ISA SPOTLIGHT

Exciting ISAConnect Member Success Stories

These are the top success stories listed by ISAConnect Members. If you're an Industry Pro and interested in viewing the work of these emerging writers, please request Industry Pro status. 3848 Success Stories Listed.

CHAT Goes into Pre-production

By: Kim Hornsby
KIM HORNSBY's award-winning short script, CHAT, that reached the top ten in Emerging Screenwriters' Shoot Your Short and was a quarterfinalist in HollyShorts, has cast ERYN REA of Grey's Anatomy and Amazon Prime's The Scottish Play in the lead role of a woman entering a dangerous chat relationship online. The film will shoot in Seattle in May with Devious Maid's JOSH PRICE playing the male lead. Directed by BRAD M JOHNSON with MADELINE DOWN as the cinematographer, CHAT is produced by Kim and Brad and they vow to have at least half female cast and crew. The Seed & Spark campaign begins mid February.
More SuccessDown Aroow

DREAM JUMPER (Short) Gets Audience Favorite at Seattle Film Summit
By: Kim Hornsby
KIM HORNSBY's proof of concept Short Script DREAM JUMPER, was a finalist (Top 5) at Seattle Film Summit's Short Script Contest and was awarded a LIVE Streamed Virtual Table Read at the Summit in September. The recording is at the SFS site. From that, the 10-minute read went on to win Audience Favorite Award and was awarded another Table Read at the SFS Appreciation Party and Awards Ceremony in November 2021. A Romantic Suspense, the script details the pivotal moment that led to events featured in the multi-award winning Feature Script, THE DREAM JUMPER'S PROMISE.
Tags: Dream Jumper - 10 pages,

Seattle Writer Makes the Semi-Finals with TWO Short Scripts
By: Kim Hornsby
Seattle screenwriter, Kim Hornsby, made hometown honors when two of her Short Scripts, WISHFUL THINKING and DREAM JUMPER (both under 10 pages) made the prestigious Seattle Film Summit's list of semi-finalists. Kim previously won the Hollywood Fellowship at the Summit with her Feature The Dream Jumper's Promise and wrote the Short as a proof of concept project. Both scripts are available with contained locations and limited cast.
Tags: Wishful Thinking - 10 Pages,

Short Script Makes the Top Ten

By: Kim Hornsby
Kim Hornsby's short script CHAT has made the Top Ten list in Emerging Screenwriters SHOOT YOUR SHORT Contest. This is Kim's first and only short script but possibly not her last. Also an Austin Film Festival 2nd Rounder, CHAT is available for industry pro reads here and on Coverfly's Red List for Thriller Shorts. Kim is a sold, optioned screenwriter in Features.
Tags: CHAT - In Pre-Production, Shoot Your Short(Finalist)

CHAT - On RED LIST
By: Kim Hornsby
Kim Hornsby's short screenplay, CHAT, ended the year in the top ten in Short Thrillers on Coverfly's Red List for 2020 after making it to the 2nd Round of Austin Film Festival. This was the second time Hornsby has had a script on the Red List and in AFF. A 20-page script of a woman's revenge on a serial killer, CHAT is unproduced but available.
Tags: CHAT - In Pre-Production, Austin Film Festival Script Competition(Second Round), The Red List(Second Round)

Verity's Game Under Consideration by Mazo Partners

By: Jennifer Giacalone
A successful pitch meeting with Matt Rosen has led to him enthusiastically requesting VERITY'S GAME to read this week. His thoughts on the pitch: "I loved how high concept this pitch is. Mr and Mrs and Smith in Mexico City - BOOM I GOT IT! Loved the action and the female characters going after each other. It sounded really fresh and cinematically exciting. I loved that it's a cat and mouse game and their methods of killing are different from the others so they have to continue to adapt the entire movie. The story sounded wildly entertaining and fun." Updates to follow.
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ICE CREAM AND OTHER DISASTERS Under Consideration by Adler & Associates
By: Jennifer Giacalone
Jennifer Giacalone's long-distance friendship with Madrid-based actor and play producer Manu Cuevas, has resulted in her family-based short film, ICE CREAM AND OTHER DISASTERS, being under consideration as a joint venture between Adler & Associates and Spanish National Television.
Tags: Ice Cream and Other Disasters, Adler Films, Inc.

