Jim has ALS. Feeling he has no hope, he wants to end it all. Then he meets Catherine – who is a Vampire!
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
INCURABLE is about Jim Reed, a man in his early 30’s, with his whole life ahead of him, who is stricken with ALS. He contemplates suicide to avoid the painful death sentence that the disease usually is, but then he meets Catherine Adler, a woman whom he will soon discover is a vampire. They fall for each other and then Jim decides to let Catherine bite him to give eternal life and thwart his ALS forever. Of course, becoming a vampire is not that easy and that’s where the drama ensues. Jim discovers that there’s a whole helluva lot more to his new lease on life, as well as his relationship with Catherine.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Because it deals with vampires it readily falls into the horror category, but it is also a romantic drama as it really examines the relationship that develops between Jim and Catherine. I’d also argue that it has an indie character study feel to it as it is far from the typical violence and gore found in the horror genre. INCURABLE is more head and heart than than blood and guts.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
INCURABLE is a more unique horror tale for the reasons I listed previously, but also because of the unique proposition that enables Jim to accept Catherine’s offer to turn him. Because she’s rich and gets her blood supply from the black market, Jim will not have to kill anyone to sustain his vampirism. I’ve never encountered the idea of murder taken off the table in a vampire tale.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Character-driven horror.
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
“Jaws” is my favorite film of all time, and truly set the template for INCURABLE in that it too was a character-driven piece that had thrills and chills, yes, but it never lost sight of the complex humans in battle with the shark.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
It took three months to write originally, with a few months of rewrites after that incorporating reader’s notes, friends’ opinions, contest feedback, etc. From there, it did very well in contests, but I’ve always tweaked it along the way. As the saying goes, you’re never really done rewriting until the film is in the can!
How many stories have you written?
I’ve written nine movie screenplays, two TV series pilots and pitches, and a theatrical play. (I also write a movie blog and am a film critic, but those are different stories!)
What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I love horror but often found myself cheering for the monster to defeat the stupid characters being pursued. It occurred to me that the genre needed more complex storytelling as well as characters. I’ve always been a fan of vampire lore as well, and wondered if one could be a vampire without killing. The idea of a rich vampire who didn’t have to kill for blood, who could buy it on the black market instead, came to me shortly after that.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Editing. Writing isn’t difficult for me, but honing, polishing, editing, really examining every word – that is a lot of work. And it’s a challenging and incredibly detailed kind of intricate surgery as well.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am passionate about movies, the arts, cats, animal rights, and politics, those less so these days with Trump’s victory. I worry we’re going into some very dark days ahead.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I loved that such an organization felt a similar passion for horror. And that winning entries would be read by actors and filmed for all to see! I’ve always loved table reads. Also, the feedback I received from the festival was terrific. And I rewrote INCURABLE to reflect the terrific suggestions.
Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Be patient. Writing takes time. Connecting with people who can help you with your scripts takes time. Waiting for someone to find the money to greenlight your script will likely take a lot of time. Thus, enjoy being a writer no matter what the outcome, and if you’re lucky to get your work on the big screen remember that’s the icing on the cake, not the whole cake.
Watch the July 2016 Winning Feature Screenplay Reading.
FIEND, by Jeff York
SYNOPSIS:
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Crime, Mystery, History
When famed Jekyll & Hyde author Robert Louis Stevenson turns out himself to be a dangerous split personality, the only one who can save him and London from his fiendish alter ego is a maverick American psychiatrist with daring, unconventional methods.
It’s historical fiction, based upon two men who were contemporaries of each other in 19th century Europe. Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scotsman living in England who wrote the famous story about split personalities called “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.” And Dr. Morton Prince was an American psychologist working in Salpetriere Hospital in Paris treating split personalities and other psychosis. The two never met, but with so much in common, I deemed that they should.
2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
“Fiend” would make for a elevated thriller that the Cineplex could use more of these days. It’s kind of a cross between “Sherlock Holmes” and “The King’s Speech” and it has a lot of smarts and a lot of heart.
3. How would you describe this script in two words?
Historical faction.
