1ST SCENE SCREENPLAY READINGS
Winning screenplays. First scenes readings from features, and television specs.
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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 Ballatyne -
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 -
WILDsound 1st Scene Read: YOU WERE WRONG ABOUT THE JELLYFISH, by Andy Carpenter
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 Cole -
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
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 Cole -
HORROR Festival 1st Scene Script: ANXIETY, by Meredith Stack
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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FEMALE Festival 1st Scene: PURGATORY, by Christine Speer
When a schoolgirl's parents abruptly decide to divorce, she tries to pick up the pieces and bring her family back together.
CAST LIST:
Narrator:
Beatrice:
Father Malone: -
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 -
WILDsound Festival 1st Scene: THE VILLAGE PHANTOM, by A.E. Guaaker (interview)
Fiona Haegerbergh, a journalist for The Metro Standard, arrives in a rural Norwegian town to investigate rising drug use. Officially, she’s there to produce a webcast— but Fiona has her own agenda: uncovering the truth behind the recent suspicious death of a local drug dealer. Fiona’s editor urge...
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WILDsound Festival 1st Scene: MARAH FROM EILAT, by Leiter S Daniellson
Haunted by a perilous deal with a ruthless demon, a troubled Catholic Deacon must protect an ancient religious decree from demonic forces while confronting the inner demons that threaten to consume him.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Val Cole
Stanley: Geoff Mays
Tara: Hannah Ehman -
WILDsound 1st Scene Reading: CHERISHED VICIOUSNESS, by Daniel Arreola
In a witty and elusive interaction among two intellectual career pros, Sophie and Alan meet at a bar and hit it off and create an impenetrable bond neither has experienced. As their relationship grows strong, they can't escape who they are and the secrets they carry and where they may end up.
CA...
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NEW YORK Festival 1st Scene Reading: Finesse, by Diamond Davis
These girls are sneaky and naughty. Everyone is out for themselves and willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. With everyone out for themselves who will come out on top.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Hannah Ehman
Johnathan: Geoff Mays
Candy: Val Cole