A college football star is forced to deal with CTE as he prepares for a professional football career.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Harry: Steve Rizzo
Larry: Geoff Mays

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?
This story actually focuses on CTE and its universal effect on players and those around them. The inspiration came from Mike Webster, who was the first player to be diagnosed (port-mortem) with CTE, and the effect it had (still has) on his family, more than twenty years later.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
I worked very hard on the visuals to create moods. At the beginning, there's the winter, at the end, when DJ is holding little Sean, there's sunlight and the image of a happy moment, and the scene inside the abandoned house is meant to create a mysterious, dark moment, or one about to occur. I think ambiance and environment were big drivers for the screenplay.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Blind devotion.

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Moonstruck

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
It morphed from a short story into a screenplay. I worked on the short story and completed it around 2011. The screenplay was completed around 2014.

7. How many stories have you written?
I've written about 10 short stories, a few screenplays, 3 pilots, 8 plays, and some poetry.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Come on Eilleen by Dexy's Midnight Runners

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I went through about ten endings. I tried to emphasize that CTE throws its victims in a black hole that slowly sucks them in with anyone around them, and often nobody notices until it's too late.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Singing and films, especially silent films.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Very positive. I've won a few times, placed a few more and received some great positive feedback that helped very much.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I wanted to find a venue specifically for short scripts and one that didn't have volumes of submission categories, which hopefully meant someone would take the time to read and analyze my work. Additionally, the YouTube reading is such a great venue and one not offered by many (if any) other festivals.
In terms of feedback, it was another step in a very positive experience and I appreciate the kind words and the options going forward.