Screenplays/ Plays
Steal Me
Some people live a life that is unfortunate in circumstances and are forced to make decisions to alter the course of their future. That is the case for Westyn who has a little help from a robot named Steal.
Completed 01/2025
Selections/Awards
LEEDSflix International Film & Screenplay Competition - Finalist Best Short Screenplay
Imaginary Mind Film Contest - Best Screenplay 2025
Massachusetts Independent Film Festival - Official Selection Best Short Screenplay 2025
Stockholm Minimal International Film Festival - Best Short Screenplay 2025
Unrestricted View Film Festival - Award Nomination Best Short Script 2025
Mindfield Film Festival Albuquerque - Finalist Best Short Script
Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards - Official Selection Best Short Screenplay
Judges Comments
“At Mindfield, we believe in fostering creativity and growth, which is why we provide brief notes on submissions to offer helpful insights as you continue refining your work. Below are the comments from our judges on Steal Me:
NH:
This story caught me off guard in the best way. It’s emotionally deep, and the sci-fi elements are poetic rather than flashy, which I loved. The pacing lagged just a bit in the mid-section, but the final act brought it home beautifully. That “Steal me” payoff line? Powerful.
AS:
The relationship between Westyn and Steal is heartfelt and symbolic. There's a rawness to Westyn’s trauma that feels authentic. I think the plot structure could be a bit tighter to heighten tension, but the emotional arc is touching. Really memorable character work.
DR:
Such a cool idea! A robot as a manifestation of healing? That’s fresh and compelling. Some of the dialogue could be sharpened—at times it felt a bit on-the-nose—but the overall tone struck a nice balance between fantasy and grounded drama. This script has soul.”
The R & R
The first episode in an eight part season explores the reunion of Roman with his dog Riley, and the encounter they have with a mysterious guest. Each has an extended stay at The R & R Resort.
Toy - The Manchester Green Collection
Manchester Green is the son of Cinnamon and Lucky. He lives in Madison and is the owner of a shop on State Street. This is where he hosts a collection of abandoned toys. Each is offered free to the community of children who then are asked to write a journal on the adventures they share. A process of healing for both. Magical, mystical, encounters of children in need.
The story is part two in a trio of holiday tales.
Simpleton
A young man has a secret, one so impactful that he has isolated himself from the world for most of his life. He lives in a stone cottage on a vast stretch of land, near fields, woods, and a stream, with a pac of dogs he calls his Team. When that secret is revealed, everything changes.
Finished: 07/2024
Selections/Awards
Glendale International Film Festival - Semi Finalists Best Screenplay 2024
Spectra Fix Film Festival - Official Selection Best Short Film 2024
Santa Barbara Indie Film Festival - Best Short Screenplay 2024
Rome Indie Film Festival - Best Short Script 2024
Mad Moons
Two wandering poets cross paths on a river walk in the city. They exchange moments that reflect their past and the diversity of their experiences. City life as it is also presents the threat of possible violence and the two deal with a resolution to that. This script was formerly “Ivy” and after a major rewrite is now the new “Mad Moons”
Rewrite completed 6/2023
Selections/Awards
Majorca Atlanteans International Film Festival - Best Short Screenplay
We Make Movies International Film Festival - Top 5 Finalist 2023
Australia International Film Festival - Semi-Finalist Short Screenplay 2023
Swiss Screenwriting and Cinematic Summit - Best Short Screenplay
Mad Moons (formerly Ivy)
Selections/Awards:
The Fine Arts Film Festival 2020 Top 5 Short Screenplay
Atlanta International Screenplay Awards
2020 Official Selection
Drama Inc. Screenplay Competition 2020 Official Selection
Pasadena International Film Festival 2020 Screenplay Finalist
After Hour Film Festival 2019 Official Selection
VisionFest Screenwriting Competition 2019 Finalist http://visionfest.com/
New York Cinematography Awards (NYCA) 2020 Semi-Finalist
Marina del Rey Film Festival 2019 Honorable Mention 2nd place
https://www.marinadelreyfilmfestival.com/2019-marina-del-rey-film-festival
The European Independent Film Awards 2019 Selection
Hollywood Just4Shorts Film and Screenplay Competition 2019 Semi-Finalist
Peachtree Village International Film Festival 2019 Finalist
Five Continents International Film Festival 2019
1st Place Best Screenplay Short Film
https://www.ficocc.com/ficocc-29
Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition 2019
Semi-Finalist
San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival 2018 Screenplay Finalist
Awareness Film Festival 2018 Finalist
Grove Film Festival 2018 Top Four Finalist
Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival and Writers Celebration 2018 Finalist
Filmatic Screenplay Awards 2018 Honorable Mention
Not Gauguin
This screenplay is another in the Alexander “Stills” series. A young artist isolates from her family to define her view, her vision, her form of art.
