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Monday, March 15, 2021

Zoom by Anthony Cawood – short script review – available for production* - post author Michael Kospiah

ZOOM (10-page short erotic thriller screenplay) by Anthony Cawood

A couple’s illicit affair is forced to go virtual due to a pesky global pandemic, and if that wasn’t bad enough someone else wants in.

If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that being on lockdown makes it extremely difficult to cheat on your spouse. At least for unfaithful husbands such as Adam in Anthony Cawood’s uniquely clever found-footage/erotic thriller hybrid, “Zoom”.

But even during a lockdown, Adam has found a way to adapt and overcome the obstacles standing in the way of his infidelities… the same way many people have adapted to their jobs and socializing during these strange times: via Zoom.

While his wife, Sandra, is out of town, Adam connects on Zoom with a young woman named Domino who he’s had extramarital affairs with before the lockdown. But now, the only way he can “have fun” with her is over his computer.

Domino looks like she’s way out of his league. But she seems to be into him for some reason. And before we know it, things get a little steamy and their Zoom meeting becomes a game of “you show me yours and I’ll show you mine”. Just when Adam is about to see a whole lot more of Domino… he realizes that his bank account is frozen.

            DOMINO
So, don’t you want it?

            ADAM
I do, but my account is frozen.

            DOMINO
What?

            ADAM
It shouldn’t be.

            DOMINO
You have another, right?

            ADAM
Not one Sandra doesn’t know about.

It turns out that Domino is an escort. And this sexy little Zoom soiree can’t go any further unless Adam finds a way to pay for his time. Talk about a buzzkill!

Well, it gets much worse when a message appears on the screen – Sandra has joined their Zoom meeting.

            DOMINO
Hey, who are you?

            SANDRA
I know you don’t need brains in
your line of work but I’m sure you can
figure it out.

            ADAM
     (resigned and guilty)
Domino, meet Sandra, my wife.

What ensues is a game of cat and mouse between Sandra, her husband Adam and Domino – with Sandra being the cat. And boy, does she have some serious dirt on both of them. The kind of dirt that could ruin their lives.

To reveal anymore would spoil the wicked fun, but let’s just say it gets pretty personal. A clever spin on the erotic thriller genre – I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a found-footage version – “Zoom” is a very budget-friendly script that I highly recommend to any filmmakers and producers looking to shoot a fiendishly clever revenge tale.

BUDGET: Shoe-string. This is essentially a “found-footage” film over Zoom with three actors.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Anthony Cawood is an award-winning screenwriter with one feature produced and a further four features optioned or in pre-production. In addition to features, he has over forty short scripts produced/sold/optioned – including ten filmed. Also occasionally pens screenwriting articles, interviews with writers and filmmakers, and even a short story or two.

Read: ZOOM (10-page short erotic thriller screenplay)

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

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Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Mate-ing by Robert Spence – short script review available for production* - post author Michael Kospiah

MATE-ING (11-page short comedy screenplay) Written by Robert Spence

Two twenty-something friends, Mark and Nat, maneuver their way through the contemporary dating scene with disastrous results.

I, for one, was never a fan of the single life. The awkward dates, the insecurity of even approaching someone, the weak pick-up lines, getting shut down, the online dating horror stories you hear… it’s just not for me. But, if there ever was a silver lining, it was having entertaining stories to tell your friends after a bad date.

In Robert Spence’s hilariously raunchy dating comedy, Mark and Nat (Natalie) are both single twenty-somethings who happen to be platonic friends. And both have their share of dating disasters, which they enjoy sharing with each other.

The story opens with Nat having a clumsy and weird sexual soiree with a man named Brad. As the writer hilariously describes, they’re “having something that resembles sex”.On top of the awkward and labored dirty talk, Brad ends up having a bit of an accident: let’s just call it a case of premature evacuation – bowel evacuation.

But Nat, the sweet girl she is, tries to make Brad as comfortable as possible, helping him change the sheets after his poo incident. Nevertheless, it doesn’t look like they’ll be having another date.

