LO MACKETT
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY WINNER
JANUARY EDITION

Can you tell us about yourself and your project?
I am a dreamer, writer, author, podcaster, and creator. I host two podcasts; the Neon Woman podcast, and the Shine podcast, and I am the author of A Poem A Day: a collection of modern & inspirational poetry. “Feel It All” is my first script, a semi-autobiographical story about my own experiences learning to feel everything, even if it’s painful. The main character, Mia, is me – if I had never done the inner work to open my heart, and had (actually) pursued a career in publishing! I originally created the character of Mia D’Alton when I was 10 years old, almost as an alter-ego. My dream is to one day play that character, and I hope that in bringing “Feel It All” to life on screen, I will help other women give themselves permission to fully feel their feelings.

How’s your writing routine? How do you motivate yourself?
I would like to say that I have a really strict writing routine, but the honest truth is that I don’t! I like to allow myself the flexibility to let ideas come to me at the right time, instead of trying to force anything. However, when I was writing “Feel It All”, I did make myself sit down once a day and write, just so I had chipped away at the project a little bit every day. Sometimes I could only write for 10 minutes, sometimes I wrote for 3 hours! I motivate myself by always letting my mind wander – which may sound counterintuitive, but when I let my mind drift, my creativity opens up and I get a lot of my best ideas.

How did you find the feedback, was it helpful? Would you recommend Golden Draft Awards to fellow screenwriters?
I thought the feedback was extremely helpful; it was really insightful to get industry opinion on my project, and it definitely motivated me more to make my project more accessible to people. I will definitely be recommending Golden Draft Awards to other screenwriters!…

LO MACKETT
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY WINNER
JANUARY EDITION

Can you tell us about yourself and your project?
I am a dreamer, writer, author, podcaster, and creator. I host two podcasts; the Neon Woman podcast, and the Shine podcast, and I am the author of A Poem A Day: a collection of modern & inspirational poetry. “Feel It All” is my first script, a semi-autobiographical story about my own experiences learning to feel everything, even if it’s painful. The main character, Mia, is me – if I had never done the inner work to open my heart, and had (actually) pursued a career in publishing! I originally created the character of Mia D’Alton when I was 10 years old, almost as an alter-ego. My dream is to one day play that character, and I hope that in bringing “Feel It All” to life on screen, I will help other women give themselves permission to fully feel their feelings.

How’s your writing routine? How do you motivate yourself?
I would like to say that I have a really strict writing routine, but the honest truth is that I don’t! I like to allow myself the flexibility to let ideas come to me at the right time, instead of trying to force anything. However, when I was writing “Feel It All”, I did make myself sit down once a day and write, just so I had chipped away at the project a little bit every day. Sometimes I could only write for 10 minutes, sometimes I wrote for 3 hours! I motivate myself by always letting my mind wander – which may sound counterintuitive, but when I let my mind drift, my creativity opens up and I get a lot of my best ideas.

How did you find the feedback, was it helpful? Would you recommend Golden Draft Awards to fellow screenwriters?
I thought the feedback was extremely helpful; it was really insightful to get industry opinion on my project, and it definitely motivated me more to make my project more accessible to people. I will definitely be recommending Golden Draft Awards to other screenwriters!…

STACEY ALAN SPIVEY
BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY WINNER
OCTOBER EDITION

Can you please tell us about yourself?
I have worked in the medical field for thirty years in radiology. I currently live in Tucson, AZ and work a few days a week at a local hospital.

How do you motivate yourself to write?
A lot of my inspiration comes from things I’ve experienced in my own life as well as things that I’ve seen in my line of work. Being in the medical field gives me an endless supply of stories that I can build from and recreate in my writing.

How does it feel to have your work recognized?
Considering the fact this is the first screenplay that I’ve entered into competitions, the recognition is extremely satisfying and humbling. Dissension has won first place in competitions around the world and has been a finalist in over a dozen other contests. The feedback has been positive for the most part and I’ve actually enjoyed “rewriting” based on judge’s comments.