We as artists imagine what our creative life would be without certain obligations. This story plays upon that concept.
Completed 02/2023
Selection / Awards:
Black Owl Festival - Honorable Mention Best Short Screenplay 2023
Marina del Rey International Film Festival - Official Selection Best Short Screenplay
Orlando International Film Festival- Official Selection Best Short Script
Oxford Script Awards - Official Selection Best Short Script
Athens International Film & Art Festival - First Place Short Screenplay
New York Movie Awards 2023 - Silver Award Best Short Script
Barcelona Indie Awards International Festival- Best Short Screenplay
Paris Screenplay Awards - Bronze Best Script.
8& Halfilm Awards Rome Italy - Best American Short Script (March 2023)
Golden State Film Festival - Official Selection Best Short Screenplay 2023
Ethereal Frames Film and Arts Awards - Finalist Best Short Script February 2023
Fox International Film Festival - Finalist Best Short Script 2023
Praque Screenplay Awards 2024 - Official Selection
New York Tri-State International Film Festival - Best Short Screenplay 2025
Stage Script Film Competition - Official Selection Best Short Screenplay 2025
Swallows
The Breathing Moon
Introducing my next story, the sci-fi adventure of Stone, a 17 year old looking to define himself away from all the riots and movements of his day. In an attempt to isolate, he runs away from home, is assaulted but is then connected to a Swallow, an energy force that completely engulfs a life form. The adventure takes them globally and outward toward the galaxy of Swallows, where both good and evil, light and dark collide in a battle to consume massive populations as a means to survive.
Written to be a block buster with soul. High energy and intimate discussion, trying to encompass many cultures and current thought.
Selection / Awards:
Atlanta International Screenplay Awards 2021 Official Selection
Plot Point International Screenwriting Awards 2021 Semi-Finalist
Silver Mask Live Festival (Los Angeles) 2021 Honorable Mention
Moody Crab International Film Festival 2021 Official Selection
XWorld Short Film Festival
2021 Official Selection
Script to Motion Picture International Screenwriting Competition
2021 Semi-Finalist
San Diego Movie Awards 2021 Official Selection
Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival 2021 Semi Finalist Short Screenplay
Vancouver Badass Film FeStovall 2021 Honorable Mention
The Breathing Moon
The Breathing Moon
A father in Italy tells his two children a story of the breathing moon, in the night, in his bed, as the moon peers in through the French doors of the balcony. The haunting sound of breathing weaves it’s way through the bedroom as the evening folds. The breathing moon leaves behind hope as the story concludes.
Completed: March 28, 2020
Selections/Awards:
LA Festival of Cinema 2021 Finalist
Directors Cut Int'l Film Festival - 2020 Best Screenplay
L.A. Neo Noir Novel, Film, & Script Online Festival 2020 Official Selection
Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival
2020 Official Selection
The Lonely Seal International Film Festival & Screenwriting Contest 2020 Semi-Finalist
Festival for Drama Film & Writing 2020 Short Screenplay Winner
Short Close-Up: Screenplay Contest 7/2020 Award Winner
Nevada City Film Festival 2020 Finalist
Screenwriting Master Contest 2020 Finalist
Indie Film Salon Film Festival Finalist
2020 Screenplay Winner
"One Short, One Feature, One Screenplay"
DC Shorts International Film Festival Screenplay Competition 2020 Finalist
Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival Finalist 2020 Screenplay competition
SWN Screenplay Competition Official Selection Best Short Screenplay
After Hour Film Festival 2020 Jury Award Best Short Screenplay
Dallas International Film Festival via Broaden Your Horizons Screenwriting Competition 2020 Quarter Finalist
Florence Film Awards - Finalist - March 2020
Rome Independent Prisma Awards - Best Short Screenplay Nomination March 2020
Willy Won't
Willy and his mother June wander Chicago looking at the picture windows in the store fronts, telling stories about what they see, as a distraction from an event that has haunted both. They are hungry, on the edge of being homeless until they meet Alex. The three bond instantly and together they create an inspired new path.
Selections/Awards
Sacramento International Film Festival 2020 Screenplay Finalist
LA Under the Stars 2020 Finalist
Paris Play Film Festival 2020 Official Selection
SnowTown Film Festival 2020 Finalist
Marina del Rey Film Festival 2019 Finalist
Polish International Film Festival 2019 1st Place Best Short Screenplay
Los Angeles Cinematography AWARDS (LACA) 2020 Finalist
The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards 2019 Top Five Short Screenplay
Hickory (&me)
The story is set on a front porch of a country home, where a Grandpa tells Hickory, his grandson, about the story of Lightning and the power he has to create a world of his own, when he catches an idea from a lightning bolt.
