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. 77 Success Stories Listed.

Writing Gig Submission Selected for Development Slate

By: Joey Day Hargrove
Joey Day Hargrove recently submitted her rom-com feature ROMEO & JENNA to an ISA Writing Gig and was discovered by the ISA Development Department. After meeting with the ISA Team, and discussing her work, aspirations and future projects she has now been invited on to the ISA's Development Slate of top tier writers. She is so excited to have been selected to join the slate and eager to see where this amazing opportunity may take her.

Optioned and Lead Actor Attached.
By: Joey Day Hargrove
Joey Day Hargroves screenplay HIGHWAY TO HECK was optioned by Current Flow Entertainment after it made the top 50 for the Nicholl. An A-level actor is now attached to produce and star in the film.
Tags: Highway to Heck, Nicholl Fellowship(Top 10%), Writers Lab NYC(Top 10%), RoadMap Writers Top Tier Competition(Top 10%)

Film noir short COUNTERFEIT optioned, bought, produced - ISA Writing Gig

By: J. Hillard
Short film noir crime dramedy listed on Network ISA was optioned and then produced by an Iowa-based indie filmmaker. It's now in post-production and may be released this year (2022). https://spilledinkcinema.com/?page_id=1958

Optioned for the First Time

By: Glen Hosking
Glen Hosking submitted his screenplay WOLF AND FOX HUNT to an ISA WRITING GIG and it was optioned by producer/director Doron Drew Feldman of Ayin Productions. He said, "This is my very first option and I have ISA to thank. I'm already learning so much about myself as a writer as I go through the re-write process."

BLACK BAGS in Post Production

By: Adam Pachter
Adam Patcher's thriller BLACK BAGS, which was optioned through an ISA listing, filmed in May 2021. Starring Laura Vandervoort and Olesya Rulin, directed by Josh Brandon, and also written by Angela Bourassa, it is currently finishing post-production and represented by sales agent Artist View Entertainment. More news soon!

BLACK BAGS Optioned!
By: Adam Pachter
I'm thrilled to announce that Oren Kamara of Fade to Black Films, who found my low budget thriller feature BLACK BAGS via an ISAConnect writing gig to which I submitted, has now optioned the script, with plans to shoot in Oklahoma as soon as it's safe to do so. This will be my first script to make it to screen, and I couldn't be more pleased and grateful to ISAConnect for this amazing resource!
Tags: Black Bags, Fade to Black Films, International Screenwriters' Association

HARPER LEE AND ME nominated for Best Screenplay at Pop Con 2022

By: Don Thompson
Don Thompson's screenplay adaptation of David Dessauer's book 'Harper Lee and Me' has been nominated for Best Feature Screenplay at the Pop Con Indiana 2022! Thank you Pop Con! More info about the conference is here: https://popcon.us/ The script was developed on assignment through an opportunity posted by the ISA.
More SuccessDown Aroow

KALTENHOUSE Wins Top Prize At New York Film Awards
By: Don Thompson
Don Thompson's WWII Action-Drama KALTENHOUSE wins the Best Feature Screenplay Award at the New York Film Awards (December 2020). The script has also won other top awards at the Los Angeles Film Awards (2019) and Festigious Film Festival (2020). For more info regarding Thompson you can visit www.nextpixprods.com
Tags: Kaltenhouse, New York Film Awards(1st Place)

KALTENHOUSE Wins Top Awards
By: Don Thompson
Don Thompson's WWII action-drama screenplay KALTENHOUSE has won top awards, including 'Best Drama Screenplay' at the Los Angeles Film Awards (2019), as well as 'Best Action Screenplay' and 'Screenplay of the Month' at the Festigious International Film Festival (2020).
Tags: Festigious International Film Festival(1st Place), Los Angeles Film Awards(1st Place)

MEDEA, SOUTH CAROLINA is a finalist in the New York Screenplay Competition
By: Don Thompson
Medea, South Carolina was among the Official Finalists in the New York Screenplay Contest, 2017. The competition had over 1000+ submissions.
Tags: New York Screenplay Contest

MESSAGE TO SHIGATSE a Finalist in Filmmatic Screenplay Awards, 2017
By: Don Thompson
Don Thompson's screenplay Message to Shigatse is a finalist in the 2017 Filmmatic Screenplay Awards.