How did you come up with the idea for your winning project?
I am a veteran, as are my father and both brothers, so I’m comfortable writing about life as a soldier as well as being in the medical field while on active duty. The protagonist in the story is ex-military and is in the medical field. He was an Army nurse stationed in a war zone. After the military, he became a nurse practitioner and worked with neurosurgeons in private practice. The lead character also suffers from PTSD and addiction which I witnessed firsthand with one of my brothers and countless patients and friends who were in the military…

STACEY ALAN SPIVEY
BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY WINNER
OCTOBER EDITION

Can you please tell us about yourself?
I have worked in the medical field for thirty years in radiology. I currently live in Tucson, AZ and work a few days a week at a local hospital.

How do you motivate yourself to write?
A lot of my inspiration comes from things I’ve experienced in my own life as well as things that I’ve seen in my line of work. Being in the medical field gives me an endless supply of stories that I can build from and recreate in my writing.

How does it feel to have your work recognized?
Considering the fact this is the first screenplay that I’ve entered into competitions, the recognition is extremely satisfying and humbling. Dissension has won first place in competitions around the world and has been a finalist in over a dozen other contests. The feedback has been positive for the most part and I’ve actually enjoyed “rewriting” based on judge’s comments.

How did you come up with the idea for your winning project?
I am a veteran, as are my father and both brothers, so I’m comfortable writing about life as a soldier as well as being in the medical field while on active duty. The protagonist in the story is ex-military and is in the medical field…

LAETITIA MARIANNE CAZAUX
BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY 2ND PLACE WINNER
OCTOBER EDITION

Can you please tell us about yourself?
I’ve been passionate about filmmaking from a very early age and was spending most of my time as a child filming little scenes with my dad’s old analog camera. Originally from France, I moved to England eleven years ago and am now living on the English coast. I am always directing my own screenplays and have also written a feature film script waiting to be made.

Another passion of mine is everything that has to do with personal development, the subconscious mind and Energy healing. I set up my own therapy business & Reiki practice two years ago. I find that both the creative path and the therapy path go very well together.

How do you motivate yourself to write?
I like planning ahead a day and time where I’ll focus on writing. Going to coffee shops with my laptop motivates me a lot if I feel I need a motivation boost!

How does it feel to have your work recognized?
It’s definitely one of the best feelings in the world, whatever the degree of recognition. Ultimately, we are making films/ writing scripts for them to be shared with others. And when it resonates with them, it feels very fulfilling…

LAETITIA MARIANNE CAZAUX
BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY 2ND PLACE WINNER
OCTOBER EDITION

Can you please tell us about yourself?
I’ve been passionate about filmmaking from a very early age and was spending most of my time as a child filming little scenes with my dad’s old analog camera. Originally from France, I moved to England eleven years ago and am now living on the English coast. I am always directing my own screenplays and have also written a feature film script waiting to be made.

Another passion of mine is everything that has to do with personal development, the subconscious mind and Energy healing. I set up my own therapy business & Reiki practice two years ago. I find that both the creative path and the therapy path go very well together.

How do you motivate yourself to write?
I like planning ahead a day and time where I’ll focus on writing. Going to coffee shops with my laptop motivates me a lot if I feel I need a motivation boost!

How does it feel to have your work recognized?
It’s definitely one of the best feelings in the world, whatever the degree of recognition. Ultimately, we are making films/ writing scripts for them to be shared with others. And when it resonates with them, it feels very fulfilling…

JESSE DORIAN
BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY 2ND PLACE WINNER,
OCTOBER EDITION

Can you please tell us about yourself?
I’m 35. I’m single. I live alone. I’ve never been married, and I don’t have kids, but I do have two rescuecats (Fred & Caramels). I’m basically the sad archetype of why dating apps with an annual paid subscription fee were invented.

How do you motivate yourself to write?
I don’t. I just do it. I think we’re pretty much ALL writers to some degree, whether we think we are or not. It’s just a matter of taking what you write, and how you write it— and then doing something productive with it. I naturally have a lot of things to say, or I naturally just think of a lot of things for my characters to say. For me, writing is just a form of release, but I also wouldn’t say that I enjoy doing it. I’m really only compelled to write because I just feel that I have to. Being a “writer” in- general is a cute hobby while also being a vague annoyance. But being a “decent writer” is a curse— or I dunno, at least that’s how I feel. If I can be perfectly honest, my heart is in acting, and singing— working on either of those two things makes me genuinely happy. But it is what it is, and as of right now, writing is probably what I’m the most skilled at…

JESSE DORIAN
BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY 2ND PLACE WINNER,
OCTOBER EDITION

Can you please tell us about yourself?
I’m 35. I’m single. I live alone. I’ve never been married, and I don’t have kids, but I do have two rescuecats (Fred & Caramels). I’m basically the sad archetype of why dating apps with an annual paid subscription fee were invented.

