New Screenwriters on the Rise

Hired for Another Writing Assignment

By: Gabe Berry

After reading a couple of Gabe Berry's scripts, Moe Najati with Stalker Films, hired him to write a short dark drama he was interested in pursuing. The film has been produced and is currently being submitted to festivals.

2021
2022

Pitch Panel Contest Finalist with TRANSCENDENT script.

By: LaTaveya Vault

LaTaveya Vault's pitch was chosen from the several hundred submitted to the ISA. LaTaveya was able to virtually pitch her script to industry professionals and gain valuable insight and advice that will be extremely helpful on her pitch journey. She said, "This experience was one of my most memorable, I learned so much."

Top 100

Shore Scripts Film Fund Finalist and Screencraft Semi-finalist

By: Rachel Thomas-Medwid

ISA Development Slate writer Rachel S. Thomas-Medwid's script ON THE LAST DAY is a 2022 semi-finalist in the Screencraft Short Screenplay Contest and a top 15 Finalist in the 2022 Short Scripts Film Fund Contest (pending further advancement).

2021

Semi Finalist

Category Winner

Grand Prize

1st Place

Top 50

WILD DATURA places in Emerging Screenwriters Drama Contest.

By: Bernadett Belinda York

Following the spec script's placement in last year's Genre Competition, Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition announces WILD DATURA amongst its 2022 winning finalists. The project continues its momentum in the Western and Drama categories and is honored to be recognized by this esteemed contest for a second time.

More Success

2021

Buffalo 8 reps WILD DATURA for 2022 development

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 Drama & Genre Competitions, Table Read My Screenplay Genre Competition, Stowe Story Labs/ISA Fellowship, The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards. The project received an impressive financial score of 90/100 from Slated, made The Red List Top 20 Western Features, and is a Top 5% discoverable project on Coverfly.

Tags: Wild Datura,

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,

TRAP OF ROMANCE Wins Best Comedy Short at Austin Comedy Film Festival

By: Hunter Cline

Hunter Cline's TRAP OF ROMANCE won Best Comedy Short at Austin Comedy Film Festival 2022.

Genre Winner

Category Winner

Finalist

Semi Finalist

Quarter Finalist

Emerging Screenwriters 2022 Finalist

By: Kirk Young

Kirk Young's UNTITLED OCEAN TELEPORTER PROJECT placed as a top 10 finalist in the horror/thriller genre for Emerging Screenwriters.

Semi Finalist

Top 10

Quarter Finalist

Invited to join the ISA Development Slate

By: Minda Wei

After receiving an Honorable Mention in ISA'S Diversity Initiative for Kaiju Stepson, Minda Wei has signed with ISA's Development Slate!

General Meeting at Fox Animation

By: Minda Wei

Kaiju Stepson gained momentum on Twitter as Minda moved from Austin to LA (featured on Tze Chun and David H. Steinberg's pages). Mitchell Bendersky of Gramercy Park Entertainment reached out to Minda and set up a general at Fox Animation with development exec Jazmine Hill.

Tags: KAIJU STEPSON,

Hired to adapt best-selling book after contest judge loved my screenplay

By: Erin Brown Thomas

After winning a contest with her screenplay THE BODY OF CHRIS a judge from that contest hired Erin to adapt a book into a feature which will be getting a theatrical release.

More Success

SHEDDING streams on Amazon Prime

By: Erin Brown Thomas

SHEDDING, a narrative fantasy feature about a cat that becomes human, is now available to stream on Amazon prime and across most VOD platforms. Erin produced this indie gem which was directed by Jake Thomas.

BUT FIRST wins big at Cinequest

By: Erin Brown Thomas

BUT FIRST took a first place prize at Cinequest. The experimentally drawn narrative about life before and after a morning cup of coffee won the music video category. The film was directed and co-conceived by Erin Brown Thomas and made through San Francisco Dance Film Festival's CoLabratory workshop with the National Center for Choreography at Akron University.

Film Fund Finalist

By: marcus stricklin

Development Slate writer Marcus Stricklin's short film script "99" was recently selected as one of the 15 Finalists for the 2022 Shore Scripts Short Film Fund.

More Success

2022
2021

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.

Tags: Alone, Together, ISA Diversity Initiative(Winner)

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.

Hired to write thriller

By: David Miller

Development Slate writer David Keith Miller has been hired by Creative Tank to write a thriller based on their treatment.

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Hired to write romantic comedy

By: David Miller

David Miller was hired by Kai Media Group UK Ltd. to write the screenplay for a gentle romantic comedy set in the Italian countryside. The final draft was completed and is being translated into Italian.

