Chris Willis: Screenwriter in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Hello James and fellow writers!

I've submitted my Family-Adventure-Drama, BOB DOOLEY. Inspired by true events, this comedic yet dramatic story is about my Great-Grandfather and his Capuchin Monkey pal, Bob Dooley.

In the late 1890s in a small town in Ohio, my great grandfather, George, was a young charismatic entrepreneur who always dreamed of having his own fairground with food, rides and livestock. In 1920, within these script pages, he tells the story of how he started his "famous" fairground two decades earlier but in the beginning it was challenging and his rocky start almost crashed his dream until one fateful day when he discovered a capuchin monkey he calls, Bob Dooley. Fame and success came quickly after that because Bob Dooley is a crowd favorite and now George’s popular fairground is a train-traveled destination. Get ready for a fun ride as Bob Dooley is somewhat of an entrepreneur himself. But when tragedy strikes, George is asked to do something he never thought he'd do.

Hello James and fellow writers!

On behalf of my collaboration with first-time writer Stephen Jones I've submitted the pilot for a limited series titled PLANTNATION. The series presents an alternate view of a dark era in American history and is written with irony and grit.

It’s 1860 and there’s talk of emancipation in America amid rumors of war. Our protagonist, Jefferson Jones isn’t waiting for political change. He provides sanctuary for runaway slaves under the protective cover of nature deep in the woods of Eastern Kentucky. His unique homestead cultivates a potent aromatic plant used for textiles and medicine. The PlantNation community is diverse, industrious and peaceful, a utopia. All of it hard-won after Jefferson's cruel exile from his family’s Tennessee cotton plantation ten years earlier by his older brother, Eric. Seems that Jefferson’s compassion for humanity was a shameful realization that Eric was happy to bring to an end. Now Jefferson has a new family. Their life and community is safely hidden from the dark side of the pre-war Antebellum South. Invisible to Eric's dangerous obsession with runaway slaves. Until it isn't. Can Jefferson keep his past buried forever or will the sudden appearance of a young slave, Augustus, unravel a decade of secrets among all of them?

We had "Er ist wieder da," Jojo Rabbit," and "My Neighbor Adolf" -- controversy covert by comedy.

Jerel Damon/Sallie Olson/RutgerOosterhoff

Present the WO2 drama "The Final Solution."

Inspired by an eyewitness event:

"After an SS officer's family is accidentally sent to Treblinka, he must save them before the commandant dismantles the camp and kills all inmates."

Beside the SS-Totenkopf-Division, who run the death camp,

No winesses, NON!

It’s been a good fall for my screenplay “Camouflage.” Finalist standing in the Rhode Island International Film Festival and The Australian Film Industry competitions, plus a Second Round sélection in the Austin Film Festival. Most recently it was selected as a quarter finalist in the StoryProd contest. It’s a good story and unlike any other war movie.

Excellent, Chris! CONGRATS!

Best of luck with it!

PS: I actually edited this War Film book: https://www.amazon.com/American-War-Film-History-Hollywood/dp/1932800107

That's great, Chris, super idea exactly at the right time. Bravo and best of luck. Looking forward to seeing it.

Finished the first draft of a TV pilot I started about 10 months ago. Began character arcs for about a dozen primary characters and set ups for at least that many story lines. Way different than writing features. The title: LOBSTER GANGS. The logline: Rival island families off the coast of Maine clash over rich lobster fishing grounds in a decades long feud punctuated by forbidden love, betrayal, piracy, rape and murder. Rewrite starts in a couple of weeks.

Found out this weekend that my script "66 West" won the WILDsound Writing Festival feature competition. Great feedback from the Festival folks. As I've said before, nice to be appreciated. Great validation as well.

Hey Chris. That frustration is exactly why we acquired The Happy Writers. We've had over 175 screenwriters signed, sold, optioned and placed. Take a look (Happy Writers on the top menu bar) and feel free to give Joey Tuccio a line at Joey@stage32.com - He's always there to help. Good luck!

Hi RB Thanks for the return comment. I have used Happy Writers for feedback on a script, which I found very useful. My frustration re written pitches being critiqued was also from some of the contacts Joey had put together. Left me wondering if a Skype pitch (where the contact could ask me questions that the initial pitch (or written pitch) did not address) would have been more productive than a written one. Chris

Hey Chris. I can certainly see that. As a screenwriter myself, I can tell you that I've done both and find the face to face pitching to be infinitely more rewarding. For one, it gives you "in the room" experience and the opportunity to practice your pitch. Plus, you receive instant feedback. Finally, it allows you to ask questions. Of course, I highly recommend discussing all this with Joey as well. As you know, he's highly accessible and willing to answer any and all questions.