Meanwhile, Mark is a brash and confident playboy who gets around. He has his own set of rules that he likes to follow on dates. Especially after his most recent farce of a sexual encounter with a raging cocaine addict who ends up having an overdose – at the same time the fire alarm is pulled and everyone has to evacuate outside. Talk about bad timing. Luckily, it turns out the girl was okay. It was more of her just passing out than an actual overdose. However, unluckily, Mark left his wallet in the girl’s hotel room. And he later finds out that she used the card, spending $600 – talk about an expensive date.

Now, this was written as a pilot, but it can stand alone as a short film. That being said, I really think, as a show, it has plenty of potential for some really funny episodes with interesting story lines. The writer already sets up a nice “will they, won’t they” subplot with the platonic friends who may or may not have a history of their own.

Carried by smart, funny, yet raunchy dialogue, “Mate-Ing” has a lot of potential with likable and relatable leads – highly recommended to any filmmakers looking to tickle some funny bones.

BUDGET: Low. Common, easy-to-shoot locations, four actors (two leads).

ABOUT THE WRITER: Robert Spence is a Scottish writer who currently resides in Perth, Australia. He graduated from the Screen Academy for Scotland in 2012 with a Masters in screenwriting and has written a variety of short scripts, pilot episodes and feature scripts. Robert’s goal is to improve upon his craft and hopefully have some of his work produced in the near future. Robert can be reached at rspence1989 (a) gmail.

Read: MATE-ING (11-page short comedy screenplay)

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

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Monday, February 15, 2021

The Perfect Cover Up by Marnie Mitchell – short screenplay review (available for production*) - post author Michael Kospiah

THE PERFECT COVER UP (5-page short thriller screenplay) Written by MARNIE MITCHELL

When a troubled man visits a tattoo shop to cover a bad tattoo, he ends up getting one that suits him perfectly.

“Show me a man with a tattoo and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past.” – Jack London, American Novelist.

Author, Jack London’s quote couldn’t apply more to Jerry, the deranged antagonist in writer, Marnie Mitchell’s cleverly original morality thriller, “The Perfect Cover Up”.

The story opens at a tattoo parlor called “Max Tats”, run by a cocaine-sniffing, heavily inked tattoo artist named – you guessed it – Max. It’s a slow night as he watches television while noshing on some Chinese food… until there’s a knock on the shop’s locked front door.

Enter Jerry. Jerry has a problem that he needs fixed. And that problem seems to be tattooed to the side of his face – a massive snake tattoo that he wants covered up.

We soon learn the origin of the snake tattoo:

            JERRY
My father gave me this tattoo as a
punishment…for stealing a pack of
his cigarettes! I was thirteen! Did time
for marking me up! And for other
fucked up shit he did to me and my
sister. Just want it gone!

But this doesn’t seem to be the only reason Jerry so desperately wants to get this tattoo covered up. He seems to be very concerned with whether or not anyone else is there or if anyone knows Jerry is there. He even asks Max if he recognizes him from TV.

            MAX
No. Don’t watch TV. Oh man…you
some kind of reality star? You the
next bachelor or something?

Max soon realizes that this is something serious when Jerry makes him cover up the tattoo at gunpoint – yeah, probably not a reality TV star.

As a very nervous Max covers up the tattoo under immense pressure, we learn a bit more about both characters, especially about Jerry’s tragic childhood and checkered past, being in and out of jail for most of his adult life. And, especially on this night, it seems that Jerry has recently gotten himself in a bit of trouble with the law. And he’s willing to do anything not to get caught, including covering up any distinct, identifying tattoos.

But we also learn that Max isn’t quite as feeble as he made himself out to be…

This is morality tale of a different kind with an incredibly satisfying ending that just goes to show – you can never hide from your past. Endlessly entertaining with an exclamation point of an ending, this is one story that will be hard to remove from your memory.

BUDGET: Low. One location, two actors and a few props.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Marnie is an award-winning screenwriter and 5-page contest junkie. Due to her addiction, she’s written over 80 shorts, 15 having been produced. Currently she’s working on her 8th feature, an adaptation of a horror short she wrote 10 years ago. Some of her work can be found on her site, http://www.brainfluffs.com

Read: THE PERFECT COVER UP (5-page short thriller screenplay)

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

Monday, February 1, 2021

Underpassers by Robin Johnston – short script review – available for production* - post author Michael Kospiah

UNDERPASSERS (8-page short horror screenplay) Written by Robin Johnston

A young woman who becomes lost in a maze of underpass tunnels during her commute home soon realizes she is not alone…

All right, folks, enough of all this warmth and joy. The holiday season is over, so it’s time to get back to getting the crap scared out of us again. And what better way to start than with writer, Robin Johnston’s terrifying, maddeningly claustrophobic, one-location spine-tingler? But all adjectives aside…

It’s late at night and our story’s unfortunate protagonist, Natalie, is in the big city, on her way to meet with someone named “Mo”. And, for some reason, the only way to get to this person is through the tunnel of an underpass – probably not the safest of routes this time of night, especially in the city. In fact, one might consider it to be outright sketchy, to say the least.

Natalie hesitates while speaking to Mo on her cell phone, asking for another, less creepy route. When she finds out there isn’t, she logically thinks about putting off this little rendezvous until tomorrow. But, for reasons we don’t know, the meeting has to happen tonight. And it’s just a measly, little underpass, right? It’s not exactly the catacombs of Paris. So, off she goes…

But, before she enters, she gets a warning from an elderly homeless man…

            OLD MAN
I wouldn’t go in there, love.

Natalie stops and turns to look at him. She is about to answer, then turns away and keeps walking.

            
OLD MAN
I really wouldn’t!

            NATALIE
     (to herself)
Whatever.

Unfortunately for Natalie, what was supposed to be a brief stroll through an underpass becomes a journey into terrifying darkness. Using the light from her phone as she speaks with Mo on the other line, she begins to hear sounds… inhuman sounds…

And, when she reaches what’s supposed to be the opposite end of the tunnel, it ends up being a junction leading to other tunnels. With the frightening, inhuman sounds getting closer, Natalie desperately tries to find her back… only to reach another junction! And things only get worse when she loses her signal on her phone…

“Underpassers” effectively enhances familiar horror tropes to their maximum potential, using darkness and sound to put us right there in that tunnel with Natalie. With a small cast and essentially one location, I highly recommend this to any horror-centric director looking to terrify audiences.

BUDGET: Low – especially if you can find a nice (and safe) tunnel/underpass to shoot in.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Robin Johnston is an award-winning street photographer, writer and videographer based in Glasgow, Scotland UK. His work has been shown at world-class exhibitions in Rome, Berlin, New York and London. Robin’s work captures the beauty in tiny details, the patterns in the built environment and the way humans interact with architecture. His influences are Brassaï, Cartier-Bresson and the writing of J.G. Ballard. He can be reached at RobinJohnston75 (a) gmail.

Read: UNDERPASSERS (8-page short horror screenplay)

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

Monday, January 25, 2021

The Gift of Giving by John Staats – short script review – available for production* - post author Michael Kospiah

THE GIFT OF GIVING (6-page short drama screenplay) Written by John Staats

An elderly man and his dog enjoy another memorable Christmas Eve.

In our December, holiday-themed OWC, there were some really heartwarming, touching tales that really captured the spirit of the holidays and explored the importance of family and togetherness during this time of year. However, this 3rd place OWC winner, a mind-bending tearjerker, explores another common feeling many people experience during the holidays – loneliness. All while bending our perception of reality with unique storytelling and structure.

The tale starts off like many holiday-themed tales: Charley and his wife, June – an elderly couple – prepare a nice Christmas dinner, waiting for family to arrive. Charley sits in front of fireplace, looking over a gift box as his spry, energetic golden terrier, Sam, sits by his feet.

Soon their son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Mary and four-year-old grandson, Phillip arrive bearing gifts. Unfortunately, there’s a pretty bad snowstorm in progress outside and they need to get going before the roads get too bad.

But, before they leave, Charley’s son, Bill, gives him a Christmas gift he picked up from Romania while on business – a very unique crystal ball ornament.

            CHARLEY
I can’t say that I’ve ever seen
anything like it.

            BILL
It’s just a little something for
the tree. The old lady I bought it
from barely spoke any English. She
said something about the gift of
giving memoryor something like that.
I don’t know. I just thoughtit looked
cool.

And before we know it, Bill, Mary and Phillip leave. The abruptness of their stay and the way they leave, it almost feels like a dream, but in a very subtle way. But things truly get strange when Charley notices that his once-energetic dog, Sam, is suddenly walking with a limp, for reasons unknown. What is going on here, exactly?

I won’t give away the gut-punch of an ending. But I encourage you to check out this script and I highly recommend this to filmmakers. It really does tug at the heartstrings, but not in a conventional way. It carries a sadness to it in the way we see in Charlie Kaufman projects such as, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and, most recently, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” on Netflix (though easier to follow).

BUDGET: Low. Minimal cast, one location (a house).

ABOUT THE WRITER: As a fly-fishing fanatic and skier living in the Arizona desert, John Staats finds plenty of time for writing. His feature Impasse was a 2019 Filmmatic Season 4 Drama Screenplay Finalist and has been published as an e-book on Amazon. In addition to features and shorts for the screen, John has found a niche writing for the illustrated page (comics!). John can be contacted at jestaats (a) hotmail.

Read: THE GIFT OF GIVING (6-page short drama screenplay)

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

Monday, January 18, 2021

To The Moon and Back by L. Chambers – short script review (available for production*) - post author Michael Kospiah

TO THE MOON & BACK (7-page short romance/thriller screenplay ) Written by L.Chambers

A widowed mother and her young daughter receive an unexpected and potentially deadly visit on Christmas Eve when her past comes back to haunt them.

Do you like your Christmas stories to have a little romance in them? How about some thrills? Well, this December OWC 2nd-place winner has all that and then some, including a little Christmas magic to give you a spiritual pick-me-up to kick off 2021.

We open the story on Christmas Eve in the mean streets of Dublin, Ireland. Or, as we see in the story’s opening on-screen text: “Otherwise known as the arse-end of nowhere”.

It’s here where a single mother named Claire lives in a crumbling inner-city flat with her five-year-old daughter Molly. A sad-looking Christmas tree with no decorations pretty much encapsulates Claire and Molly’s situation. But as a dispirited Claire looks closer, she sees one, single Christmas ornament hanging from the tree, hung there by Molly. Unfortunately, this ornament brings back some painful memories for Claire.

Through flashback, we learn the origins of the Christmas bauble as Claire spends a romantic afternoon picnicking with her former love, Sean six years ago. They talk about their promising future together, running off to Australia and raising a family… once Sean gets enough money together.

            SEAN
I got a great job comin’ up, darlin’
and then… everything you ever
dreamed of is yours.

            CLAIRE
‘Things’ don’t matter to me, Sean.

            SEAN
Can’t live on cuddles alone, love.

Sean gives her the special Christmas bauble with the inscription: “All my love, to the moon and back.”

            SEAN
I ask just two things of you, my
love: don’t break my heart, and
promise you won’t die before me.

That haunting request has resonated with Claire all these years – not too long after that afternoon, Sean was shot and killed during a bank robbery where 2 million dollars was taken during the caper… and never found.

Unfortunately for Claire, Sean’s partner in the crime, Michael “Spike” Flanagan, has just been released from prison six years after the botched heist. And she knows that Michael will stop at nothing to find that money…

This is, indeed, a different kind of Christmas story. And that’s why I highly recommend this to any filmmakers who want to create a holiday film that will surely stand-out and make an impact on the film festival circuit. This is one that will be in high demand, so pick it up before it’s too late!

BUDGET: Low. Two primary locations (a flat and a park) and four actors.

ABOUT THE WRITER: L.Chambers has been writing all her life – especially in her head, and on scraps of paper. It’s only in the last few years she began to get serious about screen-writing. Prior to this she worked in the Features Department for ABC TV as a Program Assistant, and trained as a FAD. She currently works as a freelance web-content editor and lives with her husband (also a screenwriter) in Sydney, Australia. L. Chambers can be reached at: libbych (a) hotmail.

Read: TO THE MOON & BACK(7-page short romance/thriller screenplay )

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

Monday, January 11, 2021

Glitter and Glow by David Lambertson – short script review (available for production*) - post author Michael Kospiah

GLITTER AND GLOW (6-page short drama screenplay) Written by David Lambertson

A magical ornament serves as a reminder of loved ones.

There’s something about the holidays that make us all warm and gooey inside. It’s that sentimental time of year when you can truly appreciate the company of your loved ones and create very special memories. It’s also a time when we think back and reminisce about the magic of past holidays, remembering special times with loved ones who are no longer with us. David Lamberton’s 2nd-place OWC winner captures that warmth and sentimentality perfectly in this touching holiday tearjerker.

The story begins with six-year-old Emma and her Grandpa decorating the Christmas tree. Every ornament and strand of tinsel is arranged intricately. And, as Grandpa tells Emma, every ornament has some kind of special meaning. One golden ornament in particular bearing the smiling face of Grandma, who sadly passed years ago, especially carries heartfelt meaning. Grandma, who was a glass blower, created the ornament herself, as Grandpa explains during his story, describing the ornament’s magical history…

            GRANDPA
As I sat on the sofa, feeling all
sorry for myself, her face…
     (holds up the ornament)
Magically appeared on this. Like
she was trying to tell me that
everything was all right. That she
was still here with me.
     (wipes a tear)
The glow of a love from long ago.

Twenty-five years later, Emma, now a mommy, decorates the Christmas tree with her five-year-old son, Timmy. But the mood feels a bit somber with Emma grieving the recent loss of her beloved Grandpa. She tells Timmy of past Christmases spent with him, helping him decorate the tree every year. And then she shows him that special ornament bearing Grandma’s face that she inherited from Grandpa, telling Timmy about it’s magical origins… when something even more magical happens…

Without being overly sentimental or settling for cheese, “Glitter Glow” is a genuinely touching and magical tale that would make Scrooge himself shed a tear. And with its low budget, this would be very easy to film. I recommend that filmmakers scoop this one up quickly and film it in time for the holidays next year!

BUDGET: Shoe-string. Two simple locations (houses/rooms) and four actors.

ABOUT THE WRITER: David Lambertson: I took up writing rather late in life having already been retired before I put pen to paper (okay – finger to computer key) for the first time. My favorite genres to read and write are dramedies and romantic comedies. In addition to this short, I have written four features; “The Last Statesman” (a 2015 PAGE finalist and a Nicholl’s and BlueCat quarter-finalist), “The Beginning of The End and The End” (a PAGE Semi-Finalist). “Taking Stock” (a drama) and a new comedy – “Screw You Tube”. Want to learn more? Reach Dave at dlambertson (at) hotmail! And visit his website.

Read: GLITTER AND GLOW (6-page short drama screenplay)

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

Monday, January 4, 2021

A Pixie Little Christmas by Matthew Taylor – Short Script Review (available for production*) - post author Michael Kospiah

A PIXIE LITTLE CHRISTMAS (6-page short animation screenplay) by MATTHEW TAYLOR

When a Pixie’s home is stolen, his anger endangers a little girl’s Christmas.

In what could very well be a new, animated Christmas classic comes our December OWC Writers’ Choice: a magical, heartfelt, G-rated tale that truly exemplifies the spirit of the holidays. I was actually very surprised to learn that it was written by Matthew Taylor, who’s work tends to explore much darker territory – which only goes to show just how versatile he is as a writer.

We follow the journey of a tiny, tree-dwelling pixie named Caspian, who discovers that his pine-needled, evergreen conifer home has been chopped down and to be used as a Christmas tree.

A down-on-his-luck father, low on cash, surprises his adorable six-year-old daughter, Eva, when he arrives home with the tree. Filled with joy and delight, Eva reminds us of ourselves back when we were kids during the holidays.

However, his wife doesn’t seem so happy about it.

            MOM
Where did it come from?

            DAD
Does it matter? Look how happy she is.

            MOM
Of course, it matters! I’d rather you paid
the water bill before buying a bloody tree!

Caspian, who continues to live in the tree, also seems pretty steamed by the situation. He’s especially annoyed by all the flashing lights and ornaments Eva worked so hard to decorate the tree with – that little girl vandalized his home!

Seeking retribution, Caspian destroys all the decorations while everyone’s asleep – proudly dusting off his hands afterwards, he seems very satisfied with his handy work.

