1. What is your screenplay about?
This is the TV pilot of a six season series I’ve been developing called, Morn. Each season covers the most critical points of history throughout this fantasy world which is desperate to understand and break the curses afflicting humanity. As for this particular season, the overview is as follows: A naive farmhand embarks on a journey to avenge his long-lost brother killed by a recently discovered god alongside a disturbed drunk, his pet blind pig, and a young thief hiding a mysterious crippled pair of wings. After crossing paths with a band of warriors on their own dangerous mission, they all create an unlikely bond as they work together for uncovering the remaining ancient gods hidden throughout the land of Morn as well as the dangerous secret they protect: Curses.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
I believe my screenplay is primarily Fantasy and Sci-fi while balancing hints of comedy and horror at different points.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
My primary reason being the need for originality in a fantasy series. In our world of reruns and disappointing rewrites, people are hungry more than ever for the next epic series after the giants of LOTR, Harry Potter, and GOT. Morn offers a new approach of story telling by having each season take place during different centuries during the most critical moments throughout Morn’s history. Each season slowly building a bigger narrative for the audience to piece together clues for solving both the mystery and solution to a brand new magic system I’ve developed surrounding “Curses” – a phrase so commonly used throughout cinema though rarely explained. Plus allowing viewers to watch the rippling effects of even the smallest actions throughout history taken by their favorite characters which impact the rise and fall of nations with each passing season.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Mysterious / Wonder
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Inception though LOTR and Alien is not far behind!
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I first began drawing the world maps and developing story lines when I was eleven while finally drafting the screenplay in the Summer of 2019.
7. How many stories have you written?
I have no published stories to my name, but instead I have been slowly developing seven stories/series across Fantasy, Sci-fi, Modern, and even Post-Apocalyptic genres. Since I have no connections to Hollywood, I’m instead focusing on writing pilot scripts to then turn into comics to gauge how well they are received (Morn’s comic should be done in the next few weeks as well as the pilot script for my fantasy series). #babysteps
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Stars by Switchfoot
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The biggest obstacle has been learning and collaborating on simply how to write and format scripts since I haven’t been formally trained. The next obstacle is overcoming the mental blocks not to give up on developing these stories as I balance my non creative full time job and lack of connections to the exciting world of film! Though with every movie I watch, I find my brain filling with more ideas and concepts which excite me to the core!
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Besides collaborating with friends, I recently successfully funded a party card game on Kickstarter called, American Pandemic (AmericanPandemic.com). Don’t worry, it’s a tongue-in-cheek game about hilarious American stereotypes when stuck in quarantine including many of the famous viral 2020 quarantine memes as well as the opportunity to hoard and steal toilet paper from friends. A way to unite everyone on our shared bad luck over the last two years. Fortunate to have Amazon reach out to me to represent it (available on Amazon Prime!) and officially pitching to Walmart and Target Q1 of next year!
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Brand new to it all, but seems very intuitive and informative so far!
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Loved the idea of both receiving feedback as well as the opportunity to hear my story read – if anything just to get a new perspective on it. The feedback was very constructive and excited to apply it.
Watch the Screenplay Reading:
With a crippled set of wings by his side, a young man survives centuries to discover his origin, as cities and empires rise and fall – battling to build a one true kingdom prophesied to break immortal curses left behind by an unknown evil force.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morris
CASSEY – Geoff Mays
MASTER QUINN – Val
VARIOUS: Sean Devlin
VARIOUS: Sean Ballantyne
VARIOUS: Allan Michael Brunet
Male Various – Allan Michael Brunet
Old Woman/Consligliere: Kyana Teresa
Matthew Toffolo's Summary 