Jennifer Giacalone Added to ISA's Development Slate
By: Jennifer Giacalone
Jennifer Giacalone has been on the ISA Development Team's radar since the spring of 2021, after winning the Table Read My Screenplay Genre Award for her action/romance screenplay VERITY'S GAME. Continuously producing new work, Jennifer then submitted her most recent screenplay, the drama/suspense POOR MAN'S SON, for a Development Evaluation; this script put forward to be considered by the team, and she has now been invited to be part of the ISA Development Slate of top tier writers.
Tags: Poor Man's Son,

Table Read at JANM in LA

By: Eliot Hagen
A table read of Eliot John Hagen's screenplay NISEI was held at the Japanese American National Museum’s Tateuchi Democracy Forum in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, CA. Starring Roy Huang, François Chau, & Tamlyn Tomita.

Eliot John Hagen's 'Erebus' a Top 10 Finalist in the Tracking Board LPPC
By: Eliot Hagen

Eliot John Hagen's Erebus made the TOP 10 Pilots & Writers for the 2014 Launch Pad Pilots Competition (LPPC)! 

 

 

Described as a "big event-series" that mixes “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Lost," the story centers on a exploration team sent to the South Pole for a routine research run, who are caught amidst a sudden volcanic explosion and an unidentified object below the ice. Now they must fight for their survival in the most desolate place on earth. 

Tags: Launch Pad Pilots Competition

DARK MATTER a WeScreenplay TV Contest runner up and a StoryPros finalist

By: Olga Holtz
DARK MATTER, a thriller TV pilot by Olga Holtz, has received an Honorable Mention (a runner-up placement) among the finalists of the 2022 WeScreenplay TV Contest and a finalist placement at the 15th StoryPros International Screenplay Awards. DARK MATTER is presently on four Red Lists, including Coverfly's top 20 TV thriller pilots of all time.
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A LABOUR OF LOVE makes the Top 50 Fast Track Fellowship
By: Olga Holtz
A LABOUR OF LOVE, a feature by Olga Holtz based on a true story, was named to the Top 50 of the 2021 ISA Fast Track Fellowship XIV.
Tags: A Labour of Love, ISA Fast Track Fellowship(Second Round)

DARK MATTER selected to participate in 2021 Stowe Story Labs
By: Olga Holtz
Olga Holtz has been selected to participate in the August 2021 Sidewalk Narrative Lab, a program of Stowe Story Labs, with her psychological thriller pilot DARK MATTER.
Tags: Dark Matter, Stowe Story Labs(Semi Finalist)

Red-listed DARK MATTER pitched to a major studio
By: Olga Holtz
A treatment for DARK MATTER, a TV pilot for a thriller limited series by Olga Holtz, was requested by a major studio for its open writing assignment through Coverfly. DARK MATTER is on the Red List after multiple recent contest placements, including the semi-finals of the Stowe Story Lab ISA fellowship, the finals of the Mad Wife Production screenplay contest, and the semi-finals of the Table Read My Screenplay Genre competition.
Tags: Dark Matter, Stowe Story Labs(Semi Finalist), Table Read My Screenplay Genre Competition(Semi Finalist)

DELIVERANCE makes Coverfly Top 3%
By: Olga Holtz
After earning multiple accolades, DELIVERANCE, a short Sci-Fi thriller by Olga Holtz, has made Coverfly Top 3%, in addition to placing #5 Sci-Fi short of the year and #2 of the month on The Red List.
Tags: Deliverance, The Red List(Top 10)

Additional Literary Material Request

By: Thuc Nguyen
Thuc Doan Nguyen was part of a roundtable punch-up team for Paramount Pictures THE LOST CITY.

A TV Director attaches to thriller pilot, GLACIER POINT.

By: Alan Baxter
From being invited onto the Development Slate, after his ISA Diversity Initiative selection, Alan Baxter has found more success. Fresh off directing a new AMC+ series, a TV Director discovered Baxter’s dark, crime procedural, GLACIER POINT, and now has officially come aboard to helm the series.

Alan R. Baxter's thriller pilot is honored by the ISA Diversity Initiative
By: Alan Baxter
Alan R. Baxter recently submitted GLACIER POINT into the ISA Diversity Initiative. He was inspired to enter because the current entertainment landscape lacked true AAPI representation. Glacier Point features a strong female Chinese-American lead and it draws from his own experience as a 2nd Generation Chinese-American. He is thrilled to receive an Honorable Mention in the Diversity Initiative and be included among the many other talented writers.
Tags: GLACIER POINT, ISA Diversity Initiative(Honorable Mention)

Three and half years later, the movie comes out... Writing Gig Success!

