Semifinalists at Vail!

Our screenplay was submitted to the Vail Film Festival a few months back and I recently learned it placed as a semifinalist! You can see for yourself here: Vail Film Festival

Screenplay Contests!

Just submitted Prescription Happiness to another screenplay competition. We are now in the running for the Vail Film Festival, BlueCat Screenplay Competition, DeadCENTER Film Festival, WILDsound Film and Screenplay Festival. The first notifications are due in a couple weeks.

Party time!

You're invited to to the Prescription Happiness (PH) Winter Fundraiser to support local Filmmaker Ryan Strandjord. Ryan has been making independent films for the past 5 years and PH is the little gem that will start as a short film and work it's way into a full length feature.

Prescription Happiness is a fantasy/sci-fi short film about a young pregnant woman struggling to hold onto free emotions while living in a society controll...ed through prescription drugs.

The evening will be a night of mood altering entertainment and dialogue eased by adult beverages and hearty apps. There will be a live reading of the screenplay as well as a chance to discuss the film with the writer/ director Mr. Strandjord.

As we all know, a little $ goes a long way in the art world. We are asking for a suggested donation for the evenings drinks (beer/ wine/ PH cocktail/ jello shots). If you come with bags of money (Santa) we are more than happy to take it as a donation. But all are welcome and any size donation is greatly appreciated.

Our goal is to share our excitement with you and keep this film moving forward!

We look forward to seeing you January 15th. If you have any questions please email the nights hostess Alysse Johnson-Strandjord (alysse.mjs@gmail.com) or Ryan (ryanstrandjord@gmail.com).

If you can't make it and want to donate, please go to:

http://www.indiegogo.com/PrescriptionHappiness

Feedback from the BlueCat Screenplay Competition:

"This script is an entertaining piece full of mystery and discomfort. Every scene holds as much interest as the next. The best part is the lack of dialogue! This script would not be the same if words were added. In fact, dialogue would not work for this piece. Instead, your descriptions provide all the necessary information we need."

"Your descriptions of the characters’ lack of emotion are captivating and it feels like watching a train wreck – you cannot look away! We are so curious as to why they are acting as they do."

"The world building done in the first scene sets the perfect tone for this peace. The seemingly pleasant scene takes a turn for the worst almost immediately in a completely effective way. The mother calmly subduing her child with the yellow pills gives the audience a clear sense of the story."

"The scenes were deathly quiet, which gave off a delightfully eerie tone for the entirety of the script. While we never hear Angela utter a word, her character is fully developed and intriguing from the start. She comes off as a bright, shining force in a horrible world. The tension builds with her in every scene in an effective and scary way. At any moment she could be found out, or worse, she could give up and join the dull peace that the world shares."

Testimonial #3 - Matthew Feeney

I am writing this short note to introduce you to Mr. Ryan Strandjord, a talented young filmmaker I’ve had the great pleasure of working with on several film projects. It takes more than a simple script and money to make a good film – it takes a director with a special artistic eye, great project management, outstanding people skills and a dedication to a creative vision. Ryan has proven to have these traits time and time again. From his founding of MINNEWOOD to his work on several SBD productions, Ryan’s commitment to the creative endeavor is amazing. A few months back I watched the short promo trailer he created for “Prescription Happiness” and was blown away by the very unique and stylized picture he painted (and the wonderfully unique soundtrack). As a casting director, I agree with the old saying that the most important part of making a movie is good casting, and although I wasn’t involved in the casting of this trailer, while watching the trailer I was nodding my head and affirming Ryan’s choices in casting some of the finest local actors. Because of my confidence in Ryan and this specific script, I have expressed my interest in having Walden Entertainment help cast the next phase of the film.

Matthew Feeney - Walden Entertainment

BlueCat

Yesterday I submitted the screenplay to the BlueCat screenwriting competition. The cost is a little steep ($60), but every script submitted receives feedback from two sources, and the top six winners receive a MacBook pro and Final Draft, or the cash equivalent.

I'll receive the feedback on January 5th and the winners are announced in April. Lets hope the feedback is good because then we'll know that we still have a chance!

Help Us Make The Movie...

by checking out our online fundraising page at: www.indiegogo.com/prescriptionhappiness