Virginia Screenwriters Forum

A screenwriting group based in Richmond, Virginia

VSF News

More accolades for our talented members!

Our very own Michael Mcleod took part in The Adrenaline Film Project presented by The Virginia Film Festival. After three long days at the 72-Hour Film Project, his group won the Jury Prize at the premiere of the films. Michael works as an actor and contributing writer on their project. More info: Charlottesville Tomorrow

 

Terry Gau’s screenplay, Pines of Rome just made finalist for the South Carolina Underground Film Festival. Bill Brock’s also has two screenplays  that are finalists at this festival, Life of Bradley (Best Feature) & “I’ll Have Another…” (Best Short).

 

Congratulations to Brian Weakland. His script, Franz Kafka, Golf Pro is an official selection at the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival. Way to go, Brian!!
http://www.atlantacomedyfilmfestival.net/2017/04/franz-kafka-golf-pro-feature-length.html

October 20, 2017 Awards, Contests 0 Read more >

VSF hosts director, Jesse Vaughan

The VSF was proud to host Director, Jesse Vaughan at Saturday’s meeting. Mr. Vaughan provided entertaining and knowledgeable insight on his long career working in the entertainment field.

His most current feature length film is The Last Punch which was shown at this year’s Richmond International Film Festival…logline: A hustler turned boxing promoter used his street smarts to navigate the 1980s fight game. On the run from the FBI, he pulled off Muhammad Ali’s final fight.

Mr. Vaughan has been nominated for 36 EMMY Awards during his career for which he has garnished 21.

September 17, 2017 Film Makers 0 Read more >

FRANZ KAFKA: GOLF PRO wins grand prize screenplay!

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.

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May 11, 2017 Awards 0 Read more >

Congratulations to Eric Carlson’s script, REACH FOR THE SKY!

EricCarlsonHeadshotEric 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.

April 24, 2017 Awards, Contests 0 Read more >

VSF Members take top prizes at The 2017 Poe Contest

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.

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March 23, 2017 Awards, Contests 0 Read more >

Richmond International Film Festival Awards

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.

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March 7, 2017 Awards 0 Read more >

River City Secrets: Stories From Richmond Book Launch!

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.

August 25, 2016 Contests 0 Read more >