Shopping Agreement signed

By: Todd Foley
Todd Foley and his writing partner Dan Healey have recently signed a shopping agreement with Creative Screenwriter Productions, LLC for their thriller/horror script CABIN CLEANSE. The script was found through an ISA Writing gig.
More SuccessDown Aroow

Repped by Agent
By: Todd Foley
Todd Foley is represented by Doreen Holmes at Integral Artists.
Tags: THE PERFECT FILTER, Integral Artists

Signed first attachment agreement
By: Todd Foley
Todd Foley has signed his first attachment agreement with a producer for my satirical thriller feature AMERICAN CHECKOUT, one week after placing as a Quarter Finalist in the Emerging Screenwriters Genre Competition. Todd said "I look forward to collaborating on making the story even stronger and then seeing it taken out to the market, with the hope of seeing it on screen one day. This is a significant milestone in my writing career."
Tags: AMERICAN CHECKOUT, Emerging Screenwriters Genre Screenplay Competition(Quarter Finalist)

Collaboration with Blue Three Productions on 2022 Feature Film

By: A. J. Bermudez
A. J. Bermudez will join director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes of Blue Three Productions as co-writer on MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, a dark comedy drama feature set to shoot this September. A. J. was introduced to the production team by the ISA, and you can hear her talk about her experience as winner of the ISA's Shoot Your Sizzle competition on the podcast MAKING MOVIES IS HARD, hosted by MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE producer Liz Manashil and Alrik Bursell.
More SuccessDown Aroow

iCON Wins Grand Prize at PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
By: A. J. Bermudez
The feature screenplay iCON by A. J. Bermudez, an ISA Development Slate writer, has been announced as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2021 PAGE Awards. In this cryptocurrency-centric revenge epic, a brilliant but disgraced programmer turns the tables on her former mentor, the egomaniacal billionaire who stole her code and destroyed her career. The script is currently available.
Tags: iCON, PAGE International Screenwriting Awards(Grand Prize)

NIGHTINGALE Wins 2018 Emerging Screenwriters Shoot Your Sizzle Competition
By: A. J. Bermudez
A. J. Bermudez is honored to have been announced as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2018 Emerging Screenwriters Shoot Your Sizzle Competition. Her film, NIGHTINGALE, follows Joseph Reyes, a rising star surgeon who has ascended from abject poverty to the height of the medical profession. When the ill-fated surgery of a New York senator costs him his medical license, he returns to the dark, crime-ridden neighborhood of his past, only to find a new outlet for his skill set: as resident surgeon for the brutal gangs of inner Baltimore.

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.'

Sold Horror/Comedy PRINCE CHARMING through ISA Writing Gig

By: Jason Goldberg
ISA Development slate writer Jason Goldberg sold his Horror/Comedy PRINCE CHARMING screenplay to New Zealand director Zac Lucas. The project is scheduled to go into production in early 2022.
More SuccessDown Aroow

GLORIOUS Released on Shudder!
By: Jason Goldberg
Following a fantastic world premiere at Fantasia in Montreal, GLORIOUS is now officially available to stream on Shudder. The film stars J.K. Simmon and Ryan Kwanten. Rebekah McKendry directed the script penned by Josh Hull, Todd RIgney and David Ian McKendry.

Writer/Producer Jason Goldberg Fantasia-Bound with GLORIOUS
By: Jason Goldberg
Rebekah McKendry's cosmic horror film, GLORIOUS will have its world premiere this summer at Montreal's genre-bending Fantasia Festival. The film stars Academy Award-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) and Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Creepshow). Goldberg (Stay Out of the Attic) produced alongside AMP International, Christian Armogida and Fallback Plan Productions. The film will be released exclusively on Shudder on August 18th.

