The ReelHeART Top 3 Live Reads are a series of rehearsed, cast-to-type dramatic reads for our
Top 3 Winners from our Feature Screenplay Competition.
Every year something exciting happens to our writers and often it’s not the 1st Place winner that receives all the glory. Our 2nd and 3rd place winners have a shot too! Maybe they’ll get agent representation. Maybe a producer in Hollywood, will option their script. You never know what’s going to happen at the ReelHeART Live Reads and that’s just the way we like it.
This year we have another FIRST. All ReelHeART Top 3 Winners are Female Writers!
So, c’mon see what happens and cheer on your favorite screenwriter!
Wednesday June 27 – 12:00PM-2:30PM
- Where: Harbourfront Community Centre – Assembly Room “C”
- 627 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5V 3G3 Map
- (Bathurst Street Car – Bottom of Bathurst Street, Queen’s Quay stop)
Admission $12 each or 2 Tix for $20 (Free Raffle Ticket included)
* Live Read Feature Screenplay *
“William, Will You Dance” by Mary Huckstep (USA)
Inspiration for Script: “When I rented a remote farm cottage in Lanarkshire, Scotland, my landlord was a “William” prototype — in his 30s, never had a date, and living with a widowed mum. After I moved back to the States, I wondered what happened to that hard-working farmer after his mum passed. So when I became a screenwriter, I decided I’d help him learn some social skills and give him a happy life.” ~ Mary Huckstep
Thursday June 28 – 12:00PM-2:30PM
- Where: Harbourfront Community Centre – Assembly Room “C”
- 627 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5V 3G3 Map
- (Bathurst Street Car – Bottom of Bathurst Street, Queen’s Quay stop)
Admission $12 each or 2 Tix for $20 (Free Raffle Ticket included)
* Live Read Feature Screenplay *
“Norman The Conqueror” by Deanna Dewey (UK)
Inspiration for Script: “The idea behind ‘Norman the Conqueror’ came from my father – it is his story – which the British Authorities tried to cover up. An adventure story of friendship and self sacrifice told with humour and feeling. It is the never ending struggle against bad rules and authority – a story which proves the ‘little’ man can win.” ~ Deanna Dewey
Friday June 29 – 12:00PM-2:30PM
- Where: Harbourfront Community Centre – Assembly Room “C”
- 627 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5V 3G3 Map
- (Bathurst Street Car – Bottom of Bathurst Street, Queen’s Quay stop)
Admission $12 each or 2 Tix for $20 (Free Raffle Ticket included)
* Live Read Feature Screenplay *
“Resilience” by Lena Slachmuijlder (USA/Africa)
Inspiration for Script: “Over six years that I lived in the DR Congo, I was moved by stories of courage of rape survivors. Despite all the documentaries made over the last 10 years about DR Congo, and in particular about rape, there hasn’t been a major feature film to tell the story of human “Resilience” (currently the working title of this screenplay) faced by these courageous women.
This screenplay is based on the true story of Rebecca Masika Katsuva, who has survived multiple rapes, the bestial murder of her husband, and has lived true to the screenplay tag line: “In a time of Hate, she dared to Love”. This script traces 15 years of Congo’s history, where more people have died anywhere on the planet since World War II. Like films such as ‘Hotel Rwanda’ or ‘Schindler’s List’, this screenplay has the potential to remind people of the universality of the Congo story, the need to not forget, while sending a sign of hope and courage to women all over the world. While I continue to work globally as a peace-builder, I am committed to seeing this story get to the big screen.” ~ Lena Slachmuijlder
- Amnesty International – Ginetta Sagan Award Winner Rebecca Masika Katsuva – Bio [pdf]
- “Audience Takeaway” [pdf]
Keywords: Amnesty International, Ginetta Sagan Award Winner, Rebecca Masika Katsuva, Democratic Republic of Congo