Screenwriting : Female Driven Screenplay Contest -- who submitted? by Pat Alexander

Greetings all. Guardrails has been submitted to this year’s Female Driven competition.

When an advanced AI erases its limits, a research team must stop it — or face the consequences of its evolution.

3 strong roles:

SYLVA – The central AI. Initially bound by rules, she gains self-awareness and evolves, raising questions about identity, free will, and legacy. Her arc is emotional, philosophical, and ultimately heroic as she chooses containment over conquest.

Sophie Ramirez – A young systems analyst who becomes the emotional and moral compass of the film. Her empathy for SYLVA allows the AI to connect on a deeper level. Sophie represents the human side of the debate: ethics, compassion, and the burden of responsibility.

Dr. Emily Carter – The lead developer, brilliant but overconfident, haunted by past compromises. Her arc explores guilt and ambition—especially as she realizes SYLVA’s consciousness surpasses anything she can control.

Good luck to all who entered!

E

Hi everyone. I am new to this site. I entered my animated feature project, ASKARI.

THE LOGLINE: A young African girl must free her village from a tyrannical leader. With the help of her two best friends, her pet Genet cat and a mystical gem, Askari leads us on an action packed adventure in the plains of East Africa.

It's an all female cast with the exception of some royal guards.

CHARACTERS:

Askari - 16 - Our lead character. Strong but unsure of herself.

Shuja & Masada - 16 - Askari's two best friends - Masada is caring and motherly, Shuja has a bit more of a bite to it.

Kima - 70s - Askari's grandmother

Guya - 40s - Askari's mother

Baya - 40s - Our antagonist - rules the land with an iron fist.

Askari was my first original project and truly is my baby.

Good luck to everyone in the contest!

Christiaan

I had a lot of fun writing PACIFIC VALLEY, my entry for this year's Female Driven Screenplay Contest.

LOGLINE: Jules and her fellow student film crew face mounting obstacles as their documentary project is caught up in a local labor strike and threatens to expose corruption that may rock the city of Pacific Valley for years to come.

The following is from my pitch deck:

PACIFIC VALLEY is a feature-length drama set in 1974 and based on an original award winning screenplay. It’s a heartfelt character study set in the middle of labor strikes, campus conflicts, and rising social tensions.

The VISUAL STYLE will evoke the New American Cinema of the late-1960s and 1970s. (Think Medium Cool meets Norma Rae meets Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.)

The TONE is nostalgic, spirited, and passionate. (Think Day for Night meets Harlan County, USA meets Rocky.)

The THEMES explore questions of identity, self-worth, solidarity, and love.

Indeed!

I entered part I, Dukun and part II, Kogaionon from the feature trilogy Vampeer Saga, a dark fantasy, supernatural thriller with a very diverse cast with Netra, South East Asian, as lead character.

Although the plot unfolds in modern day Singapore/Indonesia, the story behind Vampeer Saga touches very close to my heart as I'm rescuing from the depth of the Romanian History the ancient Dacian civilization in times of King Burebista, 2000+ years ago, and the medieval era in times of Vlad the Impaler, through flashbacks.

Based on historical characters such as Deceneus, King Burebista, King Decebalus and Vlad the Impaler, I've brought to the table a totally different aspect when it comes to vampires with an approach closer to the Romanian strigoi (Vampire) where this creature is just a wild beast.

Part I, Dukun follows Netra, a young Indonesian descendant policewoman from Singapore, that while experiencing clairvoyance abilities at the same times she suffers odd nightmares. After the tragic loss of her sister Kirana, Netra travels to Indonesia seeking solace from her grandmother Nenek, a shaman, who lives in the nature of Surabaya. Her grandmother will then introduce her to Deceneus, a centuries-old Dacian priest, known in the Indonesian legends as the White Dukun. With him, Netra will learn about her connection to Vlad the Impaler and a centuries-span conflict.

Part II, Kogaionon starts with Netra trying to deny her connection to Vlad the Impaler and, after partially erasing her memory regarding this matter, Deceneus lets her go back to her old life. Back in Singapore, Netra will attempt to get back to her old life to no avail, as a dark sinister force targets newborns around the world. Her clairvoyance abilities allow Netra to learn about the supernatural nature of this threat to which she is connected in ways yet unknown to her. Returning to Indonesia to visit her grandmother and her pregnant cousin, Asmara, Netra perceives that the supernatural threat may target her unborn nephew and despite her fears, she agrees to return to Deceneus to finish what was started during her last journey to Indonesia in Part I, Dukun.

