Naperville Writer Barbara Blomquist Pitches to Top Industry Execs at ISA’s Virtual Pitch Panel 

The latest season of ISA’s TV Pilot Pitch Challenge, sponsored by Final Draft, has come to a successful end. Earlier this year, the International Screenwriters’ Association set out to discover exciting new TV concepts and the unique writers behind them to showcase to a panel of industry pros at their Virtual Pitch Panel. After reviewing hundreds of incredible submissions, three writers were named the Grand Prize Winners: Caden Douglas with “Tuck, Montana,” David Green with “The Levantates,” and resident of Naperville, IL and Northwestern University graduate, Barbara Blomquist with her script “Dream Talk.” 

The three winners and two current ISA Fast Track Fellows, Emma Barrow and writing team Kate Holland and Marlow Mitchell, took to the virtual stage on Nov.17th and received invaluable feedback from panelists Chris Nold (Literary Manager at MGMT Entertainment), David Soldinger ( VP Development & Creative Production at Abominable Pictures), Natalie Gergely (Director of Development for Abominable Pictures), and Felicity Wren (VP of Development at the ISA). 

Throughout the panel, the industry panelists emphasized two major things: personal connection and capturing tone. Potential producers want to feel passion from writers, and ultimately understand why they are the only person who can tell this story. They also want to gain a full picture of the essence of the script throughout the pitch, including potential plot points and character personality. 

The Grand Prize Winners will now be considered for the ISA’s esteemed Development Slate, where the Development Team will champion their scripts to industry partners including Miramax, MGM, Harpo Studios, Warner Bros., CAA and more. Scripts from over 80 writers on the Development Slate have been optioned or produced, and over 60 writers have received representation. 

To learn more about the ISA and their programs, please click here to visit networkisa.org

TV Pilot Pitch Challenge Grand Prize Winners:

Barbara Blomquist – Dream Talk 

Caden Douglas – Tuck, Montana 

David Green – The Levantates 

TV Pilot Pitch Challenge Finalists: 

Mika Basson – Homeless 

Ben Cox – Touch 

Jeremy Davis – Scrapped Hope 

Jeremy Dehn – Breakwater City 

Jacobo Fe – The Son of The Sun 

Leah Gottfried – The Rebbetzin 

Ashley Haze and Marshall Gripp Gillson – Drought

Sofia Javed and Karen Elizabeth Shantz – Sociable

Steven Kaminsky – Dumbbells 

Joshua Keller Katz – Wrecker 

Jesse Keller and Andy Trimlett – Wizard Oil

Nikki Larkins – 10 Boyfriends 

Adelita Lopez and Amanda Lopez – The Work

Serena McIntire – Julie d’Aubigny 

Amir Mo – Osama bin Laden: A Love Song

Grace Mulvey and Antoin Beag Ó Colla – Campa

Luke Muyskens – Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children

Thuc Doan Nguyen – Blood Drop Killers

Beth Ann Powers – Scum

Mycah Nicole Roberts and Jeff Kerr – Priceless

Hannah Silver – House of Bricks 

Jem Splitter and Alita Tomas – Space On Earth

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