Sharon Curcio's Lounge Discussions

Introduce myself.

OK -- I'm a produced screenwriter with announcements for movies I've written being in Deadline, Fangoria, Yahoo! News, Bloody Disgusting, Movieweb, and more.

I've placed in over 40 contests. I've now made enough $$ from writing, though, that I'm no longer eligible for any of the big contests.

I've done write-for-hires for shorts, film, and TV.

I'm repped by Kathy Muravivov (The Muraviov Company).

I've published a book of screenwriting tips titled "365: A Year of Screenwriting Tips" which is on Amazon as both ebook and paperback.

Between shorts, features, and TV.... specs and paid assignments... I've written well over 100 scripts!

And yet, I'm still trying to "make it" in this industry!!

Always looking for homes for my scripts.

Always looking for paid OWAs.

VERY interested in staffing on a series!

COWBOY POET

IS ON THE RED LIST

#18 Western Feature in the past month

TOP 18%

of discoverable projects on Coverfly

1

Accolade

OVERALL04/11/2022

TOP

25%

COWBOY POET/WGA 20666887

Grieving ranch widow Barbara Rayburn still talks aloud to her late husband but when his publisher presses her to read from his last anthology at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV, she accidentally runs into “the one who got away.”

Barbara’s journey to Elko unfolds her past, present, and future. Thirty years ago, she met Tim Rayburn and his friend Miller when she covered the Gathering as a New York literary critic. Both men competed for her attention until Miller dropped out. A year later Barbara got Tim’s first anthology published. They married, and together built the B T Ranch. As Barbara sifts through modern Elko, she finds Miller, who also attending the Cowboy Gathering, and an old romance morphs into a new one: one her family opposes. To have the future she wants, Barbara must confront not only her sons, but herself. As a dynamic, intergenerational story, COWBOY POET, reinvigorates the lore of the West. Replete with family loyalties and conflicts, overcoming loss, and romance, COWBOY POET pays tribute to modern cowboy culture.

*Previous version of COWBOY POET received an Honorable Mention in the Wikifest competition. CBP reached the quarter finals in the 2022 ISA Action/Adventure competition.

Asayi

Written by Sharon Curcio

What motivated you to become a writer?

In third grade I won an essay contest. My big claim to fame was starting off my essay defining the topic term the class was given. Can’t say it’s all been smooth sailing since then, but I did get my dream copywriter job years later when I landed a Creative position at a major NY Ad agency.

Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?

I love a blank page. It has never frightened or intimidated me. Rather, I find the blank page inviting, like a deep dive into a starkly cold pool. Invigorating, energizing, and fun.

Do you write projects knowing that so many other factors need to happen to get it to screen and does that come into your project creation?

I write when I have a story to tell. Granted, I am aware of the many difficult processes it takes to get a film made, but as a writer I cannot let these obstacles control my creative journey. Perhaps writers have a compulsive need to tell their tale. My scripts have firm, non-fictional roots. Perhaps this is the engine that drives my work.

What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate?

I submitted ASAYI. Set in fifteenth century Japan, Asayi is an autistic teen trained as a copyist by her father, the chief scribe for the Ashikaga Shoguns. After his death, the Shogun marries her to a brutal man who frames her for adultery. She is severely punished and left for dead until a ronin-monk finds her and uses her Yurei (ghost) to topple the Yoshinori shogunate. This screenplay appeals to Asian and international audiences. An autistic teen (who presents as mute) sustains the action as many gather around her to bring down an unpopular government. Teen as hero is a fetching proposition (as well as battling bad guys). Perfect for streaming, animation, and of course, action figures.

How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?

My co-writer and I received an HONORABLE MENTION for COWBOY POET submitted to Wikifest earlier this year.

If you could stand in a room full of investor partners looking at many projects what would you like them to know about you and this project?

I have two projects with a teen as hero (male lead in RESONANCE and a female lead in ASAYI.) Both projects are based on non-fiction; RESONANCE presents a climate change story. Having taught high school for two decades, I really know teenagers. Plus I’ve worked in both the public and private sectors: education, corporate marketing and in the military. I understand investor concerns about ROI very well.

Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share?

I have had plays produced and in 2022 one of my lyric plays, “Contemplating Fire”, is scheduled to present as an oratorio in Midland, Michigan. My resume appears on Linked In. I have authored several white papers as a USAR Intelligence Officer.

Just got an 8 from Blacklist on "Til She Comes Home"; very excited to reach this milestone!

Over the last decade, I've been working on numerous scripts in various genres with the hope that I could get them produced. I've had several producers and directors interested in my material, but for one reason or another, it falls through. At the very least, it proves to me that my work has merit, but it's frustrating because it seems like that isn't enough. So here I am, still writing and hoping that I can find my place in the world.