Tags: LOST IN SABINA,

Hired to rewrite historical drama

By: David Miller

In 2020 David Miller was hired to rewrite historian Mark De Geest's screenplay of the gripping events that took place in wartime Belgium when a train bound for Auschwitz was stopped by a handful of friends with no experience in the Resistance and some of its prisoners liberated.

Tags: TRANSPORT XX,

Actioner GRAYER optioned for immediate production

By: David Miller

David Miller's action spec GRAYER, previously named THE MOUNTAIN MAN, has been optioned by a producer aiming for a November 2021 shoot with an established director and lead actor attached. He has been commissioned to do a rewrite to make the script production-ready.

Tags: GRAYER,

Pembrook: A Script Summit Official Selection

By: Larry Coleman

A throwback to the days of the X Files and FRINGE, Larry E. Coleman's sci-fi tv pilot, PEMBROOK, joins the Official Selection list in this year's Script Summit Screenplay Competition.

More Success

2021
2021

LITTLE BOYS advances in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition

By: Larry Coleman

LITTLE BOYS, a character-driven drama written by Development Slate writer, Larry E. Coleman, advances to the quarterfinal round in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition.

Tags: Little Boys, OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAYS FEATURE COMPETITION(Quarter Finalist)

PEMBROOK A Filmmatic Inroads Fellowship Season 5, Quarterfinalist

By: Larry Coleman

Development Slate writer, Larry E. Coleman's new sci-fi television action-adventure pilot, Pembrook, reaches the quarterfinal round in the 2022 Filmmatic Inroads Fellowship Contest.

Tags: PEMBROOK, Filmmatic Inroads Screenwriting Fellowship(Quarter Finalist)

LITTLE BOYS advances in The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest

By: Larry Coleman

LITTLE BOYS, a character driven drama dealing with the issue of male childhood sexual abuse advances to the quarterfinal found in the The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest.

Tags: Little Boys, The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest(Quarter Finalist)

Harry Fly buzzes his way into StoryPros Screenwriting Competition

By: Larry Coleman

Development Slate writer, Larry E. Coleman's animated comedy, The Magnificent Harry Fly, advances to the quarterfinal round of the 15th Annual StoryPros International Screenwriting Competition.

Tags: The Magnificent Harry Fly, StoryPros International Screenplay Contest(Semi Finalist)

The First-Time Screenwriter Showcase

By: Andrew Pearson

Andres Pearson's script THE DEAD CHIP SYNDICATE has been selected for the screenwriter showcase at Pinewood Studios, England, in July 2022.

Quarter Finalist

Official Selection

Emerging Screenwriters Finalist

By: R.L. Hooker

R.L. Hooker's script HUMAN RESOURCES placed as a top 10 finalist in the comedy genre for Emerging Screenwriters.

2022

Second Rounders

Quarter Finalist

LITTLE BOYS advances in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition

By: Larry Coleman

LITTLE BOYS, a character-driven drama written by Development Slate writer, Larry E. Coleman, advances to the quarterfinal round in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition.

More Success

2021
2021

Pembrook: A Script Summit Official Selection

By: Larry Coleman

A throwback to the days of the X Files and FRINGE, Larry E. Coleman's sci-fi tv pilot, PEMBROOK, joins the Official Selection list in this year's Script Summit Screenplay Competition.

Tags: PEMBROOK, Script Summit(Finalist)

PEMBROOK A Filmmatic Inroads Fellowship Season 5, Quarterfinalist

By: Larry Coleman

Development Slate writer, Larry E. Coleman's new sci-fi television action-adventure pilot, Pembrook, reaches the quarterfinal round in the 2022 Filmmatic Inroads Fellowship Contest.

Tags: PEMBROOK, Filmmatic Inroads Screenwriting Fellowship(Quarter Finalist)

LITTLE BOYS advances in The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest

By: Larry Coleman

LITTLE BOYS, a character driven drama dealing with the issue of male childhood sexual abuse advances to the quarterfinal found in the The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest.

Tags: Little Boys, The Script Lab Free Screenplay Contest(Quarter Finalist)

Harry Fly buzzes his way into StoryPros Screenwriting Competition

By: Larry Coleman

Development Slate writer, Larry E. Coleman's animated comedy, The Magnificent Harry Fly, advances to the quarterfinal round of the 15th Annual StoryPros International Screenwriting Competition.

Tags: The Magnificent Harry Fly, StoryPros International Screenplay Contest(Semi Finalist)

General Meeting at Fox Animation

By: Minda Wei

Kaiju Stepson gained momentum on Twitter as Minda moved from Austin to LA (featured on Tze Chun and David H. Steinberg's pages). Mitchell Bendersky of Gramercy Park Entertainment reached out to Minda and set up a general at Fox Animation with development exec Jazmine Hill.