Selections/Awards:
The Imaginarium Convention Film Festival 2019 Finalist Short Screenplay
The Hague Global Cinema Festival 2019
Finalist Screenplay Competition
San Diego International Kid's Film Festival 2019 Finalist
Hyperwave Film Awards Semi-Finalist 2019 Short Screenplay
Cannes Screenplay Contest 2019 Award Winner
Southeast New England (SENE) Film,
Music & Arts Festival 2019 Finalist
Creation International Film Festival Winter 2019 Winner Best Short Screenplay
Caribbean Sea International Film Festival 2019
First Place Best Screenplay
Rome Independent Prisma Awards SemiFinalist 2018
Feel The Reel International Film Festival Best Screenplay Finalist
Where I go
Where I go
Where I go
"Where I Go" is the story of Sam White, a young man with an old soul on a quest to discover a truer meaning to his life as he travels into some of the darkness of our society. At the edge of a wood, the artist James "Carver" Smith, owns land on the Mississippi river where he isolates Sam in a summer of finality. Sam and his life long friend Sia keep a promise to help each other in that difficult moment of transition. There are playful and humanitarian encounters that color this story with charm and leave behind a haunting and memorable impact from dealings in the subject of each person's right of passage.
SAM: “Everyone has their own way. That's the theme I've discovered in life. Everyone has their own way and each is entitled to their own view, as long as that view doesn't harm the balance of humanity."
Some stories take years of work to get them exactly the way you want it. Such is the case for this one. The feature started as a short film that was going to be produced as a short script it was selected as a top ten finalist in international screenwriting competition. I decided to grow it into a feature script, tucked tightly inside, we kept our original story "A Gathering of Me". I offer a special "Thank You" to the cast we selected for helping us visualize the characters.
Now in 2021 the final rewrite has taken this to a new level of honesty and beauty. I am excited to see where it will go.
Awards/Selections:
Amsterdam Film Festival 2015 Van Gogh Award for Best Feature Film Screenplay
ReelHeART International Film and Screenplay Festival 2015 top five finalist
http://reelheart.com/reelheart/2015/04/10/reelheart-2015-feature-screenplay-finalists-announced/
LA New Wave International Film Festival 2015 Runner-up
The Indie Gathering 2015 Star Award
Beverly Hills Film Festival 2015 Finalist
Poetease
Where I go
Where I go
Alex a wealthy, wandering poet meets an eighteen year old run away from the Faith Homes of Zion on the streets of Chicago, through the course of an intimate thirty-six hour exchange; their lives become colored with new meaning.
Alex: There are a few moments in life that shape differently, our soul and character, sometimes even our appearance. Each of us have places inside that we wish were not there, holes, scars from encounters that wounded deep. We routine our day with chores and task that bury further those wounds, keeping from light and breeze, the air that is needed to heal… completely.
Awards/Selections:
Nevada Film Festival 2010 Grand Prize 1st Place
California Film Awards 2011 Diamond Award
Los Angeles Film Awards II 2010
Beverly Hills Film Festival 2011 Selection
Honolulu Film Awards 2011 Silver Lei Winner
United Film Festival 2011 Finalist
Amsterdam Film Festival 2011 Finalist Van Gogh Award
Ventura Film Festival 2011 Selection
Los Angeles International Underground Film Festival 2011 Finalist Top Six
LA Art-House Film Festival 2011Top Ten
Landlocked Film Festival 2011 Semifinalist
Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival 2011 Finalist
SUNDANCE Table Read My Screenplay
2012 Top 100 Finalist
Toyed
Where I go
Toyed
"TOYED" is a feature screenplay that takes the Santa story to the next level, a more believable one where Brighton Brown, falls from "somewhere up there" on Christmas Eve and lands in Madison, Wisconsin in the mid 1960's. He is found and taken in by the seductive, Cinnamon Baker and her lover Lucky, who live in an apartment above an abandoned shop on State Street. Together the three discover their own holiday as Brighton reveals the craft of toy making and how each have a twist, "a catch" as Brighton would say.
The story is written with a view of Christmas in a quaint Midwestern town that is torn by protests and peace rallies, and colored by the simple perfection of the toys of Brighton Brown.
Awards/Selections:
Nice Film Market 2019
Finalist Feature Screenplay 2016 Barebones International Film & Music Festival
MADRID International Film Festival 2016 Best Unproduced Script
Kookaburra
"Kookaburra" is the story of (Alex) Edge, a freelance photographer, who places an ad on line for a model to shoot in the city and in the woods near the lake, for a collection of work he has entitled 'Edging'.
