Okay, so here’s the deal. Pay attention! We’re going to do TWO MORE Amateur Showdowns after this one and that will wrap up 2019. The first of these will be an ACTION GENRE SHOWDOWN. That will take place on Friday, November 22. In order to be a part of that , you must have your action script sent to me by Thursday, November 21, 6:00 pm Pacific Time. All action hybrid genres can compete. Straight Action, Action-Comedy, Action-Thriller, Action-Sci-fi. Send’em on in!
Then, on Friday, December 13th, we’re going to have the HOLIDAY GENRE SHOWDOWN. If you have a holiday-themed script, send it on in. And since you have over a month, if you’ve got a good holiday script concept, maybe try and write it. It was just the other week that a script that was written in a single week won. So it’s certainly possible something written in a month can claim top prize. The deadline for that one is Thursday, December 12th, 6:00 pm Pacific Time.
Amateur Showdown is a bi-weekly screenplay tournament where I pick five scripts that were submitted to me and then you, the readers of this site, read as much of each script as possible and vote for your favorite in the comments section. The winner will receive a review the following Friday that could result in props from your peers, representation, a spot on one of the big end-of-the-year screenwriting lists, and in rare cases, a SALE!
In order to participate, e-mail me at carsonreeves3@gmail.com. Include in the e-mail the script title, the genre, a logline, and a pitch to myself and potential readers why you believe your script deserves a shot. It could be long, short, passionate, to-the-point. Whatever you think will convince someone your script is worth opening, make your case. Just like Hollywood, the Scriptshadow readers are a fickle bunch. So be convincing!
In the meantime, here are THIS WEEK’S entries. I think we’ve got a few good ones in here. Good luck to all!
Title: THE HUNTED
Genre: Social Commentary/Zombie-Horror
Logline: When a virus turns all males into feral zombies known as predators, a mother and her daughter become their prey and must evade capture while crossing the Australian desert to reach an alleged safe house.
Why You Should Read: Readers beware, there’s a new type of zombie on the horizon and it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before….
Several months ago now, my horror script ‘Raw Meat’ won the Amateur Friday Showdown, and it even managed to crack Carson’s Top Ten Amateur Scripts of the Year (number eight). ‘The Hunted’ is my latest horror script. In the zombie film premise, I saw a chance to explore the current social divide that exists between men and women, a divide culminating in the #MeToo movement. This is a fast-paced zombie flick, with a twist on the zombie premise that actually has something to say. Plenty of scares, my best character work yet, and an easy read are just some of the reasons to flip it open and give it a try.
Title: BORED TO LIFE
Genre: Dramedy
Logline: A mysterious runaway teenage girl helps a lonely, sugar-addicted ex-military man to rekindle with the love of his life, in exchange for a place to stay.
Why You Should Read: I’m well aware that ‘mysterious’ is vague, but the character lies about her identity a lot and it’s the biggest reveal of the story, amongst many other twists and turns. I didn’t want to spoil it for the sake of the logline. Maybe I’m wrong, you tell me…
In this story, the duo works well because of their differences, that much-needed contrast that makes an unusual relationship memorable. They’re quirky and fun, full of personality, share chemistry, and are both lying through their teeth, which makes them both entertainingly unreliable until the truth reveals itself. — The script has been praised for its voice and humor. It’s right there from the first scene if you don’t believe it. If you don’t laugh or smile at the introductory scene, stop reading… but you won’t! Hopefully… Thanks :)
Title: Palomino
Genre: Crime-Thriller/Drama
Logline: Determined to stay straight, an ex-con becomes bodyguard to a wealthy couple, but is soon caught up in a dangerous game when he’s blackmailed into committing crimes on their behalf.
Why You Should Read: On the surface, Palomino is a slow burn neo-noir, but underneath, it’s also a bittersweet, haunting love story. Inspired by the films and visual flair of Nicolas Winding Refn and David Fincher, Palomino features compelling characters and an unforgettable climax. — Palomino came about during my recent professional breakthrough as a screenwriter. I’ve been a struggling writer for years. And although I’m still not repped, my drama screenplay was recently filmed with some great name talent! We’re currently looking for a distributor. — On set, a story idea I had been playing with came into focus on our main location, which I thought was the perfect setting for a neo-noir. Later, outlining the first draft, I religiously read and re-read Carson’s posts on structure and character. I hope I’ve properly utilized some of his wisdom here. — Thank you to all who read it, and a big thanks to Carson for his site and invaluable advice over the years.
Title: Renaissance Men
Genre: Action, Comedy
Logline: In 16th-century Rome, astronomical badass Nicolaus Copernicus seeks papal approval for his radical new theory about the universe, but after he’s framed for the Pope’s kidnapping, he’ll risk his life and legacy to track down the real abductors.
Why You Should Read: I’ve always loved history. I just wish it could be funnier. If I had a time machine, I probably wouldn’t use it kill baby Hitler. Instead, I’d just swap him with baby Charlie Chaplin who was born a mere four days earlier. But since the latest version of Final Draft is easier to get my hands on than a functioning time machine, I decided to write Renaissance Men. A hilarious adventure that pits some of Renaissance Europe’s biggest egos including Copernicus, Machiavelli, Nostradamus and Michelangelo against each other in a high stakes game of cat and mouse.
I had many reasons why I wanted to write this. First, I knew it would be a lot of fun. Second, I was sure I could generate a ton of laughs. And last but not least, because a story about how the rich and powerful will cover up scientific truth to protect their political interests is even more relevant today than it was 500 years ago.
Title: Lifted
Genre: Thriller
Logline: Upon landing for her business trip in a personal s@#%-storm, a woman climbs into the wrong Lyft and finds herself at the mercy of an unknown driver.
Why You Should Read: After grabbing a Lyft from the chaos that is JFK on a Friday night, the thought of “what if this wasn’t my ride” hit like a sledgehammer. Drowsy after a six-hour flight. In the dark trying to spot license plates that all look the same, maybe a number or letter off from one another. This easily could not be my ride, and if it isn’t, who is this guy driving me? Does anyone know I’m in this guy’s car, at this moment? Or am I lost, potentially forever if the driver so desires?
The driver asks me if the address I give him is in Bushwick. This is my third time in New York, first time visiting this buddy at this apartment so I don’t know. How easy would it be for this guy to drive me to the wrong street, put me in a situation I could never fathom.
Fifteen minutes of typing out these thoughts on my phone while my girlfriend stared at me like I was a lunatic turned the rest of vacation into figuring out this story.
LIFTED is a contained thriller, somewhere between Locke and Buried, and hopefully just as produceable as the two. It feeds off the rideshare setting which has yet to fully be tapped for its dramatic potential. I hope LIFTED may generate an onslaught of creativity in utilizing the setting and showing just how strange rideshare can be in comparison to its predecessors.
I hope you find the above interesting enough to crack LIFTED open. If not, thank you for even the momentary passing thought. I appreciate all notes, good and bad and everything in-between.
Thank you again for giving LIFTED the time of day.
P.S. Since someone may bring it up/ask, I didn’t go with LYFTED because I knew that, in the long run, the film would never reach the screen with that title. I worked relatively close to a previous film that had some issues with the rideshare business including the use of IP. So, to compromise, I went with LIFTED, as in steal.