How do you motivate yourself to write?
I don’t. I just do it. I think we’re pretty much ALL writers to some degree, whether we think we are or not. It’s just a matter of taking what you write, and how you write it— and then doing something productive with it. I naturally have a lot of things to say, or I naturally just think of a lot of things for my characters to say. For me, writing is just a form of release, but I also wouldn’t say that I enjoy doing it. I’m really only compelled to write because I just feel that I have to. Being a “writer” in- general is a cute hobby while also being a vague annoyance. But being a “decent writer” is a curse— or I dunno, at least that’s how I feel. If I can be perfectly honest, my heart is in acting, and singing— working on either of those two things makes me genuinely happy. But it is what it is, and as of right now, writing is probably what I’m the most skilled at…

DONNA RUSSO
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY 1ST PLACE WINNER,
OCTOBER EDITION

Golden Draft Awards Intervıew Response Donna Russo

Can you please tell us about yourself?
Mine is a unique, traumatic, and glorious life…but that’s for the memoir.

I began writing when I was very young, when the numbers counting the years of my life were still in the single digits. It was what I was born to do. But life and fate will have their way, and I didn’t dedicate myself to writing full-time until later in my life when I was battling Lyme disease (which has become chronic). It was as if the fates were showing me the way with a harsh finger. I followed, preserving and achieving despite all the obstacles.

Since then I have had ten books traditionally published, many translated into multiple languages, a couple of bestsellers among them.

I love stories; I love the power of them. I have been so very blessed with great critical acclaim. Much of that acclaim spoke of the imagery of my work, how—with words—I made the story come to life…like a movie. Once more, I listened…

DONNA RUSSO
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY 1ST PLACE WINNER,
OCTOBER EDITION

Golden Draft Awards Intervıew Response Donna Russo

Can you please tell us about yourself?
Mine is a unique, traumatic, and glorious life…but that’s for the memoir.

I began writing when I was very young, when the numbers counting the years of my life were still in the single digits. It was what I was born to do. But life and fate will have their way, and I didn’t dedicate myself to writing full-time until later in my life when I was battling Lyme disease (which has become chronic). It was as if the fates were showing me the way with a harsh finger. I followed, preserving and achieving despite all the obstacles.

Since then I have had ten books traditionally published, many translated into multiple languages, a couple of bestsellers among them.

I love stories; I love the power of them. I have been so very blessed with great critical acclaim. Much of that acclaim spoke of the imagery of my work, how—with words—I made the story come to life…like a movie. Once more, I listened…

JAMES H GIAMMATTEO
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY 3RD PLACE WINNER,
OCTOBER EDITION

How do you motivate yourself to write?
I don’t have to; it comes naturally.

How did you come up with the idea for your winning project?
At this point, most of the screenplays are book adaptations of my novels.

Did you find the feedback helpful? Do you recommend to screenwriters submit Golden Draft Awards?
Yes I do.

What are the best thing and most challenging things about screenwriting?
Learning the differences between writing for the screen and writing novels.

Can you please give us a few screenwriting tips?
Listen to the ones who have done it and learn from them.

How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine?
I usually write every day, but I don’t have a routine. If I don’t feel like writing one day, I don’t.

JAMES H GIAMMATTEO
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY 3RD PLACE WINNER,
OCTOBER EDITION

How do you motivate yourself to write?
I don’t have to; it comes naturally.

How did you come up with the idea for your winning project?
At this point, most of the screenplays are book adaptations of my novels.

Did you find the feedback helpful? Do you recommend to screenwriters submit Golden Draft Awards?
Yes I do.

What are the best thing and most challenging things about screenwriting?
Learning the differences between writing for the screen and writing novels.

Can you please give us a few screenwriting tips?
Listen to the ones who have done it and learn from them.

How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine?
I usually write every day, but I don’t have a routine. If I don’t feel like writing one day, I don’t.

