Guys, these notes are super helpful! Please thank whoever read my screenplay
For taking the time to give me real useful advice. I’m actually excited to go back and re-write now that I have some clarity on what the issues are.
THE PLAYLISTS is about a married couple who are separately lured to remote cottage by Lewis, a troubled but gifted musician. Lewis has links to the couple from his past and wants closure for wrongs that occurred. Lewis has serious psychological problems and has befriended three imaginary muses, two of which help him compose music. The dark muse, Archibald, has influenced Lewis to devise the sinister plan, whist Clara, the good muse, tries to dissuade him to surrender his disturbing plan.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
THE PLAYLISTS is primarily a psychological thriller but can also be defined as a mystery drama.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
THE PLAYLISTS is unique in nature and though it doesn’t have the typical twist found in most thrillers, it is raw and unnerving. From a production point of view, it wouldn’t be very expensive to make and I can definitely see it generating some great profits at the box office.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Musically insane.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I’ve had the idea in my mind for over ten years. I outlined the plot about three years ago and finished the script last year.
7. How many stories have you written?
Three and currently working on a fourth.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Return to Innocence by Enigma but probably listened to You Spin Me Round (Like a record) by Dead or Alive, the most.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The dilemma of deciding on the type of ending; I have three alternatives. I feel that most viewers are waiting for a twist and that this is wearing a little bit thin, so I went with a somewhat predictable ending, but also isn’t. It’s type of ending you’d expect would happen but will catch viewers off guard by waiting for a twist. The prospecting of catching the audience of guard appeals to me.
Time was also another obstacle. I have a demanding corporate role, so finding the time and headspace to write was definitely challenging.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Health and fitness, travelling and music.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
My experience with the FilmFreeway platform has been positive. Everything is detailed and clear to follow. I also really like that you can conveniently see the history and outcome of festivals entered.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I entered my screenplay to about five screenwriting festivals. THE PLAYLISTS was shortlisted in three of the five competitions and made the quarter finals for each. I was pleased with this result as this has been my first submission of a screenplay.
The tone of the feedback is quite constructive and confirmed some of the doubts I had in my plot, so I revised accordingly.
The theme of the June 2018 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Los Angeles was “Sins”. Every single film was about a world and/or characters dealing with sins and conflicts of the past.
This is the festival that I’ll always remember because I consider it the turning point of the Los Angeles FEEDBACK Film Festival. It wasn’t the easiest event to get through for the crew, but they grinded it out and produced the best night we’ve had so far in Los Angeles. The feedback videos are great (make sure you watch them), put together by our new editor Kimberly Villarruel, who was the MVP of the night.
In Toronto, the great team (lead by Mary Cox & Kierston Drier) had been a part of the festival for over 2 years before they were brought on in a moderator & leadership capacity. So they were able to witness many events, and see how they can achieve success despite the muliple conflicts that can occur when producing an event where the audience’s comments are the only thing that really matter
In Los Angeles, it was a fast process for all of them. Shepsut Wilson, who moderates the festival in Los Angeles, only attended two events before she took the mic to lead the discussion. So she’s literally been doing and learning on the job at the same time. And our Festival Director’s Rachel Elder, and Natasha Levy worked at a few events in a 12 month span before they took the leadership duties. So the first few events were definitely a work in progress and learning curve for everybody.
Then June 2018 appeared and we found out what the Los Angeles team were made of. They demand perfection in a festival with so many moving parts that perfection is impossible to obtain. But attempting to get to that goal is what turns something good into something great.
Before I get too “motivational speaker”, I simply wanted to say that we have arrived in Los Angeles and we are saying put forever! With a team like this, we have nowhere to go but up for a long, long time.
Mostly intrigue, it was fascinating to hear other people’s honest opinions about something we’ve effectively been working on in isolation, not many people have seen this film at all so for us to get feedback at this stage it’s actually very helpful.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the Short Film: