21 Jump Street – May 24, 2009 unspecified draft script by Michael Bacall (story by Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall) – hosted by: Rain Dance – in pdf format

In 2005, Schmidt and Jenko are high school students, one an honor roll geek, the other a cool, athletic underachiever. By 2012, they are rookie cops, paired together, on bike patrol yearning to make arrests. After a screw up, they’re sent undercover back to high school to find the source of a dangerous synthetic drug. They mix up their names, and Schmidt gets the no-brainer classes where he auditions for Peter Pan and falls in love with Wendy; Jenko gets AP classes where he falls in with high-achieving dweebs. This second chance at high school gives Schmidt delusions of grandeur, which threaten the operation. Can they sort out their relationship as they stumble onto the bad guys?

Information courtesy of IMDb

Zathura – multiple draft script by David Keopp – hosted by: David Koepp – in pdf format

Two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing.

Information courtesy of IMDb

Children of a Lesser God – Undated, unspecified draft script by Hesper Anderson & Mark Medoff (based on the stage play by Mark Medoff) – hosted by: UCLA Extension Writers’ Program – in pdf format

James is a new speech teacher at a school for the deaf. He falls for Sarah, a pupil who decided to stay on at the school rather than venture into the big bad world. She shuns him at first, refusing to read his lips and only using signs. Will her feelings change over time?

Information courtesy of IMDb

HOWARD’S JEWELRY & LOAN (8-page short thriller screenplay) by James Williams

A boxer pays a visit to his loan shark after being told he has exactly one hour to settle his outstanding debt.

Tied for 2nd place (writer’s choice) in September’s OWC was this nifty little short about a 67-year-old loan shark named Howard who’s way past his prime. He’s not quite as good at collecting debts as he used to be back in his heyday. Especially in this instance when a young, spry 20-something boxer named Marcus barges in to set things straight.

In peak physical condition, Marcus easily beats the tar out of Howard’s “muscle” guarding the door. He’s owed Howard 50-large for a while now. But, after getting paid a visit by a pair of Howard’s thumb-breaking cronies – who Marcus easily handled – Marcus is here to tell Howard that he’s just not going to pay him.

In pulpy stories like these, it’s usually the aging boxer who’s out of his prime, which is why I found this throwback-style crime tale so unique. It seems as though Marcus has the upper hand. But with age comes wisdom and Howard is somehow able to cleverly redirect the conversation and overall situation into his favor.

The clever dialogue really elevates the story, effectively building tension through conversation in ways that loud, run-of-the-mill, action crime-thrillers often fail to accomplish. And with one location and only three characters, this would be about as easy to shoot as a film can get, especially with COVID precautions in effect. As far as crime stories go, this one packs a punch.

BUDGET: Low. One-location (an office room at a pawnshop) and three actors.

ABOUT THE WRITER: James Williams was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. His passion for film started at a young age when he spent weekend evenings attending movies with his father. After some life changing events in his thirties, he began to pursue his passion for film by writing screenplays. His second feature, The Blood Loop, was an Academy Nicholl quarter finalist. After a few successful short scripts were produced by other filmmakers, James decided to pick up the camera himself. Self-taught from YouTube tutorials, reading books, and filling any spot he could on local film crews, James finally shot his first film, Cooper’s Monster with his wife and one-year old son. One year later James has four films under his name and is progressing as a filmmaker. He gravitates towards making the type of popcorn horror movies he and his dad so loved at the cinema. James can be reached at: jdaddy6688 (a) sbcglobal.net

Read HOWARD’S JEWELRY & LOAN (8-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.

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Over on the Unproduced Script page are sixteen original scripts for your reading pleasure.

Submissions are closed for the One Week Challenge. Give it a shot! Write a short script on this month’s theme.

– Don

Congratulations, Mark Renshow! His short script Ganglers won best short script at the Boobs and Blood Film Festival. Judged by an all-female panel, the festival supports the charity Keep A Breast Foundation via this magazine. So please, consider a purchase.

Ganglers (12 pages (Short, Horror) pdf format) by Mark Renshaw

A jaded correction officer transporting a busload of restrained inmates must choose whether to defend the prisoners she despises when they are attacked by creatures with a twisted sense of justice.

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Apartment Zero – multiple drafts by David Koepp and Martin Donovan (based on an original story by Martin Donovan) – hosted by: David Koepp – in pdf format

Set in modern day Buenos Aires, the film centers around a relationship between two emotionally crippled roommates. Adrian LeDuc is a lonely sociopath who is forced to rent his insane mother’s room due to poor ticket sales at his revival movie theater. Jack Carney, the new roommate, appears normal enough at first but it soon becomes apparent that he is hiding something. As their friendship develops, Adrian suppresses his suspicions that Jack may be the government mercenary turned serial killer who has been terrorizing the city. The other eccentric residents of the building begin to worry as Adrian shows increasing signs that his mother’s insanity may be hereditary. The shocking climax of this twisted tale of deceit, perversion and murder reveals the darker side of the human psyche. 

Information courtesy of IMDb

Gambit – June 7, 2004 polished draft script by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen – hosted by: RainDance – in pdf format

An art curator decides to seek revenge on his abusive boss by conning him into buying a fake Monet, but his plan requires the help of an eccentric and unpredictable Texas rodeo queen.

Information courtesy of IMDb

Horrific Tales of the Wickedly Macabre is an anthology series that celebrates the ridiculous excess of ’80s horror. Eight separate terrifying stories, each told by horror fans, specifically for horror fans.

Next up is:

The Dead Rock by Zack Ackers (Wraparound Story Written by Sean Chipman)

A small-time punk rock band seeking a weekend of kicks encounter an unimaginable evil. Bloody chaos ensues. 45 pages (Short, Horror) pdf format

Episode Four of Horrific Tales of the Wickedly Macabre

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