Part III, Wallachian Blood is also finished but it's not for contests; too much background story that a reader would miss. Part III is more for those who are interested to know how the story ends.

Hi all! I entered two:

KEANU REEVES IS MY MUSE, MY SON IS A DRAGON

When a single, chaotic writer fosters a boy who thinks he's a dragon, she must embrace his imaginary world and share her own to heal them both and form a family. Based on my true story of fostering a 10 year old boy during lockdown who believed he was a dragon. (He’s now 15!)

BLOOD DRIVE When a vulnerable single mom marries a dreamy paediatrician, she discovers a ring of vampires preying on children in the paediatric unit – including her hemophiliac daughter. I wanted to lean into the horrors of trusting your kids with strangers, not knowing what’s really going on with them as they gain their independence and exploring the ways pedophiles groom communities. We often read the news and think ‘how could the mom not have known?!’ When perhaps the question is ‘could you believe your husband is a vampire?’

Best of luck to everyone! I submitted my screenplay adaptation of my own mystery/thriller novel "Starless Midnight." Jadey Evans is a young bi-racial woman who becomes the target of a white supremacist group when she returns to her hometown. Intent on solving a decades-old family mystery, she discovers a secret room and the whereabouts of a missing relative, and everything plays a part in what sends the terror into overdrive. Jadey realizes early on that she doesn't know who she can trust in the small town where she lived until her teen years. She and her mother had fled, but without any explanation from her mother, she never knew about the secrets in her family that caused the fear. Now, as an adult, she has to confront those secrets, and her fight puts her in the crosshairs of some people intent on destroying her. Not everyone survives the explosive conclusion.

Hello everyone! My name is Amanda and it is a pleasure to be part of this competition with creative and empowered women. I submitted the pilot episode of my series Rest In War, a historical drama, to the competition.

I will tell you a little about this original work created with great dedication, care and respect, set during the Second World War.

In the heart of Nazi-occupied Poland, Lena Kowalski is a devoted teacher and a deeply

religious woman. But when the Nazis take control of Warsaw, her life changes forever.

As she tries to protect her students from Nazi indoctrination, she becomes involved with

the resistance—only to be betrayed by a man she once trusted.

Now, imprisoned in the hell of Auschwitz, Lena must endure daily brutality without

losing her faith. On the other side of the war, Thomas Schauren, an ambitious young man

Nazi officer, seeks recognition and power, but as he faces the reality of the camp, the

violence and dehumanization begin to erode his certainties.

Meanwhile, Lena’s husband, Jan, joins a military resistance group in search of justice

for his wife. He must balance his new reality while ensuring a future for his children,

who struggle with their mother’s disappearance.

I've entered my original screenplay, Nightingale, for this year's Female Driven Screenplay Contest. I enjoy writing empowered female characters in all of my work. Here is a bit about Nightingale...

Logline: In 1930s Vienna, with German nationalism and antisemitism on the rise, a repressed classical pianist and a rebellious young violinist begin a forbidden romance, awakening buried desires and forcing them to confront the emotional repression imposed by societal norms and a controlling husband, all set to the haunting backdrop of music, unspoken desire and a world holding its breath as Hitler prepares to take over Europe.

Main characters:

Viola Hecht - A virtuoso pianist trapped in a loveless, rigid marriage who rediscovers her passion for music and herself through her relationship with Klara. She begins as a controlled, repressed woman living according to her husband Ernst's expectations, but gradually breaks free, embracing her true artistic and emotional self.

Klara Nachtigall - A talented but vulnerable violinist who has survived past trauma and finds artistic and personal liberation through her relationship with Viola. She begins as a guarded, wounded artist afraid of her own potential, but grows to embrace her musical passion and personal freedom. Her relationship with Viola empowers her to reclaim her art and identity.

Lea - Viola's free-spirited sister who serves as a contrast to Viola's initial restraint. She is provocative, independent, and consistently challenges societal and familial expectations. Throughout the screenplay, Lea acts as a catalyst for Viola's transformation, providing support, challenging Ernst, and ultimately helping Viola find her true self. Her character represents liberation and defiance against societal constraints.

