Watch the Screenplay Reading:
A struggling stand up comedian must literally and figuratively kill when a zealous heckler takes a comedy club hostage; threatening the lives of fans, comedians, and comedy itself.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Sylvester: Sean Ballatyne
Pascal/Gun Rang Boss:
Sanders: Geoff Mays
Gilda: Hannah Ehman
Get to know the screenwriter:
1. What is your screenplay about?
My screenplay on the surface level is about a hostage situation in a comedy club. But on a thematic level, it’s really about all forms of comedy being held hostage and people not knowing which jokes cross which lines, if there are any lines. This is debated in every scene in the screenplay.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
It falls under Action Comedy
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
This screenplay should be made into a movie because I think there is an audience for it. Stand up comedy is as popular as it’s ever been right now, so the concept is attractive, and I think the average stand up fan and people in general to be honest are hungry for the type of humor in this script.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Serious Laughs
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
The Dark Knight
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
From concept, I’d say 6 months. From Outlining, more like 4 months. From first page, 3 months.
7. How many stories have you written?
7 features
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
In My Life – The Beatles
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I experienced a lot of what the main character does.l; trying to understand what I can or should joke about. There were a lot of family health issues going on that I was occupied with. And I had also quit my job to write full time and that was and still is stressful.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I love playing guitar and songwriting.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
I love these platforms that allow your work to become more visible. FilmFreeway was the first one I started using to discover and enter contests/festivals and it has been extremely helpful and convenient in entering the various contests/festivals that can help showcase my work. I wouldn’t know many of these screenplay contests and festivals existed if it weren’t for FilmFreeway.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I’m a competitive person so I always like to see where my work is stacking up. So I enter as many competitions as I can. What made this festival stick out in particular was the feedback I would receive and all of the great opportunities that being selected would afford. It was so incredible to hear the positive and negative aspects of your work from impartial sources; it’s invaluable. The feedback I received on this project was extremely helpful and I am very grateful for it. One of the hardest things to do in screenwriting is to get feedback and determine which feedback is going to make your project better and which feedback will turn your project into something you didn’t want it to be. When I received the feedback from this festival, I got notes that were positive and constructive to add to my own thoughts and other feedback that I received. I believe it will help me make my story as strong as it needs to be.
Matthew Toffolo's Summary 