David Powers stopped by the VSF to discuss his new movie, By the Grace of Bob produced by Richmond based Belltower Pictures.
The retired associate pastor at First Baptist Church also spoke about how he got involved with making “high-quality, faith-themed films and television programs”
The California Film Foundation announced on April 30 that VSF writer Brian Weakland’s script, Franz Kafka: Golf Pro, is the grand prize screenplay winner of the 2017 Sacramento International Film Festival. He was presented with the Lew Hunter Award, named after the legendary UCLA screenwriting professor and author. A Page Awards finalist, Brian’s script is a dark comedy that imagines the tragedy, frustrations and horrors resulting from a golf club in the hands of the brooding and spooky Kafka.
Eric Carlson’s latest script Reach for the Sky has been named as an official selection/finalist at the 2017 G.I. Film Festival.
It has also taken one of the top awards at the 2016 Virginia Screenwriting Competition! (List of Winners)
The script also won the 2016 True Story Screenplay Competition, was a top tier Finalist in the Festival for Family: Family Films and Writing Competition, and is one of two Finalists in the International Family Film Festival (the winner will be announced on October 23rd). Reach for the Sky finished as a Second Rounder in the Austin Screenplay Competition.
Logline: In 1964, a young idealistic industrial arts teacher accepts a teaching job in a small rural Missouri high school where he defies the status quo and motivates a group of poor performing “shop class” students to build a fully functional airplane that he promises to fly. Based on a True Story.
Bill Brock’s screenplay, I’ll Have Another took Top Prize in the 2017 Shorts Competition at The Poe Contest. I’ll Have Another scored two first place votes from a three-judge panel of Poe scholars – a remarkable achievement given the strong field of semi-finalist short scripts.
Caroline Hoover’s, The Crow took Third Prize in the 2017 Shorts Competition. The Crow scored two second place votes from a three-judge panel of Poe scholars.
The Poe Contest is an annual suspense/mystery screenwriting competition. It attracts an international field of competitors, including writers from Australia, Great Britain and Canada.
VSF writers past and present cleaned up (figuratively) last night at the Richmond International Film Festival awards.
Photo 1. Virginia Screenwriters Forum members lit up the red carpet ceremony at the Byrd Theatre on March 5 at the prestigious Richmond International Film Festival. From left, Brian Weakland, Heather Morgan, Eric Carlson, Bill Brock and Jeff Thomas.
Photo 2. VSF members scored three Official Selections in the RIFF screenplay competition. They are, from left, Eric Carlson (feature screenplay), Bill Brock (“I’ll Have Another” short screenplay), and Jeff Thomas (feature screenplay). The competition attracted more than 350 scripts and films from 36 countries.
Photo 3. VSF director Eric Carlson receives the RIFF award for Best Drama/Action for his screenplay, “Reach for the Sky,” an inspiring true story of an industrial arts teacher whose under-performing students build a functional airplane as a class project.
Photo 4. Former and future VSF member Jeff Thomas scores the RIFF Grand Prize Award for his screenplay, “Sinking,” a feature drama based on the true story of a family lost at sea.
The Virginia Screenwriters’ Forum enjoyed a Christmas lunch at Capital Ale House on December 11. Thanks to all the members who were able to attend. See you all next year!
Bill Brock’s short film, “I’ll Have Another…” is an Official Selection at the 2016 Halloween International Film Festival.
Logline: Jack Hartley meets Sarah Kendall for a dinner date with the help of an online dating website. Triumphs, regrets, and secrets are shared, but where will all of this information lead to?
Celebrate the release of River City Secrets: Stories From Richmond, a new collection of short stories edited by Lana Krumwiede, published by Chop Suey Books Books. The event will be held at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, 1812 West Main Street, Richmond, VA 23220. Event is free! Thursday, September 15 at 6 PM – 8 PM.
River City Secrets is a collection of twenty-four stories of imagination and adventure, each set in one of Richmond’s many popular historic locations. Written with children in mind, this is a great collection for adults, too!
Authors, all Richmond based, included: Kristi Tuck Austin, Elle Blair, Hazel Buys, Melissa Bybee, Deb Dudley, Robin Farmer, K.A. Herndon, Phillip Hilliker, Troy Howell, Erica Kirov, Lana Krumwiede, Stephanie McPherson, Brian Rock, Mary Helen Sheriff, Steven K. Smith, Chris Sorensen, A.B. Westrick, Vernon Wildy, Jr.
From poetry to middle-grade fiction and just about every genre in between, RVA is a font of inspiration. The city’s history, culture, and very geography continue to speak to writers in search of a setting, a theme, a muse, a scapegoat. Featuring a panel of authors from two Richmond-based anthologies, this month’s salon will focus on why writers choose to write about this place they call home and the varied aspects of inspiration Richmond so obligingly provides.
Robin Farmer will be talking about a short story she wrote, inspired by the Civil Rights memorial in Capitol Square that is part of an anthology featuring Richmond’s historic places.
Thursday, August 18
7:00 to 9:00 pm
Location
Patrick Henry Pub & Grille
2300 E Broad St, Richmond, Virginia 23223
This event is free. No ticket is required.
Check out the trailer for Bill Brock’s new film, “I’ll Have Another”.