ISA Staff Picks: June 2024

These screenplays and their writers were selected by ISA staff members as standouts in their genres and formats for the month of June 2024. They are being submitted to agents, managers, producers and production companies actively looking for writers to rep or projects to produce. 

SECRETS THE RIVER KEPT by L.J.McPherson (Feature)

Logline: In rural, early 20th century Virginia, a woman flees from her abusive husband with their three children, seeking refuge in a make-shift underground cellar in the woods she built in secret. As nature threatens their survival, they must defend themselves against the monstrous husband and find their true freedom.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Craig James

Comments: With the heat behind Taylor Sheridan's 1883, 1923 and Yellowstone, I'm excited to find another unique voice in this space presenting a story for actors who love authentic and deeply rich characters. The feature length script Secrets the River Kept delivers a powerful and touching drama during the hardships of transitional early 20th century America. An inspired family story.

Awards:
Creative Screenwriting Feature Screenplay Competition - Semi-Finalist
Page Turner Screenplays - The First 15 - Quarter-Finalist

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NIGHTINGALE by A.J Bermudez (Pilot)
Sizzle Reel

Logline: In the aftermath of a career-ending surgery, rising star physician Joseph Reyes returns to the dark, crime-ridden neighborhood of his former life and discovers a new calling as underground surgeon for the brutal gangs of inner Baltimore.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Felicity Wren

Comments: This pilot deals with discrimination on many levels. The status quo of supremacy afforded to white old monied scholars is highlighted here, and the consequences of this privilege, explored in the fallout. The writing is taut, aggressive and unflinching. With complicated diverse characters, and a grimy Baltimore edge. When your calling has been ripped from you, what will you do? Writer/Director A.J Bermudez (My Dead Friend Zoe) continues to go from strength to strength in her career and writing, this pilot and the sizzle she directed and Creative Screenwriter Productions produced highlights this.

Awards:
Emerging Screenwriters Shoot Your Sizzle - Grand Prize
Cinequest Screenwriting Competition - Grand Prize 

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THE WORK by Adelita Lopez and Amanda Lopez (Pilot)
Pitch Video

Logline: An Ivy League "princess," a former foster care kid and the crankiest social worker ever form an unlikely team, all fighting to do some real good from within the demanding but rewarding world of "The System." In times of crisis, when you "look for the helpers," you will always find social workers.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Molly Kasch

Comments: This dramedy procedural, inspired by the co-writer’s real-life experiences, is a glimpse inside a world we haven’t yet seen on tv: social work. The pilot is both funny and thought-provoking with diverse and layered characters who pop off the page. The fish out of water lead is thrown into an unexpected environment that causes her to question preconceived ideas and beliefs, and we go on the journey with her, as our eyes are opened into this world that may not be familiar to us.

Awards:
Table Read My Screenplay - Grand Prize Winner (Summer 2022)
Launch Pad Pilot Competition 9th Annual - Second Rounder
Table Read My Screenplay - Top 100 (Feature or TV Pilot) (Austin 2021)

More Info |  Adelita's Voice

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FALLING SHORT by Jason Goldberg (Feature)

Logline: A camping trip takes a horrific turn when the host forces his childhood friends to fulfill a suicide pact they made when they were kids.

*Creep meets The Big Chill with the tone of Scare Me. 

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Shayna Weber

Comments: Jason has a way of creating worlds that swallow you up and you can't escape, even if you want to. Falling Short does just that, sucking you into its story of four childhood friends who go on a camping trip that turns into a nightmare. Who likes camping anyway? This just makes it worse.

Jason's screenplays are always a wild ride, insanely inventive and darkly comedic.

Awards: 
ISA Top 25 Screenwriter to Watch in 2019
ISA Development Slate

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FINNEGAN LIVES AGAIN by Gabrielle Nehring (Feature)

Logline: When a group of shipwrecked trafficking victims takes refuge in her garden, a grieving, alcoholic professor defends them from the sinister men desperate to recapture them.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Max Timm

Comments: A commercial idea with heart and a strong, easy hook. A highly female-driven story with nearly an entire female cast, Finnegan offers a semi-contained thriller with an excellent lead role for a middle-aged actress to sink her teeth into. Emotional, exciting, with strong character relationship development - I really enjoyed this read, and there is a lot more to come from this writer.

Awards:
While the writer has received various accolades and awards, this particular project is brand new and has yet to be submitted around town.

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CHOKE by Adam Somang Karlson (Pilot)

Logline: A struggling Korean-American comedian who is constantly pressured to do Asian jokes transitions to the world of women's Mixed Martial Arts to grow her fanbase and get stand up material that doesn't revolve around her race.

Selected by: ISA Staff Member Reggie Singh

Comments: 'Authenticity' is a buzz word for the industry in recent times. Of course, we should always look for it regardless, but with successful shows such as Beef, Baby Reindeer and Fleabag we are always encouraging writers to be authentic so that we find new voices in entertaining, intelligent and heartfelt TV shows. This show gives me just that. It is two worlds colliding - MMA and Stand Up Comedy. Coupled with two cultures colliding - America and Korea. The personal struggle of the main character, an ambitious female Korean American comedian, is transposed onto the crazy world of cage fighting. It is hard to make people laugh, period. And taking a leap of faith with your comedy by putting your body on the line with MMA is a choice that sounds good on paper, but actions speak louder than words. At the heart of the story there are relationships formed, as people from all walks of life try to make sense of what it takes to perform on the grand stage and not CHOKE.

Awards:
Top 25 Screenwriter to Watch in 2024
ISA Development Slate

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

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