By: Matthew Tolbert
On April 5, 2018, Matthew Tolbert submitted his script (THE STARTER MARRIAGE) to an ISA Writing Gig. In July 2018, he signed an agreement. On December 14, 2021, the movie based on his script was released nationally to a variety of streaming and On-Demand platforms. Matthew said 'It pays to respond to ISA opportunities, and it pays to be patient.'

ISA Diversity Initiative Top 3 Selection

By: marcus stricklin
Marcus Stricklin submitted his script ALONE TOGETHER, for the 2021 ISA Diversity Initiative. He felt inspired to enter because he wanted his diverse voice and perspective to be heard. Marcus is absolutely thrilled to have been one of the three selected writers to be chosen for the Initial ISA Diversity Initiative. After meeting with the incredible ISA Development Team, and discussing his work, goals, aspirations, and future projects, Marcus has now been invited on to the ISA's Development Slate of top tier writers. He thinks it's truly an honor to be part of the Development Slate, and looks forward to working with the team going forward.

WarnerMedia x ABFF Comedy Winner
By: marcus stricklin
Recently Marcus Stricklin's comedy pilot CRAZY IN LOVE was named best comedy pilot by WarnerMedia and the American Black Film Festival. During an awards presentation, which streamed on ABFFPLAY.com, he was presented with the award, which was wonderful. He said 'It's one of my favorite pilots that I have written, so I am thrilled to see that the execs loved it!'.
Tags: Crazy, In Love, American Black Film Festival(Winner), Warner Bros.

Winner - Best Comedy Screenplay

By: Zack Morrison
Zack Morrison's script CANUSA STREET was announces as the winner of 'Best Comedy Screenplay' at the 2021 Catalyst Episodic Festival (formerly known as iTV Fest).

Hired by VOYAGE MEDIA

By: Elizabeth Ditty
Elizabeth was hired in December 2021 by Voyage Media to create an outline, pilot and series treatment based on IP.
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HARKER named an Official Selection for HorrOrigins
By: Elizabeth Ditty
In 2020, HARKER by Elizabeth Ditty, was named an official feature screenplay selection for HorrOrigins.
Tags: Harker,

Hired for Coverage & New Outline of Sports Feature
By: Elizabeth Ditty
In 2021, Elizabeth was hired by a former track & field star to provide coverage on an existing feature screenplay based on stories from his career and to write a new outline for an updated version.

THE FAMILY JEWELS featured on "The Thing"
By: Elizabeth Ditty
Excerpts from THE FAMILY JEWELS were featured on the third episode of "The Thing," a scene-specific study for actors, writers and directors, hosted by Phil Ogden, directed by Gillian Fritzche, and featuring a wonderful cast of actors. 
Tags: The Family Jewels,

AMERICAN DAYDREAM - Honorable Mention | LAMA (2022)

By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length dramedy, AMERICAN DAYDREAM, win Honorable Mention at the Winter 2022 Los Angeles Movie Awards.
More SuccessDown Aroow

STILL TIME TO CHANGE - Finalist - Creative World Awards (2021)
By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length drama, STILL TIME TO CHANGE, selected as a Finalist at the 2021 Creative World Awards.
Tags: Still Time to Change, Creative World Awards Screenwriting Contest(Semi Finalist)

STILL TIME TO CHANGE - Best Drama Screenplay - LAFA (2021)
By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length drama, STILL TIME TO CHANGE, win Best Drama Screenplay at the 2021 Los Angeles Film Awards.
Tags: Still Time to Change, Los Angeles Film Awards(Best Drama Screenplay)

AMERICAN DAYDREAM - Best Feature Screenplay | LAFA (2021)

By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length dramedy, AMERICAN DAYDREAM, win Best Feature Screenplay at the 2021 Los Angeles Film Awards.
Tags: American Daydream, Los Angeles Film Awards(Best Drama Screenplay)

STILL TIME TO CHANGE - Coverfly Overall Top 10%
By: Jim Grieco
STILL TIME TO CHANGE by Jim Grieco is ranked overall top 10% of discoverable projects on Coverfly.
Tags: Still Time to Change,

RAINBOW CRYSTAL -- AWARD WINNER BEST FANTASY SCREENPLAY

By: Samantha Caprio-Negret
RAINBOW CRYSTAL won BEST FANTASY Screenplay with NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS for December 2021.

