ISA Staff Picks: February 2025

These screenplays and their writers were selected by ISA staff members as standouts in their genres and formats for the month of February, 2025. They are being submitted to agents, managers, producers and production companies actively looking for writers to rep or projects to produce. 

Staff Picks:

BACK FIRES by Alex Vincent Blumberg (Podcast & Pilot)

Logline: In 1946, a crew of California convicts fought wildfires in exchange for their freedom. Thirty years later, while researching the history of American prison labor, a British journalist uncovers evidence suggesting a wide-ranging cover-up of inmate deaths.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Shayna Weber

Comments: As we have just recently experienced the devastating fires in Southern California, and also learned about the number of incarcerated firefighters helping to save our communities, I felt like BACK FIRES was a timely choice as my staff pick this month.

The BACK FIRES podcast series (and pilot script it is based on) takes us back to 1946, when the prison fire fighting program was just getting started. It's a raw, gripping story that really hits home where the characters  battle both literal fires and their own inner demons. And makes us as an audience think differently about rehabilitation, redemption, and who we consider heroes.

ISA Connection: Alex was invited onto the ISA Development Slate and selected as an ISA Top 25 Screenwriter to Watch.

Awards: 

Podcast: Signal Awards - Bronze for "Best Indie Podcast" and "Scripted Fiction (Drama)" in the Limited Series Categories (2024)

Pilot: Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Screenplay Competition - Grand Prize Winner (2022)

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DAFFODIL'S GUIDE TO FALLING APART by Zoë Hodge (Pilot)

Logline: 16-year-old, black teen, Daffodil Miller, sets her sights on her new school's resident popular boy in an effort to redefine her life after a failed suicide pact.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Felicity Wren

Comments: DAFFODIL'S GUIDE TO FALLING APART is a charming, witty, and emotionally grounded coming-of-age story that captivates from the first page. With Daffodil's sharp, self-aware humor and fourth-wall-breaking narration, the script delivers a fresh and relatable voice that immediately draws the audience in. The dialogue crackles with wit, and the protagonist’s quirky perspective balances humor with heartfelt emotion, making her journey deeply engaging. The script explores universal themes of identity, mental health, and societal expectations while weaving in authentic relationships and complex emotional dynamics. Daffodil’s interactions with her family and peers feel layered and real, allowing moments of levity to coexist with poignant explorations of grief and self-discovery.

This blend of humor, drama, and visual inventiveness makes the script a natural fit for television. The whimsical tone, paired with clever visual storytelling gives it a cinematic quality reminiscent of shows like SEX EDUCATION and films like EIGHTH GRADE. It's a timely exploration of mental health and identity that resonates with modern audiences, while its charm and humor ensure broad appeal across demographics. This script is irresistible for its ability to be both entertaining and socially relevant, offering the perfect mix of laughter, heart, and meaningful storytelling.

ISA Connection: Zoë was invited onto the ISA Development Slate and selected as an ISA Top 25 Screenwriter to Watch.

Awards:
ISA Fast Track Fellowship - Top 50 

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THE GREEN SEA by Jason Vaughn (Feature)

Logline: In a future Kansas City, a scientist struggling to move on after his girlfriend’s death accepts a job (from a drug dealer) that requires him to spend one night in a controversial facility where people interact with artificial humans. He finds himself an unwitting cog in a plot to destroy this “synth house” just as it connects him with a perfect likeness of the great love from his past.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Stephanie Schellerup

Comments: This is a very human piece of science fiction that explores grief, addiction, and what it takes to move on from the past. Some really lovely imagery is woven throughout-- we get full-on grim dystopia mixed up with moments of beauty, art, and nature. Uniquely, the complex protagonist has already saved the world prior to the story’s opening, giving this narrative leeway to grapple with a much more personal challenge.

ISA Connection: Jason is a 2024 Emerging Screenwriters Sci-Fi & Fantasy Finalist.

Awards:
Script Pipeline Screenwriting Competition - Grand Prize (2012)

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THE WAY WE WALK by Joseph Kibler (Feature)

Logline: A romantic comedy that follows a budding relationship between a disabled TV Staff Writer with CP and a newly quadriplegic former ballet dancer. As the relationship grows, the two challenge their perceptions of what it means to be disabled.

Selected by: ISA Reading Team

Comments: The hook is incredibly unique and original. It offers the familiarity of the genre while making something completely new. Andy and Amelia are immediately established as the leads; while the first thirty pages or so dedicates itself to the reader getting to know who these characters are, the payoff is definitely worth it. The writer clearly knows what story they want to tell and who these characters are. The voice of the draft is very clear and the tone is pristine all the way throughout the draft. Andy and Amelia’s relationship develops realistically and pulls at the heartstrings of the reader with ease. The dialogue is full of voice as well, making it easy for the characters to feel organic yet vibrant.

ISA Connection: Joseph is an ISA Fast Track Fall 2024 Finalist.

Awards:
Emerging Screenwriters Comedy Screenplay Competition - Finalist (2024)
Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition - Semifinalist (2024)
WeScreenplay Feature Lab - Quarterfinalist (2024)
Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards (Semifinalist)
ScreenCraft Feature Competition - Quarterfinalist (2024)
WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab - Quarterfinalist (Spring, 2024)

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THREE STOREYS by Andy Maycock (Feature)

Logline: Three generations are plagued by mysterious forces at their haunted beach house, where the family’s secrets threaten to resurface.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Craig James

Comments: If you're captivated by superstitions, suspense, and the chilling aura of haunted houses, THREE STOREYS by Andy Maycock is an absolute must-read. This screenplay ingeniously intertwines three generations of visitors to the same house, each set in a different time period, creating a richly layered narrative. The plot masterfully employs the ominous Ides of March, turbulent storms, and an unsettling murder, driving the story forward with relentless tension reminiscent of THE OTHERS. Its confined setting adds to the unnerving atmosphere, making every turn of the page a thrilling and unpredictable experience. Maycock's THREE STOREYS ensures a spine-tingling journey that keeps you on edge until the very end.

ISA Connection: Andy was invited onto the ISA Development Slate and selected as an ISA Top 25 Screenwriter to Watch.

Awards: 
Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition - Semifinalist

Interested in reading any of these projects?
Please email Felicity@NetworkISA.org.

To request the screenplay via the ISA platform, you must be an ISA-vetted Industry Pro. Please apply here in your profile.

To be considered for our monthly ISA Staff Picks, please complete your profiles, add your projects, post your success stories, apply to writing gigs, fellowships, contests and the ISA Diversity Initiative. You don't need to apply to all resources, you just need to be proactive as we are actively scanning the entire ISA platform for our next month's picks.