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Big Break Hall of Fame

2007 Big Break winner Robert Frisbee’s Cityfall made quite an impression on industry judges as well as industry execs who wanted to meet with Rob.  Rob says, “A writer anywhere in the world can submit his or her script and know that it will be seen by people will not only read it, but who care greatly about cultivating undiscovered talent. In the weeks since winning the contest, doors are indeed opening.”

Rob was snapped up by Benderspink management and several agents are interested in signing him.

2005 Big Break winner Julia Van Develder’s The Escape Artist is in pre-production. The Escape Artist was optioned by a U.K. production company for award-winning director/writer/producer Helen Grace to direct. Julia says, “There's just no way to overstate how much easier Final Draft makes the writing process. 'Just add words' is so apt. And the contest? I call Liz Alani (the contest director) my fairy godmother. Thank you, Final Draft!"

2004 Big Break winner, Rylend Grant, quickly signed with CAA. Rylend says, "They've created quite a fan base for me. We have a lot of people, mostly directors, flirting with my winning screenplay DRIVE right now, and I'm meeting with a slew of major production companies. More than anything though, DRIVE has become a calling card. It's created other opportunities. The Big Break contest gave me a seal of approval, a big shiny medal hanging off of that calling card and because of that I just signed a six figure deal to write for an A-list actress and an Oscar winning director. I am now writing a remake of a Chabrol film called L'ENFER for Luc Besson and Penelope Cruz. I'm having the time of my life. It's hard to believe I'm getting paid to do this." We are thrilled for Rylend!

Rylend Grant was quickly signed by CAA and secured a six-figure deal to write for an A-list actress and an Oscar™-winning director!

2002 Big Break winner Shawn Corridan says, "Final Draft's software and Big Break Screenwriting Contest opened doors that countless query letters, screenwriting how-to books and a thousand thankless hours of writing could not. As a result of using Final Draft software and ultimately winning the contest, I was offered, literally overnight, representation by numerous agents and entertainment managers and was taking meetings with directors and TV and film producers." Shawn quickly signed with MBST Management. As seen October 2003 in The Hollywood Reporter, Fox 2000 has picked up Shawn Corridan's winning screenplay "8 Track" with directing team the Malloy brothers on board to helm and Gil Netter to produce. The project is being envisioned as a gritty coming-of-age surf story, which draws on Corridan's life and surfing experiences. "8 Track" represents Shawn's first feature sale.

Fox 2000 has picked up 2002 Big Break winner Shawn Corridan's screenplay "8 Track," with directing team the Malloy brothers on board to helm and Gil Netter to produce.

2001 Big Break Finalist Brendan Foley, whose screenplay THE RIDDLE was a top ten prize-winner,  wrapped production on his first feature film in Ireland in 2005, the $4.5 million action thriller JOHNNY WAS. Brendan says, “The 2001 Big Break contest was really the first significant event putting me on track to make it as a screenwriter, so thanks to all at Final Draft for starting the ball rolling."

Brendan Foley premiered THE RIDDLE, his produced 2001 Big Break finalist script, at the Austin Film Festival in October 2007. THE RIDDLE is a $5 million indie and was Brendan’s first feature as a director. It stars Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), Vanessa Redgrave and Julie Cox. In September 2007 it made headlines in the trades by becoming the first film ever to premiere in conjunction with a national newspaper, The Mail on Sunday, the UK's top selling Sunday paper. The paper bought UK DVD rights and distributed 2.6 million copies, making the film one of the most-watched indie launches of all time.

2001 Big Break Finalist TJ Lynch recently wrapped production on his Big Break top-ten screenplay. Retitled A Plumm Summer, the film’s cast includes Henry Winkler, William Baldwin, and Peter Scolari.  TJ says, "I'm a big believer in scriptwriting contests.  For the unknown writer, winning or placing in the major competitions such as Final Draft's Big Break is the fastest way to put oneself on the map.  Perhaps even more importantly, they are an efficient and impartial gauge with which to measure one's own writing with one's peers. Placing 7th out of 2600+ entries gave me the booster shot of confidence I needed.  Now that the script has been shot and is in the can, I'm on top of the world!”

2000 Big Break winner Ken Hastings' “Dawg” has been produced and shot by Gold Circle Films.

Ken Hastings' “Dawg” is currently out on DVD, produced by Gold Circle Films and starring Elizabeth Hurley and Denis Leary.

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