I'm a Midwesterner and a full-time mom who studied creative writing at the University of Illinois, and have been married for 19 years to Rich Skibski, a Project Manager. My home is Algonquin, IL outside Chicago. Each day I wake four children at 6:30 AM. Make lunches for the kids’ school day. Get breakfast into the little ones and send them to the bus stop. Next on the list, writing my winning screenplay, Mine. 

I have been writing screenplays for three years. I simply love working within the set screenwriting framework to create something that’s unique. It showcases the ultimate in writing skills.

ASA has a great reputation on the writing circuit. The prizes are outstanding, and the competition is geared toward making the writer a professional. ASA’s prizes aren’t just about forking over money. If you win their competition, take full advantage of the prizes, and still can’t have some success, you’ve missed something somewhere.

There’s an old saying in the writing world – “writer’s write.” I live that credo everyday, working early in the mornings, late at nights, and whenever I can to complete my projects. Okay, now it’s off to drive the boys on their paper route.

In my life before screenwriting, I was a software engineer at Apple Computer. Since I had majored in English, they must’ve hired me by accident, but the money was good so I stayed on. Eventually, like any decent English major, I came to my senses, quit my job and switched to a career with no guaranteed income or opportunity for advancement. 

I co-wrote a science fiction novel with my husband, but somehow a story about an incurable ice age didn’t manage to sell in this era of global warming. My agent suggested I turn it into a screenplay without mentioning there was another ice age film almost done. My second effort resulted in Lying on the Floor Dead, which I drew from my experiences working in high tech. The engineers I knew were smart, cynical, egotistical, childlike, and brutally honest. making them ripe for satire. But underneath it all, they have a passion for greatness, an incredible drive to create something new and unique that writers can relate to. Having found something to admire, I began plotted how to tear it to shreds. 

Thank you, American Screenwriters Association, for selecting Lying on the Floor Dead as the second place winner in your 9th annual contest, and for all your efforts to promote the finalists. Your recognition has boosted my motivation by several orders of magnitude. 

Info coming soon on David Kline and his screenwriting endeavors.

The inspiration to write this script first came during one of many hazy and indistinguishable late night trips to my town’s local casino.  I’m sure anyone who’s been to Vegas has experienced a moment of vertigo on the gambling floors. Air quality of an LA freeway.  No door in sight.  Not a clock on the wall.  You have no idea if it’s night or day and you’re going through the last of your ATM withdrawal like you’re giving it away. This casino was a reservation casino and it sold itself as ‘injun’.  It was adorned with murals and totem poles such as you might find in a Wild Bill tent, a mish mash of various tribe motifs that lacked authenticity. 

Placing in this competition has been a great honor and encouragement. I currently live in Venice, CA working as a writer/director’s assistant.  I recently finished my second script and am enthusiastic about going out with it.  The opportunities this competition has made available are very real, and I thank ASA for running a truly outstanding organization dedicated to helping screenwriters get their work out there.

Info coming soon on Greg Hittelman and his screenwriting endeavors.

Flipping through magazines in my dentist’s waiting room, I came across an article on solar voltaic energy.  Until recently all energy was produced with nineteenth century technology by turning a wheel (water wheels, steam engines, hydroelectric turbines, nuclear plants to produce heat, to boil water to make steam to turn a wheel, old stuff.) But solar power was revolutionary -- electricity directly from the sun (photons into electrons). 

And I wondered – what if?  What if  someone developed a solar cell with sufficient power to make oil, coal and natural gas obsolete?  Cheap, clean energy for the world! But suppose some kid did it, perhaps an African American genius kid in South Central Los Angeles.  Would anyone pay attention?  And if they did, what would happen to the kid?  And that became the story of REACH FOR THE SUN. 

I get a lot of ideas for my stage plays from the morning newspapers (especially the Wall Street Journal). For me, stories come from real events caused by real people who are sometimes desperate, sometimes visionary, always passionate.

After completing a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts / Media Arts majoring in Film Studies and Photography, I was feeling uninspired about what area of the film industry I wanted to delve into. I had always written for myself, but had never considered it as a serious career option. Since it was the only thing that I was truly passionate about, I thought I should give it a go, so I took myself to New York fo an 8 week Screenwriting Course at the New York Film Academy. 

As I embarked on my first screenplay, I thought I had a good solid idea, but what I soon learned was that all I had was a
good solid first act. I was overwhelmed and felt it impossible that I would ever complete a feature length script. Finally, after many drafts and more time than I’d like to think about “Isobel” came to life. 

I am so grateful to the ASA for this amazing opportunity. I know that it is rare for a young, first time screenwriter to get such a break and I am excited to gain everything I possibly can from it. This whole process has been an incredible learning experience for me and I looking forward to putting all knowledge into my future work.