I would love to meet some creative people who have a passion for the industry like myself, and maybe, just maybe, finally see my hard work pay off. I know I can't be the only one who feels like they are inches away from success.

No matter what happens, I've already found myself enjoying the Stage 32 community and what they have to offer.

Best of luck to everyone out there.

"Have fun storming the castle!"

It took me a long time to call myself a writer ... more than 1,000 half-hour teleplays, two produced features, and an award-winning short. By the time I was on my second award-winning short film I finally began to consider myself, and call myself, a writer. It was when that film was in qualification for the Academy Awards (after screening at 31 festivals and winning 31 awards) that I was also given a bit of sage advice: "In this business you ALWAYS need a second act." Hoping that my film would be nominated, and with only two "finished" screenplays in my arsenal, I started writing in earnest. In the 3-4 months that followed I polished up those two screenplays and finished 3 more. I had a "fire under my butt" so to speak and the fire was this -- if I was so lucky to have my film shortlisted that year, I knew that anyone I'd want to work with in this business would come calling and ask me, "So ... what else have you got?" I needed to be able to answer that question with a variety of interesting stories. Completed stories. Stories I was proud to pitch AND hand over. Since then I've written/produced and directed several more films and written several more screenplays. And if you ask me now, "Are you a writer?" I would answer you with a resounding, "Yes." Oh, and by the way, my film wasn't shortlisted, but it IS available for viewing on IndieFlix. It's called "Worth."

I want to formally introduce myself again. My name is Jami Rhodes and I’m a 39 yrs old black female Screenwriter surviving everyday. It’s such a pleasure meeting all of you! I have a couple pilots, features, and shorts already written. I have more ideas that I’m currently working on. Just looking to make some fruitful connections.

Have several scripts ready to roll: 14th century Japanese (autistic girl as lead); military (female soldier lead) and climate change (teen boy as lead). If any of these intrigue you, let me know!

is this a place where I could post some scripts I've been working on, and then have you all critique it? Or is that under "YOUR STAGE"? I feel that your stage is for advertising purposes.

Hi, I'm Mike Davie, President-CEO of Manor House and I invite film-makers to contact me via Stage 32: We've published truly outstanding works by such authors as Cliff Jackman (compared favorably with Stephen King and now with Random House, we hold all rights to his first novel and 2 collections of short stories); Ian Thomas (2 novels by this popular singer songwriter with mega hits Painted Ladies; Right Before Your Eyes, etc. and who has penned hits for America, Chicago, and other recording giants); Michael Bradley (3 books by this Holy Grail expert-consultant for the DaVinci Code and National Treasure movies); etc. and visit: www.manor-house-publishing.com - thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you soon to discuss - cheers!

Hello! New to this community but it's all looking great so far!! For a while now I've been trying to gather material so I can make a showreel. It's so difficult because they say you need a showreel to apply for so many jobs but if you can't get the work then - no showreel! So now I'm asking for help from anyone who is willing, I wanted to do some original scenes for a showreel but not being a writer myself am lacking the inspiration/talent to write them, would anyone be interested in helping me out?! I'm looking for a funny scene, ranging from quite subtle to big characters. Comedy is my forte so want to make this one a corker! A sad scene. Not like fall on the floor crying "WHY GOD?!" definitely more subtle for this one, a talk between two friends or something. Basically anything you're willing to throw at me it would be greatly appreciated, probably a MAX of 3 characters per scene! Please let me know if you can help :D Thank you, Emily

https://www.kesq.com/lifestyle/eye-on-the-desert

My name is Alan Champion, and I reside in New York City. I’ve worked as a Broadcast Journalist in News and on documentaries in Commercial, Cable and Public Broadcasting for over 35 years, producing, writing, associate producing and researching story content. Today, I am a Content Developer; I conceive and develop narratives covering all genres, oft' hybridizing them. My goal is to sensitize, inform and empower people.

My work is oft' factual and/or fictive, covering an array of issues, topics and chimera; they usually start off journalistically, but, then, veer off into fantasy. My ultimate goal is to have my narratives developed into completed scripts, and to obtain an Agent, who will disseminate them to apropos studios and producers for development and financing, and to transform them into movies and/or television fare. Propitiously, I've been prolific, and have countless concepts available for producer’s perusal. Nonetheless, making an apropos connection has been somewhat elusive.

Hi all,

I am an actor and storyteller who teaches Meisner for Universities, Drama Schools, and Theatre Companies.

I have a production company that specialises in live historical entertainment and where I regularly perform at various historical venues across the country.

Happy to answer any questions.

Cheers

Martin

Can anyone refer me to an agent or script managers who handles Asian screenplays? My screenplay is set in 15th century Japan (fictionalized history). Many thanks-- Sharon Curcio

Any ideas on connecting to script managers or agents who are seeking Asian scripts?