4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
“Jaws” is one that I watch all the time, even when I come across it on TV, and see something new and amazing in it every time. It in itself is an elevated horror movie that has so many layers and nuance, in addition to being very primal.
5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
All told it took me about a year to get “Fiend” into tip-top shape to start entering it into contests, where it has done very well, but I still tinker with it here and there. One never really stops rewriting until it’s filmed and in the can. And even after that, there may still be reshoots and additional rewriting!
6. How many stories have you written?
I’ve written 8 feature scripts, 3 television pilots, 1 short film script and a play.
7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I am a history buff and was drawn to Stevenson’s history as a man who was sick most of his life and longed for a life where he wasn’t hampered by his frailties. Hence, he wrote things like “Jekyll and Hyde”, as well as “Treasure Island.” His writing about mental illness and dissociative personality disorder (split personalities) in “Jekyll & Hyde” was incredibly insightful, such that there were those who wondered how he could grasp it all so well. Then, when I found out about Prince’s work in the same area and how Salpetriere wanted the rest of Europe to follow suit in bettering their treatment of the mentally ill, it struck me that there could be a entertaining juxtaposition in those two stories.
8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The balance of fact and fiction. Most movie bio’s take a ton of liberties with the real story, and because this one was clearly made up, I didn’t have to be quite so faithful. Still, I wanted to be true to the actual history known of the two men, and striking the right balance between reality and fantasy is what presented the biggest challenge.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I love movies, theater, art, reading…most anything from the arts world. I have an orange tabby so I’m partial to cats. And I find current events and politics to be endlessly fascinating and spend a lot of time watching MSNBC. (I’m quite the liberal at heart.)
10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I love those that embrace horror, and it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to connect with similar fans of the genre. The notes I received were superb, and I incorporated all the terrific suggestions into the rewrite of the script that was recorded. So thanks for making it better!
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Breaking into Hollywood is very difficult, and you’ll run into a lot of pretenders and wannabe’s. Gravitate towards those who remain positive in their response to your work, or at least encouraging, and realize that not everyone is going to do cartwheels over what you’ve written. Still, if you really enjoy writing and want to be a cinematic storyteller, keep at it and you will find advocates. You just need to find that one who also has money to make your script into a movie. That is THE struggle, but if you’re good, write a lot, and remain persistent in learning, rewriting, writing more and more scripts, and keeping the faith, you’ll find yourself getting closer and closer. And hopefully that day when you get the dream call, you’re ready for it all.
****
Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
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.
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
(Scroll down and watch winning performance videos)
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WATCH Winning Horror Screenplay and Story Readings:
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1st SCENE Screenplay: CRIME CYCLE
SHORT Story – GOBLIN
LONG SHORT Screenplay – THE SON, THE FATHER
LONG SHORT Screenplay – CUCKOLD PICASSO
LONG SHORT Screenplay – TOGETHER
SHORT Screenplay – IF I DIE
1st SCENE Screenplay: OLD BONES
SHORT Screenplay – MATCHSTICK
BEST SCENE Screenplay – ELAN VITAL
SHORT Screenplay – MATERNAL FEAR
1st SCENE Screenplay – NINE SCARS
FEATURE Screenplay – FIEND
Short Screenplay – DEATH’S LADY LOVE
FEATURE Screenplay – INKED IN BLOOD
1st Scene Screenplay – EXISTENTIAL QUANDARY
Best Scene Screenplay – LONG IN THE TOOTH
Best Scene Screenplay – IX
Feature Screenplay – THE BOO
Best Scene Screenplay – MATSQUI MASSACRE
Short Screenplay Screenplay – WALL IN THE GARDEN
Feature Screenplay – DEAD NORTH
1st Scene Screenplay – THE SHOT
1st Scene Screenplay – ROAD TO TEXAS
Short Screenplay – THE NEW NEIGHBORS
Feature Screenplay – MOTHS TO FLAME
Best Scene Screenplay – LONG IN THE TOOTH
BLACK BALLOON, 12min, Israel, Drama/Horror 
MINE, 29min, Canada, Drama/Thriller
Short Screenplay – DEATH’S LADY LOVE
Short Story Reading – LORNA’S ISLAND