MANO NERA -- AWARD WINNER BEST DRAMA SCREENPLAY

By: Samantha Caprio-Negret
MANO NERA won BEST DRAMA Screenplay with NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS for December 2021.
Tags: MANO NERA , New York International Film Awards (NYIFA)(Best Drama Screenplay)

MANO NERA -- AWARD WINNER BEST DRAMA SCREENPLAY

By: Samantha Caprio-Negret
MANO NERA won BEST DRAMA Screenplay with NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS for December 2021.

RAINBOW CRYSTAL -- AWARD WINNER BEST FANTASY SCREENPLAY
By: Samantha Caprio-Negret
RAINBOW CRYSTAL won BEST FANTASY Screenplay with NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS for December 2021.
Tags: RAINBOW CRYSTAL , New York International Film Awards (NYIFA)(Best Drama Screenplay)

Alan R. Baxter's thriller pilot is honored by the ISA Diversity Initiative

By: Alan Baxter
Alan R. Baxter recently submitted GLACIER POINT into the ISA Diversity Initiative. He was inspired to enter because the current entertainment landscape lacked true AAPI representation. Glacier Point features a strong female Chinese-American lead and it draws from his own experience as a 2nd Generation Chinese-American. He is thrilled to receive an Honorable Mention in the Diversity Initiative and be included among the many other talented writers.

A TV Director attaches to thriller pilot, GLACIER POINT.
By: Alan Baxter
From being invited onto the Development Slate, after his ISA Diversity Initiative selection, Alan Baxter has found more success. Fresh off directing a new AMC+ series, a TV Director discovered Baxter’s dark, crime procedural, GLACIER POINT, and now has officially come aboard to helm the series.
Tags: GLACIER POINT, Middlebury Script Lab(Fellow), NBC Writers on the Verge(Fellow), Sun Valley Film Festival High Scribe Screenwriting Award(Fellow)

HARVEY set to release on January 7, 2022

By: Ranelle Golden
Ranelle Golden's feature film HARVEY has been picked up for distribution. It will release in January 2022 through MidNight Releasing, distribution is through Acort International.

Ranelle Golden and Shawn Golden hired by Tiger Power Studios
By: Ranelle Golden
Ranelle and Shawn were hired to write a feature film inspired by a true story, about one man's journey from Entertainer to Chief of Police. The 1st draft was completed in December 2021, and co-writer Ranelle Golden is slated to Co-Direct this one.

Ranelle Golden and Shawn Golden hired by Tiger Power Studios

By: Ranelle Golden
Ranelle and Shawn were hired to write a feature film inspired by a true story, about one man's journey from Entertainer to Chief of Police. The 1st draft was completed in December 2021, and co-writer Ranelle Golden is slated to Co-Direct this one.

HARVEY set to release on January 7, 2022
By: Ranelle Golden
Ranelle Golden's feature film HARVEY has been picked up for distribution. It will release in January 2022 through MidNight Releasing, distribution is through Acort International.
Tags: HARVEY, Macro Vision Films LLC

Buffalo 8 reps WILD DATURA for 2022 production

By: Bernadett Belinda York
Buffalo 8/BondIt Media Capital has agreed to represent award-winning screenplay WILD DATURA. The feature is a female-driven, LGBTQ+ western written by ISA Network member, Bernadett Belinda York, who won the 2021 Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Competition in her genre and placed in the following contests: Emerging Screenwriters Genre Competition, Stowe Story Labs/ISA Fellowship, The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards. The project received a financial score of 90/100 from Slated, made The Red List Top 20 Western Features, and is a Top 5% discoverable project on Coverfly. WILD DATURA is currently in the pitch phase, having a preliminary schedule set for Spring 2022.
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Austin Film Fest advances PARANNOYANCE to finals
By: Bernadett Belinda York
The 28th Annual Austin Film Festival advances Parannoyance in the Produced Digital Series Competition. If selected, the pilot will premiere during the month of October 2021. Follow the paranormal dark comedy online @Parannoyance https://linktr.ee/parannoyance
Tags: PARANNOYANCE, Austin Film Festival(Finalist)

