|
Six finalists have emerged from the pack as finalists for the 2003 Kern Film Festival screenwriting competition.
The Kern County Film Commission reported 35 scripts were submitted to readers, who culled the pile down to the final six. Those remaining are the final competitors for cash and prizes, to be awarded at the festival’s Grand Gala celebration January 25.
Would-be writers were asked to pen scripts that included Kern County locations or settings that could be matched in Kern County. The responses ran the full list of genres, from science fiction to war drama to tales of the old west.
Scripts came from across the country, including authored by a Kern County resident.
Joseph Lint of Ridgecrest penned Hacienda, giving a sci-fi twist to the old western.
It’s a classic tale of the bad and the ugly — but this one is set on a distant planet where plasma laser pistols replace the Colt .45 and the cowboys ride hovercraft instead of horses. A greedy land developer has enlisted the services of a band of outlaws to frighten the townspeople into selling their properties so he can build the resort community of "Hacienda." His plan is working to perfection until two unlikely heroes step forth to try and save the town.
From Lancaster comes Sequoia Spirits by Cynthia Mikiel. In this story a dysfunctional family hopes to find redemption at a Native American gathering set high in the Sequoias. In the process, they unleash some ancient forces that help them discover secrets about the land — and about themselves.
Evanston, Illinois resident Tom Patrick penned the midievel fable Crusade. Two brothers are sent by British King Richard to command a castle in Syria, along with their families and staff. Longtime rivalries lead to murder and the exile of the slain knight’s son, Geoffrey, who must escape slavery to avenge his father’s death and save his sister’s life.
Cynthia Webb of Helena, Montana, submitted Silver Wings, a World War II-era dramatic romance. The script tells the tale of a group of young women who enter the military with dreams of being allowed to fly. They face stern opposition from their male counterparts, and from the powers that be. One member of the group manages to find love, even as tragedy strikes and their numbers dwindle.
It’s back to the Old West for Raid on Lajitas, authored by G.R. Williamson of Kerrville, Texas. Set in 1889, the story features three retired Texas Rangers who must face down an enemy from their past who kidnaps one of them to settle an old score.
The remaining finalist is Dirtywork by Rick Wolf of Vienna, Virginia. A banking magnate with close questionable ties has made his fortune doing “dirty work” for the government and trading on the political favors he earned along the way. After 20 years of being the pursuer, he finds himself on the other side of the game.
The top three finishers will walk away with an assortment of cash and prizes.
First place will earn the winner $250 and the opportunity to have his script read by and established Hollywood literary agent. Second prize is $100 and screenwriting computer software, while third prize is $50 and a screenwriting video seminar.
All three will receive the screenwriting instructional books Screenwriting 101, Writing for Action-Adventure Film and Writing the Thriller Film: The Terror Within by Neill D. Hicks. Hicks penned the screenplays for box office hit Rumble in the Bronx and the critically acclaimed Dead Reckoning.
|