RUTH FINNEGAN
BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY 2ND PLACE WINNER,
SEPTEMBER EDITION

How did you come up with the idea for your winning project? [Orpheus with his lyre]
I have from a child loved Greek (and other) myths, intensified by doing a first degree in classical literature. I’ve always been especially moved by the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, the most tragic tale ever, and I suppose, being a romantic, wanted to see how it could possibly ever have a happy ending ( that turn in my perspective was started, I’m sure of it, by hearing Gluck’s “Dance of the Blessed Spirits’ from his take on the tale: if the tale could have something so beautiful in it he could it be ultimately Unhappy? (here, as I also argue in some of my academic work, music surely comes first)

I think the screenplay is also a bit about the deep nature and challenge of people, as well as about the significance of the relation (and parallels) between humans and birds (I’ve been fascinated enough by this to have penned a book on the subject under my maternal grandfather‘s name, David Callender Campbell).

It is also saturated with music, very much part of my life – not a “musical”, just how else for a play about the beginning of the lyre/lute/guitar and about the then greatest musician in the world?

The title is a near quotation from Shakespeare, also a recurrent part of my experience.

Do you recommend screenwriters submit Golden Draft Awards?
Yes, absolutely – nice logo as well as terrific and really useful PRACTICAL feedback…

RUTH FINNEGAN
BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY 2ND PLACE WINNER,
SEPTEMBER EDITION

How did you come up with the idea for your winning project? [Orpheus with his lyre]
I have from a child loved Greek (and other) myths, intensified by doing a first degree in classical literature. I’ve always been especially moved by the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, the most tragic tale ever, and I suppose, being a romantic, wanted to see how it could possibly ever have a happy ending ( that turn in my perspective was started, I’m sure of it, by hearing Gluck’s “Dance of the Blessed Spirits’ from his take on the tale: if the tale could have something so beautiful in it he could it be ultimately Unhappy? (here, as I also argue in some of my academic work, music surely comes first)

I think the screenplay is also a bit about the deep nature and challenge of people, as well as about the significance of the relation (and parallels) between humans and birds (I’ve been fascinated enough by this to have penned a book on the subject under my maternal grandfather‘s name, David Callender Campbell).

It is also saturated with music, very much part of my life – not a “musical”, just how else for a play about the beginning of the lyre/lute/guitar and about the then greatest musician in the world?

The title is a near quotation from Shakespeare, also a recurrent part of my experience.

Do you recommend screenwriters submit Golden Draft Awards?
Yes, absolutely – nice logo as well as terrific and really useful PRACTICAL feedback…

MARTA JORGENSEN
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY 1ST PLACE WINNER,
SEPTEMBER EDITION

“They call me the Urban Storyteller.”

They call me the Urban Storyteller…it is rewarding to have this project recognized at this time by the Golden Draft Awards. The feedback notes were exactly what I needed. I like the idea that it’s monthly, affordable and would recommend entering it.

People ask me, how do I motivate myself to write? Motivation comes from the stories themselves that seem to want to be written, at all hours. The idea for Homeworld dates to previous Sci-Fi projects I wrote involving the alien race written about in this new TV series. Screenwriting allows me to bring forth visions of other societies and explore possible realities, historical or invented.

To future writers, I recommend getting an actual education in writing. Nothing beats learning from pros. I have Associate of Arts Degrees in Theater Arts and Liberal arts I also has a certificate in Film and Television Writing from UCLA.

It’s a job that is actually fun. Screenwriting led to playwriting, songwriting, and other projects and the effort was worth it.

MARTA JORGENSEN
BEST TV PILOT SCREENPLAY 1ST PLACE WINNER,
SEPTEMBER EDITION

“They call me the Urban Storyteller.”

They call me the Urban Storyteller…it is rewarding to have this project recognized at this time by the Golden Draft Awards. The feedback notes were exactly what I needed. I like the idea that it’s monthly, affordable and would recommend entering it.

People ask me, how do I motivate myself to write? Motivation comes from the stories themselves that seem to want to be written, at all hours. The idea for Homeworld dates to previous Sci-Fi projects I wrote involving the alien race written about in this new TV series. Screenwriting allows me to bring forth visions of other societies and explore possible realities, historical or invented.

To future writers, I recommend getting an actual education in writing. Nothing beats learning from pros. I have Associate of Arts Degrees in Theater Arts and Liberal arts I also has a certificate in Film and Television Writing from UCLA.

It’s a job that is actually fun. Screenwriting led to playwriting, songwriting, and other projects and the effort was worth it.