SACRED HELL Lands in Final Draft's Big Break Top 3 Horror/Thriller!
By: Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg's conversion therapy camp slasher SACRED HELL stabs its way into Top 3. He recently commented, 'I Couldn't be more proud of this script and its message of tolerance.'
Tags: Sacred Hell, Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest(Quarter Finalist)

SACRED HELL slashes its way into TOP 5 Final Draft's Big Break

By: Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg's conversion therapy camp slasher made it to the next round in Final Draft's Big Break contest.
Tags: Sacred Hell,

J.K. Simmons and Ryan Kwanten Board GLORIOUS
By: Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg is delighted to learn the film he was a producer on in Mississippi has announced on Deadline. Goldberg felt there was something extraordinary about the screenplay when he read it, and is thrilled to be part of its journey. https://deadline.com/2022/02/ryan-kwanten-true-blood-jk-simmons-horror-movie-glorious-efm-1234933677/

Success through ISA Writing Gig

By: Natalie Ekberg
Producer, Jerry Koedding, from Wave Films discovered Natalie Ekberg's script ESPOUSAL through an ISA Writing Gig submission and is now actively pitching it throughout Singapore.

NEMESIS makes it to the 2nd round of the ISA Fast Track Fellowship 2021

By: Kane Wheatley-Holder
NEMESIS by Kane Wheatley-Holder makes it to the 2nd round of the ISA Fast Track Fellowship 2021.
More SuccessDown Aroow

KANE W HOLDER IS A QUARTERFINALIST OF SCRIPTAPALOOZA 2016
By: Kane Wheatley-Holder
Kane's first feature screenplay 'Dark Island' made it to the Quarterfinals of Scriptapalooza's Feature screenplay competition 2016.
The screenplay is set on the island-state of Singapore, where four University students seek refuge in a remote industrial building on the night of the Apocalypse, when they become hunted by an unseen force outside, the group must confront an unstoppable evil that’s even closer: each other.
Tags: Scriptapalooza Screenplay & SHORTS Competition

KANE W HOLDER'S SINGAPOREAN-SCI-FI 'DARK ISLAND' IS A TOP 100 FINALIST
By: Kane Wheatley-Holder

Kane W Holder's debut feature, 'Dark Island', has recently made it to the Top 100 Semi-Finalist in the 2016 Table Read My Screenplay Contest – London. The sci-fi thriller is set on the island-state of Singapore, where four University students seek refuge in an industrial building on the night of the apocalypse. But when they become hunted by an unseen force, the group must confront an unstoppable evil that’s even closer: each other.  

Tags: Table Read My Screenplay - LONDON!

Hired to Write 1970s True Crime Film Adaptation

By: Keyanna Wigglesworth
Keyanna Wigglesworth applied for a writing gig on ISA and was hired by Standing Bear Productions to write a 1970s true crime feature film adaptation. She's excited to collaborate with the producers to tell this story!

KERBS VR Screenwriting Project

By: Avery Rouda
A week after joining ISA, Avery Rouda booked a Writing Gig working with the Kerbs team on a Mixed-Reality (XR) TV Series concept specifically designed for language learning (English, French, Spanish, Arabic). Exactly like a TV-series, they will shoot episodes (16 minutes) and seasons (One for every level of mastery). The plot takes place in a coffeehouse, where a dozen recurring characters help an expatriate (the learner) to be integrated, and to learn the language.Avery commented "Excited test my craft and hone my screenwriting technique for the immersive, 360 world of Virtual Reality Cinema. Thank you ISA for making this opportunity available to me. I am grateful and thrilled for this new chapter".

Screenwriter hired for VR Language Learning Episodes

By: Maria Bird
After applying for a gig listed on the ISA Writing Gigs page, María was hired by KERBS as one of the screenwriters for its VR Language Learning Episodes. She’s excited to be part of this innovative project!

ISA Writing Gig Hire

By: Sean Mason
Sean Mason applied for a writing gig on ISA and was hired by KERBS to help write their groundbreaking VR language learning series. He's excited to collaborate with the other writers and producers to help bring the vision and episodes to life!

