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Big Break Semifinalists

The Big Break semifinalists have been selected! These diverse screenplays were among the many well-crafted entries sent in from all over the globe. Kudos to these writers for making the cut! The top ten finalists will be posted in September, and an industry jury will select a winner. The top 3 winners will be announced on October 23, 2008.

2008 SEMIFINALISTS (listed in alphabetical order)
David Ball, Cumberland, ME  CHUCK HODGES
Jennifer Barclay, San Diego, CA  THE FONTAINES
VJ Boyd, Los Angeles, CA  CRYPTO BABY
Paul Gulino, Santa Monica, CA  THE LOST BRIGADE
Mark Hammer, Orange, CA  SONNY TAKES TO PERU
J.P. Hills, Cochrane, Canada  BADLAND
David Van Hooser, Nashville, TN  BAREFOOT MEL
Geraint Horwood, London, UK  THE SONS OF AVALON
John Killeen, Dover UK  IN GOD’S NAME
Ehud Lavski, Herzelia, Israel  THE THINGS I SAW BEFORE I WENT BLIND
Linda Marr, Redondo Beach, CA  INVOLUNTARY MAN
Michael Morra, Annandale, NJ  SHADES OF GREY
Kevin Naughton, Laguna Beach, CA  THE GREAT CHRISTMAS TRAIN ROBBERY
Terry O'Brien, Mount Albert, Canada  FLESH AND BLOOD
Austen Rachlis, New York, NY  WHEN THE SHOOTING STOPS
David Stieve, Hermosa Beach, CA  THE GUNSHOT’S ECHO
Jordan Thomas, Lynnwood, WA  ARCTIC AIR   
Coert Voorhees, Houston, TX  AIR AND SPACE
Terence Winkless & Raly Radouloff,  Encino, CA  THE APPRENTICE

Our heartfelt thanks go to all the entrants who made the 2008 Big Break Contest a success. We applaud you for your artistic endeavors and are honored to bring recognition to promising screenwriters across the globe.

Liz Alani
Contest Director

“Before Big Break I was doing the film industry equivalent of washing dishes. Now I’m getting paid to write and loving every second of it.”

Rylend Grant, 2004 Big Break Winner

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!

Hard-Copy Entries
We strongly prefer digital scripts. However, if you are not able to complete the online entry form, download our hard-copy entry form by clicking on the icon below:

Big Break Contest hard-copy entry form   (PDF format)
follow the instructions on the form

About the Contest
Big Break is an annual, global screenwriting contest designed to support emerging creative talent. Big Break rewards screenwriters with cash, prizes and A-list executive meetings. Winners and finalists alike have had their screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation as well as lucrative writing deals.

Since its inception in 2000, Big Break has awarded screenwriters with over $100,000 in cash and prizes and invaluable industry exposure. A panel of notable industry professionals conducts the final judging.

Contest Objectives
Our objective is to pave the way for the next generation of film artists. We strive to create inroads into an increasingly impenetrable industry, and empower creativity.

Contest Notables
Visit our Success Stories, our 2006 Winners and Finalists, and this year's prizes!

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