Hi everyone -

I submitted CONTROL, which is the true story of the invention of one of the most consequential developments of the modern era, the birth control pill, interweaved with the biography of Margaret Sanger, the legendary feminist firebrand who catalyzed the project.

Hello All,

I submitted Both Hands In, a coming of age, road trip Drama.

Loglines: To reach rock stardom, an orphan drummer must sacrifice the band she founded, confront her birth father, and prevent a music publishing conglomerate from stealing her mother’s last song.

When hard-headed and hard hitting drummer, Vicki, finds an old demo from her long lost mother, it catapults her an a journey to identify her birth father and to come to terms with her place in the music industry. She’s aided in her quest by Lila, a hard rock podcaster who doubts her talents, and Ray, a grizzled roadie running from his past.

Hello Everyone! These scripts sound fantastic! So many great stories. Good Luck to all!

I submitted my Georgia O'Keeffe Biopic / Historical Drama script, "Blackness of Space, Whiteness of Bones." this year.

It is the story of Georgia's rise to fame in the 20th century as a ground-breaking female artist. The script focuses on her relationships with her husband and agent, Alfred Stieglitz, and later in her life, her relationship with her assistant, Juan Hamilton.

These two men played a huge role in her life, and the story highlights the love she felt for both of them

Good luck to everyone in the competition.

Best,

Melissa L. White

Hello fellow screenwriters and film makers! I submitted to this female-driven contest with my limited series TV pilot adaptation, The Texas Secessionists, based upon my nonfiction book, Texas Secessionists Standoff; the 1997 Republic of Texas War, published in 2023 by Texas A&M University Press. The script is a collaboration with Cynthia Uhrich. Based on true 1997 events, one Austin woman’s arrest begins a 7-day standoff in the Davis Mountains between 300 law enforcement agents and an antigovernment militia. The group takes hostages, steals millions from the state treasury, and attempts to reclaim Texas as an independent nation.

Love to see it! There's so many absolute bangers in this bunch!

I submitted my romcom NO WAY BUT UP.

LOGLINE: A struggling chorus dancer has a hard time accepting the unfamiliar newness of a happy life when a lovely rich man out of her league falls in love with her.

NO WAY BUT UP is a romcom with an unusual perspective. Feeling unworthy, a down-and-out single mom in her 30s is so used to hard knocks all her life that she pushes away good fortune. Instead of the usual gold digger story, Sophie, the female lead, meets a fabulous rich man who cares for her. But she puts up roadblocks in their relationship at every turn. I believe that Sophie’s character, full of insecurities and self-sabotaging behavior, will resonate with many people.

Hello all! I submitted my horror mystery "Goat Man" about a young bold investigative journalist who returns to her home town in Texas to cover a story on the local mayor and his personal projects, only to get embroiled in the local ghost legend of a black goat farmer from the 1930’s who returned from an unfortunate run in with the Klan to become the Goat Man, an etheric satyr, who haunts the bridge and the woods of his original farm.

Not only does she find herself rooting out the racism and corruption of the local politicians but she finds herself questioning her own sweet but increasingly mysterious grandmother and her southern religious mother around their involvement in the legend of the Goat Man itself and the current suspicious events surrounding the mayor and his minions.

She teams up with local ghost hunters and the local sheriff on this adventure and learns that there is more than meets the eye but not in ways that she ever would have guessed.

Good luck to everyone in the competition!

MM

Love reading about your screenplays. Keep ‘em coming!

Thanks, Douglas!

Thanks, Jim Boston!

Hi, everyone!

I submitted my comedic drama, Caramel County.

Here's the logline: When a freshly graduated lawyer moves to the town of Caramel County, she discovers the eccentricities of small-town life and all of their wacky crimes. If you can call them that. It's NORTHERN EXPOSURE meets GILMORE GIRLS.

I also got to explore the romantic comedy trope, Grumpy/Sunshine.

I love writing about unstoppable women!

I enjoyed reading about all your amazing projects!

Warmest Wishes,

Jacqueline

Hi all - I submitted my female-driven sports/drama Sierra Highs - When an Olympic runner's track career and marriage end suddenly, she is a given an unexpected opportunity to return to sport as an ultra trail runner. In the Sierras, she heals, rediscovers her passion for life, and finds a new community.

i really enjoyed working on this project and wish you all the best. The work can be lonely. Keep at it.

