Winning Feature Screenplay – DUE SOUTH by Evan R Schullery

Watch the Winning Feature Screenplay for November 2016.

CAST LIST: NARRATOR – Val Cole GUS – Cory Bertrand AL – Matthew Lawrence CARL – Peter-Mark Raphael BEAVER – Vince Jerad FRAN – Andrea Lawrence VARIOUS – Cassandra Guthrie

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Family, Animation, Comedy, Adventure

Gus, a misfit goose who can’t fly, gets left behind by his family migrating south for the winter. He sets off to look for his family; along with Beaver, who wants to find his own family he lost as a young beaver. And Carl, a scrawny squirrel who is lovesick for an uninterested porcupine.

Get to know the winning writer:

What is your screenplay about?

A bratty gosling who can’t fly is abandoned by his family when they migrate south, so he undertakes the journey on webbed foot with two furry companions and a questionable “instink.”

What genres does your screenplay under?

“Due South” is an animated family/comedy.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

“Due South” should be made into a movie because it appeals to the whole family and is an underdog tale. There are zany characters that kids will enjoy and adult humor as well. Both will keep everyone entertained and engaged the whole way through. It also addresses universal themes like family, friendship, identity, and the ability to change given the right experience.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Family fun.

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Rocky IV- it’s always on television and if I don’t watch it I’ll feel un-American.

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I wrote the first draft of this screenplay several years ago and it has been through a few drafts since then. I took months off from working on it before approaching it again with fresh eyes. It’s hard to declare that something is “done” after you’ve invested so much time and energy into it, but I’m happy with where it is now and overjoyed that this contest is recognizing it.

How many stories have you written?

I have written several screenplays and have many more in different stages.

What motivated you to write this screenplay?

The concept of a young goose being left behind and having to make the journey on foot appealed to me. I’m not sure where that came from, but the structure of the story fell into place pretty easily and provided a good framework to start writing it. Once I started throwing around some ideas for a meaningful ending, I was motivated to finish it.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

The toughest part about writing any screenplay is finding an idea that inspires you enough to spend hours, weeks, months, and even years writing it. It’s one thing to think of a good idea, but another to see it through to completion. For me, if I’m inspired enough by the moment at the end of the story that defines it’s true meaning, then I will be motivated to do whatever I have to do to finish it.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Music, educating the youth of America, and thwarting the apocalypse.

What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I found the festival online and thought “Due South” would be great for it. I was impressed with the detailed feedback I received on it- the suggestions were very helpful. I could tell that the reader really read the story and I am humbled by the positive response. It means a lot!

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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: John Johnson

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