Watch the May 2016 Winning Feature Screenplay.

Watch THE BOO, by Scott McEntire

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Horror, Drama

Synopsis: Ronnie is a small-town sheriff in the South who still talks to his dead wife on a daily basis. His estranged sister-in-law, Brooke, is dealing with the sudden loss of her husband while still trying to conquer the mental demons of her past. Healing an old family rift becomes all the more difficult when those demons turn out to not merely be figments of her imagination.

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Sean Kaufmann
BROOKE – Kelci Stephenson
RONNIE – Zack Amzallag
OLIVIA/ANGELA – Jennifer Ferris
LUCIEN – Moui Nene
RAYLAND – Sean Ballantyne

Get to know writer Scott McEntire:

1. What is your screenplay about?

“The Boo” is a Southern gothic thriller about a small-town, widowed sheriff who unexpectedly bonds with his estranged sister-in-law, now faced with having to overcome the sudden death of her American Marine husband, and their external struggle with The Boo Hag, who according to Gullah tradition in the SE United States, is the cousin of the vampire who steals the skin of a woman while she sleeps to find a way to attack men.

2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

“The Boo” bridges the horror film genre to the Southern gothic thriller genre. Both genres have been terribly successful through too many horror films to name, and with Southern gothic stories like Mud, Slingblade, Smokey and the Bandit, etc. The budget for this movie would not have to be large, staying true to its horror film roots. And this is a story that has not yet been told. Originality is in short supply in today’s market, and this is worth the reach.

3. How would you describe this script in two words?

Mystical estrangement.

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

Snatch

5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Three and a half years.

6. How many stories have you written?

Half a dozen. Two are actual feature films now (“Anyone” and “With You”). The short films I’ve written are “TwinkleTown”, “Rent Party”, “Simple”, “Avarice”, and “Eye For An Eye”.

7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

This was a story pitched by a friend of mine, Brittany Sparkles, who knew the idea of The BooHag from a recent trip to South Carolina. This was during a 48-Hour film competition, and while her idea was passed over, she and I talked a lot that weekend so I could understand the story. From there, we altered it from a strict horror story to a multi-level Southern gothic thriller-horror film that strays into the world of the supernatural. Ultimately, I didn’t want to let a friend down who blessed me with this story to put into script form.

8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

An ex-girlfriend to didn’t understand why I was spending so much time with my friend, Brittany. Ha! The obstacle for this story primarily time. In the beginning, I was frequently researching about The Boo Hag. Then it was finding time to track my outline before finally putting pen to paper and writing the actual script. Going over it tooth and nail over multiple versions, then having friends come in to read for me, then making adjustment based on what I was hearing, before finally saying it is “good enough” and put it into competition!

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

My kids, my beautiful girlfriend, filmmaking as a whole, acting, golf, and the happiness of the most rambunctious rescue dog for which I could have asked!

10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

Not only do you get to hear/see your words comes to life by persons you don’t know, but it happening outside of where you can offer any direction, too. It’s up to the script! The videos of script reads and film screenings make the Thriller Festival one of a kind. The initial feedback I received led me to scout through my script with new eyes. Sure enough, every tip they have was a glaring weakness that needed fixing. I was more than happy to fix it!

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Time spent planning early is probably three times less than fixing a screw up after you’ve completed it. Create your outline. Write as much story as you can (trigger phrases, trigger words, certain emotions that must happen), but not necessarily any dialogue. Story leads to plot, which leads to characters. Characters lead to interactions, which then lead to dialogue. Grow. Always grow.

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Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: John Johnson