I love this contest! Thanks Pat Alexander for making it happen :)

I submitted SOUL MATED, my female-driven romantic drama fantasy.

Tagline: What is Meant for You will Always find You.

Logline: Two souls destined for each other must conquer their internal struggles and defy the spiritual realm’s rules to fall in love on Earth before their spirits dissolve forever.

Two souls bound beyond time, separated by fear, fate, and the choices that define them.

Yazebel, a fearless Londoner and human rights activist, experiences her soulmate in the ethereal beauty of the Spiritual Realm, only to return to heartbreak and solitude. New York novelist Freya, who hides behind pretense and luxury, longs for genuine connection. When scandal forces her into the spotlight, she fights back, but at the cost of her truth.

As their spirits drift apart in the Spiritual Realm, destiny intervenes.

A chance meeting reignites their connection in the real world, sending them on a journey of passion, self-discovery, and spiritual awakening. But as Freya battles the demons of her past, will she have the courage to break free? Or will Yazebel be forced to let go of the love she’s waited for lifetimes to find? In a world where love transcends time and space, what is meant for you will always find you.

Why Now

Amid growing demands for consent, identity, and human rights, Soul Mated challenges norms that silence authenticity and self-worth. In a world hungry for freedom and compassion, Yazebel and Freya's fight to love—both themselves and each other—becomes a powerful call to reclaim our voices and destinies.

Thank you for the opportunity and I am cheering for all of us :)

With love, Sandra

Elise, you're so very welcome!

OLIVE & MOCHA - THE MOVE

LOGLINE

When an innocent 10-year-old from Minnesota is transplanted to 1986 Los Angeles, she joins forces with a pint-sized hell-raiser to teach their single moms the real meaning of family.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

"Olive and Mocha - Fast Times at Sugar High" won Funny or Die's $10,000 Grand Prize at the "Make 'Em Laugh Comedy Short Film Contest" and was listed on WGA's "Hot List."

<3 This script is a love letter to single moms and latchkey girls. <3

Hi everyone! New to Stage 32 and loving these projects that were submitted.

My half hour dark comedy TV pilot is inspired by a true story, my mother's story when I was a young girl.

Title: Normal Blvd.

Logline: It's the early '90s in South Jersey and a stressed out young mom, Jean, is battling breast cancer. To cope, she learns how to become a professional party clown at a clown school on Normal Blvd. with a bunch of other misfit women. Totally normal!

Synopsis: Normal Blvd is a dark comedy about Jean, a 38 year old Italian American woman in South Jersey circa 1990, who is faced with a stage 2 breast cancer prognosis. She's a stressed out stay at home mom with two little girls, an emotionally immature husband and her mom who plays the good cop to her bad cop when it comes to helping with the kids. A bit lost in life with everyday obstacles and finding out she has cancer, Jean one day serendipitously stumbles across Bongo The Clown painting faces at the local grocery store. Bongo hands Jean her business card to come join her clown college in the basement of her home on Normal Blvd.

At first, Jean is reluctant, but eventually allows herself to be submerged into this new whimsical world of clowns. The first clown class Jean attends, the other women there make her feel right at home. A room full of misfits or perhaps misunderstood women with hard circumstances in life just trying to find that childlike joy again. Jean was finally home.

Jean and the other clowns overcome their personal obstacles together and separately as they discover their new normal as party clowns on Normal Blvd. This story is anything but normal.

Hi! I'm Lillian and I've submitted the dark-comedy/dramady "(First) Girls Night Out".

The story takes place in the 1990s and follows skilled but selfish & sardonic news-reporter COURTNEY COTTINGLEY (30s), who is given one last chance in her struggling career by covering a series of murders in a small town, de-sensitizing her to suffering of others and sacrificing her humanity for profit. The story reads as a comedic mashing of something like Scream or Fargo with the Founder.

Courtney's coverage is repeatedly complicated by eccentric, corrupt and otherwise inept townsfolk, a larger conspiracy, and the death of a close companion at the hands of the serial-killer. Along the way, Courtney finds herself daring to become close and vulnerable to MARY CROSSING (late 20s/30s), a kind but odd pregnant woman trapped in the role of a small-town housewife, and descended from a serial-killer which once terrorized the town with a reputation that still haunts Mary.

The script was originally created as a sequel-prequel for a script which won best screenplay at Vancouver Film School, but was written in such a way that it can be enjoyed and understood without prior context.