1ST SCENE SCREENPLAY READINGS
Winning screenplays. First scenes readings from features, and television specs.
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FEMALE Festival 1st Scene: The Art of Denial, by Hannah Augenstine
The Art of Denial follows Emily, a playwright who finds the courage to write and put herself out there after the death of her father figure/ mentor. The Art of Denial has a sweet premise but lacks specific character motives, a strong setup, and a realistic arc.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth ...
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LGBTQ+ Festival First Scene: The Urning - Life and Times of a Gay Rights Pioneer
"Hambach Awakening" - Pilot episode of a limited series on the life and times of Karl Heinrichs Ulrichs - a German gay rights pioneer and scholar who wrote the first queer theory known to the LGBTQ movement, published the first gay magazine, and used his privilege and law degree to go into battle...
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DRAMA Festival 1st Scene Reading: The Lonely Wish, by Nick McCabe
When a troubled teen’s wish to make everyone disappear comes true, she risks losing them permanently and must rely on an unlikely ally to save her town – the school bully.
CAST LIST:
Narration: Sean Ballantyne
Miriam; Val Cole
Linda: Elizabeth Rose MorrissGet to know the writer:
1. What is...
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ROMANCE Festival 1st Scene: The Labyrinth, by Nicholas J. Szegedi
When a successful aerospace engineer is sabotaged by a vengeful business rival and haunted by two failed marriages, he embarks on an international journey of self-discovery with newfound hope and determination. Based on actual events.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Hannah Ehman
Michael: Shawn Devlin
Dav... -
FANTASY/SCI-FI Festival 1st Scene:The Octopus's Garden, by Ed Moran (interview)
A delightful blend of adventure and emotional depth, reminiscent of films like "Finding Nemo," where the bond between characters drives the narrative through perilous waters. I thought of "The Shape of Water" as well, with its unique exploration of relationships between humans and extraordinary c...
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ACTION/SCI-FI Festival 1st Scene Reading: VITRUVIAN WOMAN, by L. Petruska
Jack Teller is an established science writer whose young scientist mother died of a terrible poisoning shortly after he was born. His father lived in complete denial and also groomed Jack not to ask questions about his mother at all. Now a grown man in his 50s, Jack receives a cryptic email from ...
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HORROR Festival 1st Scene: LIFELESS "The Crown Falls" TV, by Meredith Stack
Over two decades since the resurrection of the dead, survivors revert back to the medieval times for survival. Kingdoms are built and fall. Survivors must learn to survive in a world where new leaders are raised into power and the new evolution of the dead.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Hannah Ehman
Re... -
HORROR Festival 1st Scene Reading: Grad Nite, by Sion-RaizeG
While enjoying an overnight celebration at a regional theme park, a group of graduating high school students are targeted by a vicious killer wearing a dragon mask.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Mr. Randol: Sean Ballantyne
Gracyn: Geoff Mays -
EXPERIMENTAL Festival First Scene: Death in Poland, by Grant Huffman
An unflinching, brutally honest portrayal of the Holocaust's most infamous death camps, *Death in Poland* chronicles the systematic machinery of genocide through a series of interwoven scenes of cruelty, precision, and silence—where memory is the only thing left standing.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: ...
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LGBTQ+ 1st Scene Reading: Canoe, by Ron Wayne Kennell
When a hot shot architect inherits his grandfather’s remote cabin, the locals become restless and reveal secrets he can no longer ignore.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Trudy: Hannah Ehman
Tristan: Geoff Mays -
FEMALE Festival 1st Scene: WALKING OVER WET PAINT, by Judy Taylor
A snarky book nerd may find love, but only if she's willing to come out of her oh-so-cozy she..
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Trisha: Val Cole
Henry: Shawn Delvin -
LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene: MAD HOUSE, by Katie Arias
Autumn is struggling to keep her financial situation above the poverty line. With a crappy apartment, no real stability or even groceries her apartment seems to be the hub of entertainment for Saira & Malcolm even though they are much better off.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Malcolm: Sha... -
LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene: THE OUTRAGEOUS LIFE OF HENRY FAULKNER, by Jim Hall
The colourful and adventurous life of one of America’s most talented unknown gay artists and his quest for self-expression and respect.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Val Cole
Jamie: Shawn Devlin
Henry: Sean Ballantyne -
WILDsound Festival 1st Scene: TRINITY WEST, by MG Hardie
A drama set in the heart of a Southern Baptist congregation, where personal conflicts, church politics, and family legacies intertwine as they fight for the survival of The Church.
