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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