The top 3 winners for the Kaiors Prizes in Screenwriting are as follows:
First Place: Blue Water Metal by Justin Eade, New Zealand Second Place: A Gentle Whisper by Katherine T. Koonce, Coral Springs, FL Third Place: Under the Apple Tree by Matthew Hill & Landon Johnson, Upland, CA
As you can see from the names above, my name was not included amongst the winners. The month of February was a fun ride. To make the top 45, then the top 12 of Kaiors, I was very pleased and excited and hoping I would crack the top 3. The first week after the results were made public, I felt disappointment. When you get this close to the winner’s circle and it doesn’t happen, a let down is inevitable. But as many have reminded me, just making the top 12 out of hundreds of entries is an accomplishment in itself. My plan is to begin a new screenplay sooner then later and polish it throughout the year so I can enter it into the Kairos competition next year.
I’ve been focusing my energies on reworking my play Blue. I just finished a re-write and trimmed an astounding 13 pages of dialogue. The play now feels like a leaner, meaner story with the characters’ traits and motivations more powerfully realized. I’ve sent Blue off to the Bloomington Playwrights Project where the Woodward/Newman Drama Award is given out to the best new unpublished play. This is just the first of many places I plan to send out this new draft of Blue.
For the past month, I have been deep into rehearsals for my new play Listen to Grace which will be performed on April 16, 17. Listen to Grace consists of a cast of 12 and tells the story of a family coming to grips with the heroic death of the eldest son who has been estranged from his family for many years. A poster and further info on the play will be coming soon.
So, I keep on keeping on. I continue to write, create, because that’s what I do. I came across this quote from an anonymous screenwriter. It sums up best a writer’s life:
“Writing is not a hobby. If your intent is that “Oh, well, I’ll try it for a bit and see what happens”…if that’s your attitude, don’t even try. You have to say, “This is what I am going to do with my life; I am going to be a writer.” It’s a very difficult way to earn a living, but you do it because that’s all you want to do, that’s all you can do….Often one hates to write, but it’s great having written.”
Congratulations Romeo, You are a success…no matter if you get the recognition or not. It takes a lot for someone to believe in themselves enough that they are willing to put their effort into their dream, passionately. Ultimately, that is true success. If you live your life making tons of money but have live with regret because you never followed a dream, was it really worth it? Thanks for putting passion into your work Romeo! We all appreciate it and applaud you for it.
Congratulations Romeo on making it to the top twelve. That is fabulous! You are honing your writing skills and I am sure that you will go over the top when the time is right. In the meantime, keep working on your ideas and continue to be inspired. God has given you a talent and you are willing to use it albeit writing is not easy. Remember, inch by inch i is a cinch. I am confident that you will be recognized down the road for your talent. Remember, we are rooting for you.
I was impressed with BLUE before, can’t wait to hopefully see this “lean, mean” version! Keep up the good work, Mr. Ciolfi!
Rome, I feel for you. Hard to almost break the top three and then not. Though, I also realize and remind you that top 12 is AMAZING!!! I want to know where you’re going to shop the script that acheived that?
Because your work needs to be SEEN and HEARD!
Aw shucks Rome….I was so hoping you’d make it to the top 3 but as others have said, you did make it to the top 12, that in itself is an acheivement to be proud of! I hope you keep us posted on what happens with “Blue” – I’m sure it will do well.
Keep pressing forward with your writing….it is who you are! And remember what our parents used to say….”Ah, speranza”.