ISA Writing Gig

By: John Joseph
John Joseph applied for a writing gig listed on the ISA Writing Gigs page, and was hired as a screenwriter for a VR Language Learning Episodes.

ISA Writing Gig Hire - Success.

By: Nicole Appleby
Nicole Appleby applied for a writing gig listed on the ISA Writing Gigs Platform, and was subsequently hired as a screenwriter for their VR Language Learning Episodes. She’s excited be on the team that brings the KERBS vision to life!

REHAB CABIN at Revelation Perth Film Festival

By: Kate Beacom
Kate Beacom's feature REHAB CABIN will make it's Australian premiere in July 2021 at Revelation Perth Film Festival.
More SuccessDown Aroow

REHAB CABIN Streams August 2 via Gravitas Ventures
By: Kate Beacom
Writing team Kate Beacom & Lacey Jeka (ISA's 25 Screenwriters to Watch 2022, Development Slate) first collaborated on the indie buddy comedy REHAB CABIN written and co-directed by Kate and starring Lacey. The movie explores the darker side of celebrity worship, when two slacker BFFs decide they can "fix" their fave childhood-actor-turned-trainwreck and help her get her career back on track. REHAB CABIN will be released on August 2, 2022, distributed by Gravitas Ventures. It will be available on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes/Apple TV, Redbox On Demand, and more. Preorders are available now on iTunes/Apple TV.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

REHAB CABIN wins Outstanding Screenplay at Tallgrass Film Festival
By: Kate Beacom
ISA Development Slate writer Kate Beacom was awarded Outstanding Screenplay for her script REHAB CABIN at the Tallgrass Film Festival.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

REHAB CABIN at Kansas City FilmFest
By: Kate Beacom
Kate Beacom's feature REHAB CABIN was an Official Selection at Kansas City FilmFest International in April 2021.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

REHAB CABIN Premieres at PIFF 2021
By: Kate Beacom
New ISA Development Slate writer Kate Beacom's feature REHAB CABIN premiered at Portland International Film Festival as part of their 2021 festival. It received wonderful reviews from local papers like The Portland Mercury and Willamette Week.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

REHAB CABIN at Kansas City FilmFest

By: Kate Beacom
Kate Beacom's feature REHAB CABIN was an Official Selection at Kansas City FilmFest International in April 2021.
More SuccessDown Aroow

REHAB CABIN Streams August 2 via Gravitas Ventures
By: Kate Beacom
Writing team Kate Beacom & Lacey Jeka (ISA's 25 Screenwriters to Watch 2022, Development Slate) first collaborated on the indie buddy comedy REHAB CABIN written and co-directed by Kate and starring Lacey. The movie explores the darker side of celebrity worship, when two slacker BFFs decide they can "fix" their fave childhood-actor-turned-trainwreck and help her get her career back on track. REHAB CABIN will be released on August 2, 2022, distributed by Gravitas Ventures. It will be available on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes/Apple TV, Redbox On Demand, and more. Preorders are available now on iTunes/Apple TV.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

REHAB CABIN wins Outstanding Screenplay at Tallgrass Film Festival
By: Kate Beacom
ISA Development Slate writer Kate Beacom was awarded Outstanding Screenplay for her script REHAB CABIN at the Tallgrass Film Festival.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

REHAB CABIN at Revelation Perth Film Festival
By: Kate Beacom
Kate Beacom's feature REHAB CABIN will make it's Australian premiere in July 2021 at Revelation Perth Film Festival.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

REHAB CABIN Premieres at PIFF 2021
By: Kate Beacom
New ISA Development Slate writer Kate Beacom's feature REHAB CABIN premiered at Portland International Film Festival as part of their 2021 festival. It received wonderful reviews from local papers like The Portland Mercury and Willamette Week.
Tags: Rehab Cabin,

ISA Development Slate for writing duo

By: Lacey Jeka
Lacey Jeka and Kate Beacom's feature GHOSTED was discovered through a writing gig submission and they were invited to join the ISA Development Slate.
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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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