Three Finalists Named For Australian Genre Screenplay Competition Judged By ‘Collateral’ Writer

Tom Grater

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Three finalists have been selected for a screenplay competition run by fledgling Sydney and LA-based production outfit Truant Pictures. The trio will be read and noted by Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Collateral), Zak Hilditch (Rattlesnake) or Yolanda Ramke (Cargo).

Launched in 2018, Truant is a subsidiary of creative studio Animal Logic. It is overseen by Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian with VPs of Development and Production Toby Nalbandian and Greg Schmidt.

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The selected writers all have scripts from the horror, sci-fi or thriller genres. The winner, who will be announced on November 25, will receive a $3,400 (AUD 5,000) cash prize, a hot desk for one week at Truant Pictures’ office in Sydney, and mentorship from Nalbandian and Schmidt.

The finalists are:

David Willing and Beth King – The Surrogate
When single mother Natalia gives birth despite not being pregnant, she discovers the ghost of a missing child is hell-bent on destroying her family.

Jonathon Green and Anthony O’Connor – Emma After
A ghost girl falls in love with the living boy she’s meant to haunt away.

D.J. McPherson (VIC) – His Name Is Jeremiah
A damaged teen girl from a remote Australian town struggles to adjust when her violent mother is released from jail. Feeling lost and alone, she develops a dangerous obsession with a missing boy.

“It’s an exciting time to be working in the genre space, there’s just such a hunger out there for bold new mythologies and world-building — both from an audience perspective and from a development standpoint,” said Yolanda Ramke. “What’s especially encouraging is that we’re seeing more and more Australian stories in the horror, thriller and sci-fi arena breaking through, both at home and in the global market.”

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