Screenwriting Competition 2019 Winners
Last year marked the first year of Rom Com Fest and our first screenwriting competition. We hosted the competition with Scriptd and the winning script was read during the festival at our live table read. Now as we gear up for our 2020 Screenwriting Competition and virtual live table read, we wanted to check in with the winners of the 2019 contest. Morgan Thompson and Luca Servodio wrote Whipped, the winners of our 2019 Screenwriting Competition. Here they share about their experience!
Images from @mbt5, @romcomfest and Amanda Lopez.
How did you feel when you found out that you won the 2019 Rom Com Fest Screenwriting Competition?
We were very excited, but also nervous, knowing we'd be attending a live reading of our script at the festival! It was so incredible knowing that the judges had all not only read our script, but also chosen it as the winner!
Tell us more about your script that won.
After being dumped mid-proposal by his soulmate, milquetoast nice guy, Bo Attaway, attempts to find his mojo and win her back, but when he finds himself falling for Emily, a quick-witted dominatrix and aspiring writer, he’s forced to choose between sticking to the plan or taking a plunge into the unknown.
What is it like working together as writing partners and also as a couple?
We're sure it wouldn't work for everyone, but it's been great for us. Being a couple has actually been ideal for our creative partnership in that we are more honest with each other than we could be with anyone else. With other writing partners, you have to tread lightly sometimes or can feel nervous pitching ideas, but we can call each other out if the joke isn't funny or the line doesn't work and then move on quickly. Being a couple also means that we can hold each other accountable in a way that might be more difficult otherwise - if one of us is struggling to feel motivated, the other can push them, so we stay pretty consistent in our writing practice.
Does any of your personal relationship experiences enter into your writing?
Our relationship? Not really - that could get weird fast! But we share a wealth of mutual friends, experiences, and all kinds of references, which are really helpful in inspiring our ideas. Whipped was inspired by one of our close mutual friends and a "no strings attached" relationship he had. A lot of the locations in the script are also places we frequent together.
What was going through your mind during the live table read of your script?
We were so nervous! It was surreal to see so many characters we'd created and jokes we'd written come to life with the help of such a talented cast.
Did any meetings or connections happen as a result of winning the competition?
Absolutely. We scored a meeting with a television network, and were extremely fortunate to find a brilliant mentor in Denise, the founder and CEO of Scriptd. We also met a ton of accomplished and interesting folks at the festival with whom we're still in touch today, from filmmakers to other writers to photographers.
Any tips for those entering the screenwriting competition this year?
The best romcoms these days always offer some sort of twist on the classic genre. Consider how your script can offer romcom lovers something fresh and different!
Submissions for the 2020 Rom Com Fest Screenwriting Competition take place on May 13 for 24 hours.