But when Eva discovers the mess, it breaks her heart. It’s already been a rough year for her family and she knows that she won’t be receiving many gifts. This tree was pretty much the only thing keeping her spirits up. Her sadness and disappointment tugs at our heartstrings – including Caspian’s. Overcome with guilt, the once-angry pixie has a change of heart and becomes determined to make Christmas special again for Eva.

In the vein of other feel-good animated shorts such as “Feast” (a personal favorite of mine), this script really works on so many levels, especially on an emotional level. I read the script two days ago and I’m still smiling.

BUDGET: Depends on what type of animation is used. But I think this would work in a number of styles: traditional, classical style animation, stop-motion or more complex, Pixar-style animation.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Matthew Taylor is an accountant from Shakespeare’s county. Though fairly new to screenwriting, he is a naturally gifted storyteller hitting his stride as a writer, recently securing an option for one of his scripts. Though he’s always learning and looking to improve his craft, his skill level is far more advanced than most writers with similarly limited experience. Matthew spends his spare time reading scripts and books. His dream is to be able to make a living from screenwriting, specializing in the science fiction and fantasy genres. Matt can be reached at: scripts.by.mt (a) gmail.

Read: A PIXIE LITTLE CHRISTMAS (6-page short animation screenplay)

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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

After Action by Steve Meredith – Short Script Review – available for production - post author Michael Kospiah

AFTER ACTION (9-page short drama screenplay) by STEVE MEREDITH

A young Army JAG attorney defending a soldier on trial for assaulting a superior officer must convince the opposing counsel to have a redacted after-action report declassified… a report that could exonerate the mentally ill defendant.

There’s a very blurred line between right and wrong in writer Steven Meredith’s courtroom military drama, After Action – a masterclass in dialogue. Yes, film is a show me medium, but when dialogue is this good, seeing two people talk can be just as fascinating as a dazzling set piece. In what reads like a play – this is 99% dialogue – every moment of dialogue simmers with tension as grizzled Captain Peter Crawford faces off with young army JAG attorney, Lieutenant Benjamin Walker in a chess game of words.

Though this has the feel of a military courtroom drama, it all takes place in a conference room as young Lieutenant Walker tries to convince Captain Crawford to have a completely redacted after-action report declassified to help exonerate his mentally ill defendant, Private Sam Ross who faces charges for violently attacking his commanding officer. But he claims that the attack was provoked by constant abuse at his commanding officer’s hands that caused severe PTSD.

Lieutenant Walker’s client faces an uphill battle though.

            CRAWFORD
… Private Sam Ross has a history of
insubordination. This court martial
represents his third strike. If you’re
suggesting that the reason why he physically
assaulted Captain Marshall was because
he caused Private Ross to develop PTSD,
your legal career in the Army won’t be
very long.

            WALKER
I’m just doing my job as defense counsel-–

            CRAWFORD
By asking me to go to the Secretary of
Defense, and ask him to declassify
an After Action Report that will smear
an officer with an impeccable service
record in court.

Of course, there’s much more to the story – and that redacted after-action report could very well determine the fate of Private Ross.

Just as compelling as the strongest scenes in A Few Good Men, this would be a piece of cake to film, especially when taking COVID precautions into account.

BUDGET: Shoe string. Two actors and a conference room.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Steve Meredith began writing short screenplays as a student in college, and while he currently works as a small business lender, in his spare time he continues to write heavily dialog driven short screenplays that are ideally suited for production by independent film companies, or student filmmakers. Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Seton Hill University, and he currently lives in Western Pennsylvania with his wife Kelly, and his son Preston. Steve can be reached at: steve.meredith (a) live.com

Read: AFTER ACTION (9-page short drama screenplay)
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*This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.

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About the Reviewer: Michael J. Kospiah is the award-winning screenwriter of critically acclaimed indie-thriller, The Suicide Theory (79% Rotten Tomatoes – available on Amazon Prime, Itunes, Google Play, etc) and 2020’s upcoming Aussie thriller, Rage. His horror feature, They Never Left is currently in development.

Subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel.

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Script of the Day
September 10, 2025

    Meteor by Pablo Vizcarrondo

    A meteor crashes into a suburban neighborhood, and one father must do all he can to protect his daughter. 7 pages
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