You never know what can happen if you commit to a passion and you walk through/endure all the highs and lows that it entails. Belief and hope are powerful tools to keep you on a narrow path that often feels lonely and filled with doubt. It’s important along the way to have encouraging people around 
you. Today I’m encouraged.
The Great Surrender – a screenplay I wrote during the summer/fall of 2015, has just placed as a finalist in the Chronos Prize in Screenwriting. The winner of this prize will be invited out to Los Angeles to attend the Movieguide Awards on Feb 5.
Here’s a list of the finalists. You can also visit the Chronos website here.
Glenn Brown for SOLD FOR ASHES
GD Brulato for CAT 5
James Bruner and Elizabeth Stevens for TRIAL BY FIRE
Romeo Ciolfi for THE GREAT SURRENDER
Katherine Craddock for AMERICAN EXODUS
James M. De Vince for WOMEN OF THE FAITH
David Nicholas Hartmann for A SQUIRREL’S DREAM
Heather Hughes and Kate Wharton for DEAD SET
Katherine Koonce for THE GOOD STEWARD
Connie O’Donahue for HEARTLAND: AN AMERICAN PARABLE
James Rogers for FROM THE DARKNESS
Mark Stouffer for EVERYDAY HERO
So now I play that familiar game called “the waiting game”. One winner will be contacted before February 5. The Chronos Prize in Screenwriting is a cash award given to the best script that best exemplifies a story that is spiritually based, uplifting, inspiring and ultimately redemptive.
I was in this same position last year when my screenplay Who is Molly Steele? was a finalist in the Chronos Prize. Although Molly did not go onto win, I re-wrote the script and made it a significantly better story (writing is re-writing). Soon I will have more news regarding Molly Steele as I feel her journey is just beginning.
Play Ball was a finalist and eventual winner of the Kairos Prize back in February of 2013. It took a full 18 months (a year and a half) of dogged determination to find a producer/company who was interested in optioning Play Ball. I believe that the right people…the right moments…come at just the right times in your life. I was so close to giving up on Play Ball. Would it ever find the right home? Then one day I found a producer in Pat Patterson who jumped at the chance of optioning the script. Play Ball will no doubt experience more growing pains but I eagerly look forward to all the highs and lows of what’s ahead.
And so…3 weeks into 2016…and I wait…I’m nervous, optimistic and excited to hear what will happen to The Great Surrender. I wait with patience and great anticipation on Who is Molly Steele? and how that story will continue to unfold. And I can’t wait to hear about all the details of how Play Ball (now called The Last Pitch) marches toward production. Oh, and I left out my recent Fringe play OverTime which enters a vigorous and necessary rewrite. Now, if I can only focus on the OverTime rewrite…while I wait…
Hey Romeo, congratulations once again on making top 10 for Chronos! What a faith-filled and industrious servant you are to the Lord in doing his will in this thrilling, yet terrifying, work that bears one’s soul to the world! I shall take a lesson from you & work harder. Keeping my fingers crossed for you! Take care and God bless you…
Hey Romeo – just reading over the list of all the projects you have had going this past year is amazing! Your work ethic, determination, and positive attitude are so inspiring. You have evaluated your work on “The Great Surrender” very highly. Whatever happens now with respect to it – win or not- it is definitely an upward step in “the best is yet to come” for you.
Way to go, Romeo!
God has given you the gift and continually use it for His Glory. Blessings as always!
Yay Rome!! It all sounds really exciting! Congrats on placing so well so many years in a row. Keep doing what you love; keep sharing your talents and passion with the world. Around the corner is the next adventure and I’m pretty confident you’ll be marching on ahead, declaring “I have not been burned.”
Congratulations Again! Romeo. How wonderful and as you say it is a heart wrenching journey. I join your all your friends and family with prayers for continuing success. Thank you too for keeping me in the loop.
Over the River played at the Aylmer, ON theatre before Christmas, and of course, my thoughts with big smiles came back to me of our time on that wonderful show.
All the very best for 2016, everything is indeed in God’s hands.
Linda Mae
Congratulations, Romeo!!! Pretty impressive to place 3 out of 4 years. God’s blessings. Praying you win!
Congratulations Romeo. Even to be in the top 10 is a success. Praying for you to win (His will be done)
Dale & Clay
Well Romeo, you have gone though the fire and have been standing at the end. God has given you a talent and you are using it. He will reward you as He sees fit. Never under-estimate what God has planned for you. He is preparing you for wonderful experiences that are coming your way. I am so happy for you. Keep writing and honing your skills.