PARANNOYANCE selected to premiere in Hollywood!
By: Bernadett Belinda York
Paranormal dark comedy mini-series PARANNOYANCE was chosen as an official selection at the The Hollywood First-Time Filmmaker Showcase and Lift-Off Film Festival Global Network. The LGBTQ+ inclusive proof-of-concept pilot was created, written, and produced by award-winning screenwriter Bernadett Belinda York and comedian Kim Lupe-Smith. The festival is premiering online now during the month of September 2021.
Tags: PARANNOYANCE, Lift-Off Film Festival Global Network(Official Selection), Lift-Off Film Festival Global Network

PARANNOYANCE pilot advances in Paris finals!
By: Bernadett Belinda York
American paranormal dark comedy mini-series PARANNOYANCE moved to the finals at the Paris International Short Film Festival. The project is being considered for a Best TV Pilot Award and will screen in August 2022 if selected. The series was created/written/produced by award-winning writer Bernadett Belinda York and stand-up comedian Kim Lupe-Smith.
Tags: PARANNOYANCE,

Emerging Screenwriters places WILD DATURA in finals!
By: Bernadett Belinda York
Emerging talent, Bernadett Belinda York, continues to prove the need for diversity in western features as her award-winning, female-driven, LGBTQ+ screenplay WILD DATURA advances to the finals in another genre competition!
Tags: Wild Datura, Emerging Screenwriters Genre Screenplay Competition(Quarter Finalist)

AMERICAN DAYDREAM - Best Feature Screenplay | LAFA (2021)

By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length dramedy, AMERICAN DAYDREAM, win Best Feature Screenplay at the 2021 Los Angeles Film Awards.
More SuccessDown Aroow

AMERICAN DAYDREAM - Honorable Mention | LAMA (2022)
By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length dramedy, AMERICAN DAYDREAM, win Honorable Mention at the Winter 2022 Los Angeles Movie Awards.
Tags: American Daydream, Los Angeles Movie Awards(Honorable Mention)

STILL TIME TO CHANGE - Finalist - Creative World Awards (2021)
By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length drama, STILL TIME TO CHANGE, selected as a Finalist at the 2021 Creative World Awards.
Tags: Still Time to Change, Creative World Awards Screenwriting Contest(Semi Finalist)

STILL TIME TO CHANGE - Best Drama Screenplay - LAFA (2021)
By: Jim Grieco
Jim Grieco is honored to have his feature length drama, STILL TIME TO CHANGE, win Best Drama Screenplay at the 2021 Los Angeles Film Awards.
Tags: Still Time to Change, Los Angeles Film Awards(Best Drama Screenplay)

STILL TIME TO CHANGE - Coverfly Overall Top 10%
By: Jim Grieco
STILL TIME TO CHANGE by Jim Grieco is ranked overall top 10% of discoverable projects on Coverfly.
Tags: Still Time to Change,

Feature film Screenwriter Assignment

By: Mehul Desai
Mehul Desai has been hired by Voyage Media (Los Angeles) to adapt an original science fiction treatment into a feature film screenplay. Working with Producer Robert Mitas (Beyond The Reach, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Flatliners, Ratched).

Suzanne Griffin selected as a 2022 WIF Mentoring Program Mentee

By: Suzanne Griffin
Suzanne Griffin has been selected a one of 16 women for the Writers Circle of the 2022 Women in Film Mentoring Program. Mentees get the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the entertainment industry’s business practices and culture, focus their efforts, and hone skills as they work with experienced industry mentors for an entire year.
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SPOTLIGHT

These are the top success stories listed by ISAConnect Members only. Many come from ISA Writing Gigs, the ISA Fast Track, the ISA Development Slate, the ISA’s Top 25 Screenwriters To Watch plus other ISAConnect Members who have demonstrated additional success throughout the industry. This includes but is not limited to winning or placing in contests, receiving a fellowship, a writing assignment, representation and/or getting a script produced, optioned or sold. We welcome posting your success from any part of the industry!

Anyone can upgrade to ISAConnect. Upgrade to the Yearly Membership on any contest page and you’ll receive a free contest entry! If you are an industry pro and interested in viewing the work of these emerging writers, please request Industry Pro status.

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