Watch the June 2016 Horror Best Scene Screenplay Reading
LONG IN THE TOOTH, by Mark Wasserman
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Horror, Drama
Lonesome, irritable widower Fred Pierce is a senior citizen with bad teeth who lives in a depressing retirement community in a small New England town. One evening, while conversing with his dead wife in the town cemetery he meets Goth kids Bo and Tana.
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Kelci Stephenson
TANA – Tee Schneider
FRED – Julian Ford
BO – Nathan Bragg
Get to know the winning writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
The story involves an elderly man who gets tricked into believing that blood is the fountain of youth and then starts preying on the young people who befriended him.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
For me, the most effective horror films involve anxiety about something specific, whether it’s THE SHINING and alcoholism; ROSEMARY’S BABY and pregnancy, or more recently IT FOLLOWS and sexually transmitted diseases. Certainly those films are much more but still…I like to think that LONG IN THE TOOTH uses the fear of aging in a similar way.
The story features three-dimensional characters; an intriguing setting (Autumn in a small New England town) and a script that can be produced inexpensively.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
Character-Driven Horror
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Sunset Boulevard
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I have worked on it off and on for several years.
6. How many stories have you written?
I have written six feature scripts and eight short scripts.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I wanted to create an original villain with an unusual modus operandi.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Like a lot of people, I’m tired enough of vampire stories that I wasn’t particularly keen to write one of my own. Thus I had to remind myself it was an original take on the subject. I hope it is.
Another tough moment was when a wonderful, established actor “attached” and then “unattached” himself to the project. That was very disheartening.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Reading, traveling, teaching
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I was curious about the “Horror scene” in Canada and wanted to visit if I won. I found the feedback very instructive and encouraging.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Give your scripts to several readers for feedback, then look for consensus. If enough people are saying the same thing about your work.
****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Festival for HORROR 