1ST SCENE SCREENPLAY READINGS
Winning screenplays. First scenes readings from features, and television specs.
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HORROR Festival 1st Scene Reading: Grad Nite, by Sion-Raize (interview)
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 MaysGet to know the writer:
1. What is ...
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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 ...
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ACTION/FANTASY Festival: The Piper, by J. Aldric Gaudet
A darkly twisted re-rendering of the Pied Piper legend told through the eyes of an estranged father and son. The boy is struggling to manhood while they both suffer the pangs of their wife/mother’s suicide years earlier. When the Piper takes the children the father sets out with the village midwi...
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HORROR Festval 1st Scene: HOW TO SAVE A DYING WORLD, by Ronnie Figueoa
It’s about an alien named Jophar whose ancestry is from Earth and his encounters while living here. Also, a higher evolved alien species is trying to help him save the planet from inevitable destruction due to an impending bio genetic mutation.
CAST LIST:
Narration: Sean Ballantyne
Jessy: Eliza... -
THRILLER/SUSPENSE Festival: FROZEN LIES, by Eric Lotter (interview)
When a woman discovers her new boyfriend is hiding a body in the trunk, her road trip spirals into a nightmare of buried secrets, survival instincts, and a past frozen in lies. Based on a true story.
CAST LIST
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morris
Daisy: Hannah Ehman
Patrick: Geoff Mays-----
Get t...
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FEMALE Festival 1st Scene: ORIGIN STORY, by Ama Adair (interview)
The vicious attack that almost killed her erased all that she was. But not what she did. Elyse Tysoni s shocked to learn her taped confessions remove any hope of escaping her nightmare. Desperate for a lifeline, her only option is to be studied by Doctor Steve Bennett, a psychologist who speciali...
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LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene: BLUE IDAHO, by Noah Zayn Mortier
Blue (formerly Logan) is a gifted transgender surgical nurse whose life spirals after a violent romance exposes her truth. Surviving a suicide attempt, she's sent to an off-grid trauma retreat, where healing begins amid a web of broken souls, betrayal, and revelation. Returning home to confront f...
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LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene: LESBIANS OF BUSHWICK, by Olive Persimmon
Margot sneaks into the Premier lounge, and obnoxiously pitches her fake reality show idea to Arbuckle. He gets her kicked out. A video circulates of him saying a gay slur. He pitches her show to Ronnie, who's ready to drop him. He emails Margot. She convinces Alex to help her shoot the pilot. He ...
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LGBTQ+ Festival 1st Scene Reading: SHRINK, by Teddy K. Andrews
A young man attends the final session of his compensated work therapy program. The therapist remains ever oblivious as his lies begins to swallow the room whole.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Val Cole
Voice/Ashton: Geoff Mays
Therapist: Hannah Ehman