CAST LIST:
Eleanora: Julie Sheppard
Erin: Val Cole
Narrator: Sean BallatyneGet to know the writer:
1. What is...
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COMEDY Festival 1st Scene: Tom Hanks Must Die!, by Evan Neill
When a bitter nobody becomes convinced that Tom Hanks is the cosmic reason his life sucks, he drags a new friend on a chaotic cross-country mission to confront destiny-and maybe punch America's dad in the face.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Margaret: Val Cole
Jeff: Sean Ballantyne -
1st Scene: YOU WERE WRONG ABOUT THE JELLYFISH, by Andy Carpenter (interview)
When an unnamed virus begins to kill off human males, a family takes refuge on a sailboat in hopes they can escape the virus.
CAST LIST:
Narration: Sean Ballantyne
Mila: Hannah Ehman
Erica: Val ColeGet to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
This story, like all of the stor...
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Crime/Mystery Festival 1st Scene Reading: MURDER ON MARS, by Patrick McKinley
In 2058, A murder investigation leads two police detectives down a dangerous path during the early days of the colonization of Mars.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Hannah Ehman
Daryl: Shawn Devlin
Matt: Sean Ballantyne -
WILDsound Best Scene Reading: JAMES LEE, by Hugh Brownlie
Glasgow teenager Jimmy Lee acquires unwelcomed physical enhancements. After mistakenly injuring a young child he emigrates to Toronto for a fresh start.
In later life he crosses paths with a dogged detective who attempts to link his curious goings on with other small-time illegalities.
Convergi...
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FEMALE Festival 1st Scene: In The House That Elle Built, by Lauren Hackney
Elizabeth has her hands full with her two foster kids, a roommate and a new love interest that she's not sure can handle her lifestyle.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Sean Ballantyne
Elizabeth: Hannah Ehman
Elle/Lizzy: Julie Sheppard -
FEMALE Festival Best Scene: HACKED BY LOVE, by Rosemary Lokhorst
A major Esports event is in full swing, with a dynamic A.
I host partnering with a legendary player. When the massive prize
money is threatened by a bomb threat, the event begins to descend
into chaos; forcing the resident A. I and a star player team up with
the F.B.I. to unravel the conspiracy.
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ENVIRONMENTAL Festival 1st Scene: FIRST LIGHT, by Dylan Brody
A bright child in northern California betrays his Catholic upbringing and protective parents to join forces with a local druid who believes he might just be the one who can save the world from humanity's worst impulses.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Hannah Ehman
William: Sean Ballantyne
Marty: Shawn De... -
FANTASY/SCI-FI Best Scene Reading: ETERNAL LIFE, by Jaaered Brown (interview)
Waking in a future with floating cities topping thousands of stories, run by radioactive intelligence, where imagination blends with machine, an amnesiac finds her destiny.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Alis: Hannah Ehman
Anne-Marie: Val ColeGet to know the writer:
1. What is your sc...
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HORROR Festival 1st Scene Script: ANXIETY, by Meredith Stack (interview)
Emily suffers from extreme anxiety. Her younger sister, Meredith, is the only one who can calm her but when Meredith dies unexpectedly, Emily's anxiety takes a dark turn exposing terrifying secrets from her family's past and creating a sinister way of dealing with her fears.
CAST LIST:
Narrati...
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COMEDY Festival 1st Scene: THE EXTRA'S EXTRA, by Mary Haarmeyer, Craig Beeman
Zach Roberts is fine with his mediocre existence until his new charity case, Gloria, leaves in search of “bigger things,” leaving him with her annoying devil dog, Jitters. Trying to win Gloria back and revive his YouTube channel, Zach’s older friend Jerry convinces him to join him on a movie set ...