My feature script, DUE, has made it into the Top 26 and I can’t stop smiling.
If you like a chilling, edge-of-your-seat horror mystery with A24-style aesthetics, psychological scares, and a premise that doesn’t disappoint, please come check out my treatment.
This film deserves to exist, and the only way to make that happen is to vote for it.
Thank you all in advance. I’m so excited to share it with you.
Sorry, I was so hyped I forgot to add: Congratulations to the other 25 writers who made it in! Can’t wait to read your treatments!
A huge congratulations! 
Congrats! I’m the writer of To Seal the Mouth—also playing in the horror sandbox—so I’m definitely checking your script out.
Curious where you land on Editor Picks. Do they feel like a little extra thumb on the scale for certain entries? Part of me thinks they’d make more sense after the contest wraps. That said, I wouldn’t be complaining if my script landed there either.
Good luck—hope we both scare the hell out of the judges.
I have to be honest, I didn’t even notice the Editor’s Picks until you mentioned it. I’m just so grateful to be in the Top 26.
I’ve worked hard on the script and am hoping it resonates.
I’m going to dedicate some time over the Easter break to reading entries. I’ll make sure I check yours out. Love a good horror.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful too. We’re in a pretty small club here, and when I tell my friends, I don’t think they fully grasp what an accomplishment this is. Congrats again!
I actually don’t know that many people, so I’m quietly preparing myself for when I don’t get enough votes, haha.
Hey,
I read your treatment. AMAZING.
So far I’ve read about 20 treatments out of the selected 26 and yours is in my top 3 at this point. I gave it an almost 10/10 score on the vote and I must say; the only thing I don’t like about it is THE TITLE.
It sounds so boring to me. Sorry to say that but it is an important marketing point. I feel like even “The Debt” would be better. And there’s probably better titles than I didn’t even think of.
keep in mind I’m only saying that as constructive criticism just because your treatment is SO good that it actually deserves to get made and I wouldn’t want anything to stand in its way as a box office success.
Because the film does have what it takes to be a huge box office HIT. It’s also got HUGE franchise potential. It’s honestly brilliant ngl. I can’t wait to read the full screenplay.
So keep in mind, just cuz u don’t got a lot of friends to vote for it that doesn’t mean people won’t vote for it. A great work DOES get attention no matter what. Hell, it got mine at least. As I said, I gave it one of the highest ratings so far.
Wow. Thank you. Your post just made my day.
It’s so easy to doubt yourself when it comes to writing/storytelling. To have someone reach out and say “Hey, you’re not delusional… We see it too.” That’s worth so much more than a vote.
But also, thank you for the vote, haha. It could the one that puts me over the line and changes my life.
Oh yeah! And regarding the title: I’ve had so many people praise the title, so I don’t think I’d ever change it myself. But of course, if the script gets optioned and someone tells me it needs to change - that’s a different story.
I read it—seriously strong work. There are a bunch of moments that stuck with me. And yes… you boldly ignored every screenwriting book’s “no flashbacks” rule—but honestly, they worked.
My only real battle was with the Kinolime reader. On the phone it feels like it’s policing me—kept insisting I hadn’t read sections, so I ended up rereading parts like I was stuck in my own little time loop. It’s a bit better on PC, but I’d love a clean, interruption-free read next time.
Not giving too much away from my script, I originally had a flashback where Elias confronts settlers on land the government gave him. Then all those screenwriting books started echoing in my head—“no flashbacks”—so I cut it.
Honestly, “no flashbacks” is one of those fake hard rules that gets repeated until people treat it like scripture.
The movie “Titanic” was just one giant flashback. It did alright. Haha.
Oh damn! I haven’t had a chance to read any whole scripts yet, but I did notice the script reader being temperamental when I was checking out treatments. I thought it was just the browser I was using.
Hopefully it’s fixed before the final round when we need to vote on scripts.
I didn’t realize until now that this stage of the competition has us reading and voting on the treatments. Those scores are what push the top 10 forward. The screenplays only get read if the treatment really compels you to dig deeper.
Even though I could technically vote on my own treatment, I’m not going to—it’s probably a bad idea and won’t help anyway. And if it turns out to be against the rules, you’re safe.
Does it even let you vote on your own treatment? I just figured it wouldn’t.
I’m not sure. I didn’t try.
Just tried. It doesn’t let you.