between portraying the U.S. as a benevolent superpower or as a force just as prone to cause problems as solve them. “Iron Man” knows certain people have to die, and that because it’s a comic book movie, it has to relish the manner of those deaths to show off Stark’s new invention. But it never feels comfortable; in these years since the fall of the U.S.S.R., Hollywood is still searching for the perfect hateable villain.
But, smartly, things get personal and everything falls as snugly into place as Iron Man’s hydraulic armor. This film thunders through to the end, at once a flick that a newbie with no clue about Stark or Iron Man’s pic-lit roots can love while providing enough insider tips of the hat to thrill the fans with the feeling that, “Yes, Victoria, there is a Santa Claus watching over Marvel Comics movies.” The effects are seamless and organic so you feel every bump when Stark hits the ground (or a concrete wall), and Favreau has a brilliant touch with injecting just a little bit of humor into the darkest scenes. “Iron Man” is going to do well, really well, at the theatres, and it’s a movie not only a fan will want to own.
3 1/2 stars out of 4!
Submit your Fan Fiction Screenplay to the Festival: http://fanfictionfestival.com
Read Interview with Star Wars Storyboard Artist Kurt Van der Basch
FAN FICTION Film and Writing Festival 