The two engage in an exchange of image and word, as Alex discovers a truth that has been a sorrow in the life of this model who is also an immigrant. The encounter is framed in photos that tell a story of the Kookaburra.
Selections/Awards:
Hollywood International Diversity Film Festival Semi-Finalist Short Screenplay
American Filmatic Arts Awards Grand Jury Award Short Screenplay 2019
Queen Palm International Film Festival 2020
Mediterranean Film Festival Cannes 2016 1st Place Short Screenplay
Austin Revolution Film Festival 2016 Finalist
World Series of Screenwriting 2016 Silver Award Short Film Script
Syrian Ocean
"Syrian Ocean" is the story of Alexander Rain, a college student at UW sets off on a journey to understand the souls of the Syrian refugees. He comes to Adana Turkey and meets Ocean, a young man on the other side of a fenced in camp. They share absinthe and through the night, learn of each other's world, played out before a backdrop of suffering and hope in the possibility of new life.
Selections/Awards:
South Carolina Underground Film Festival SC-UFF 2018 Screenplay Finalist
Low Light Pictures International Screenplay Competition 2018 (Quarter Finals)
Best of the Best 2018 1st Place Short Screenplay
Grove Film Festival 2018 Top Four Finalist
Reel Time International Online Film
Festival 2018 Finalist
Creation International Film Festival Autumn 2017 Winner Best Screenplay, Short
Pine
"PINE" is a poetic view of a relationship that crosses continents. In the deep south and war torn Iraq an unlikely pairing of two, an American soldier and an Iraqi student exchange themselves in a Utopian cloud while historic opinion penetrates their union.
HOLD: Flesh that feels the ecstasy of lover's touch so too can melt easily in flame. Now not as much darkened me that men do seek to take but instead another, almost as dark and of a different land. An ethnicity that does not follow again the parted ways they know. Parted indeed for souls only are allowed one path to light, while others rage in war to stop.
Selections/Awards:
Colortape International Film Festival 2019 Selection
LALive Film Festival 2018 Best Screenplay nomination.
KinoDrome International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival 2018 First Place
Austin Micro Short Film Festival 2018 Finalist
Columbia Gorge International Film Festival 2015 Finalist
American Gem Short Script and Literary Festival 2016 Semifinalist
Releasing Soul
“Releasing Soul” – The story of an older man playing through the important stories of his life with his youthful Soul. They return to the places and scenes that had the greatest impact on his life, to revisit the lessons learned and frame them before he leaves.
On the final evening of his life, he comes upon Red (Meat) the self-indulgent, egotistical, snake charmer who is into all that is of pleasure; and (Valvoline) Blaze a social worker, bleeding heart liberal. This encounter becomes heated and all is transformed through the process of releasing soul.
“Through the interactions we have with others, we share our thoughts, emotions and each encounter is a moment of us releasing soul.”
Selections/Awards:
Austria International Film Festival 2017 1st Place Screenplay Competition
New York Short Film & Screenplay Competition 2017 Finalist
Cain's Collection
Cain's Collection
Cain, a young street artist who collects pieces of things, from encounters he's had as a homeless boy. He takes each, colors it with oil and makes the broken new again, through his own experience. One night he wishes to make an exit and that is where Alex finds him, alone in an alley covered in white flour.
Selections/Awards:
Mediterranean Film Festival 2019 Finalist Short Screenplay
Switzerland International Film Festival 2018 Finalist Screenplay Competition
The Rise of Rain
Alexander and Fin, partners in art, travel from the edge of a cliff through the woods to a graveyard where they play out a final scene with the beautiful dancer, Clare who is moved by the loss of her lover. Is she able to bring him back through these movements at dusk? A classic story with an unusual ending.
Selections/Awards
Social World Film Festival 2019 Semi-Finalist
Austin Under the Stars 2019 Selected Finalist
'80
A documentary of a personal experience from college days at UW Madison, when dreams and friends created experiences that have lasted a life time.
Selections/Awards
Changing Face International Film Festival 2019 Finalist Short Script
Muse Me
Muse Me
On an evening in late summer, three characters gather in a random meeting on a beach, near a woods. Through the night, with food and drink, story and elevated emotion, they each discover the meeting was not so random, and the end result offers an escape, when escape was never an option. Field, the misunderstood German, Ash the healing beauty, and Antonio the edgy poet form a bond that allows for deeper truths to prevail.
Originally completed in 2011 for a film that never made it into production.
Selections/Awards
Burning Love Screenplay Contest 2019 (Part of the Poe Film Festival) Semi-Finalist