Invited to join the ISA Development Slate

By: Minda Wei

After receiving an Honorable Mention in ISA'S Diversity Initiative for Kaiju Stepson, Minda Wei has signed with ISA's Development Slate!

Tags: KAIJU STEPSON, ISA Diversity Initiative(Honorable Mention)

Chris Courtney Martin Published

By: Chris Courtney Martin

Chris Courtney Martin will be releasing a short collection of 30 poems and 2 personal essays, titled "THE BOOK OF I.P. (Idle Poems)" with independent publisher Alien Buddha Press. The collection is described as "ironic in concept, sincere in content"-- with each individual work representing a screen story Martin hopes to see produced. The book will be available for purchase on Amazon on June 16th, 2022.

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2019
2018

PALE HORSE to be directed by Gabourey Sidibe

By: Chris Courtney Martin

ISA Development Slate writer Chris Courtney Martin's award-winning script was optioned by Gamechanger Films and is set to film in Fall 2021, with Oscar-nominated multi-hyphenate Gabourey Sidibe directing at the helm. Writing duo Asabi Lee and Paul Hart-Wilden are also working on the screenplay.

Tags: Pale Horse,

CHARCUTERIE Announced with Reagan Gomez set to Direct

By: Chris Courtney Martin

Chris Courtney Martin's Horror screenplay CHARCUTERIE was announced with a Spring 2021 shoot date. Colorlines released an exclusive story.

Tags: CHARCUTERIE,

CHARCUTERIE Selected to Participate in TFI Network Virtual Pitch Festival

By: Chris Courtney Martin

Martin recently announced that her Horror feature CHARCUTERIE has been selected to participate in Tribeca Film Institute's 2020 TFI Network program. Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, the TFI Network is hosting its first virtual version of the program this year. Martin (writer/producer) will be pitching the much-anticipated project alongside director Reagan Gomez and producers Sandra Leviton and Rachel Liu.

Tags: CHARCUTERIE,

Chris Courtney Martin Signs with The Gersh Agency

By: Chris Courtney Martin

On Wednesday, March 25th Martin announced that she has joined the client roster of The Gersh Agency's Literary Department. She is represented by Bayard Maybank and Bob Hohman.

Comedy Finalist for Emerging Screenwriters

By: L.J. Sellers

L J Sellers script KAREN THE SPY placed as a top 10 finalist in the comedy genre for Emerging Screenwriters.

Finalist

SOLD - first screenplay is purchased!!!

By: Kristi Barnett

Kristi Barnett's screenplay 39 DAYS was purchased by Libertine Pictures. The script has been re-named THE RAFT and is currently in development with other writers. A feature film about a woman stranded in a life raft with her mutating boyfriend, sold to Libertine Pictures with Neil Cross as Executive Producer/Co-Writer.

More Success

Best Comedy Screenplay

Best Unproduced Script Award

Quarter Finalist

Finalist

Kristi Barnett's 39 Days - Finalist in Just Effing Entertain Me 2013

By: Kristi Barnett

39 Days is a current Semi Finalist in Just Effing Entertain Me, 2013. It was also a Finalist in the Mile High Horror Film Festival 2013.

Tags: Just Effing Entertain Me Screenwriting Competition!, Mile High Horror Festival Screenplay Competition

Kristi Barnett's 39 Days - 2nd Rounder in the Austin Film Festival 2013

By: Kristi Barnett

39 Days was a 2nd Rounder in the Austin Film Festival 2013, a Semi Finalist in Shriekfest Horror Film Festival 2013, and a Semi Finalist in Screamfest Horror Film Festival 2013.

Tags: Austin Film Festival Script Competition, Screamfest Horror Film Fest / Screenplay Competition, Shriekfest Film Festival and Screenplay Competition

Kristi Barnett - Finalist in the Broad Humor Festival 2013

By: Kristi Barnett

Finalist - Broad Humor Festival 2013 - I Hate People

Table Read My Screenplay "Hollywood" 2009

By: Kristi Barnett

Winner - I Hate People - Table Read My Screenplay Hollywood 2009 in the Comedy Feature Category.

Tags: Table Read My Screenplay - Hollywood Pitch Festival

Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter

By: Sandra Bucy

Sandra Bucy's screenplay DEADLY PROMISES produced by Tolian Productions, won 98 festival awards from 2020 to 2021. It is distributed by Green Apple Entertainment, and can be viewed on Amazon Prime, Tubi and U.K. based Reel Women's Network. Story by Thomas Crouser Jr., and Julian Crouser.