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Big Break Hall of Fame

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!

2003 Big Break winner D.J. Richardson's "Do Not Remove" is currently being considered by several producers.

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 in the 2001 Final Draft Big Break contest, has just wrapped production on his first feature film in Ireland, a $4.5 million thriller titled Johhny Was. Brendan says, “The 2001 Big Break contest was really the first significant event putting me on track to make it as a screenwriter. I think people starting out should think from one specific goal to the next rather than waiting on one huge deal to fall from the sky. Winning or placing in significant contests like the Big Break gets you in the door at some of the agencies and production companies. It may take time to parlay that into representation, then a lot more work to get a modest option, then more time to get from there to script sales, and more time still to get from there to a produced film."

Brendan Foley just wrapped production on his second feature film, THE RIDDLE, his 2001 Big Break finalist script. 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. Brendan says, “Thanks to all at Final Draft for starting the ball rolling!”

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!”

2001 Big Break winner Torye Mullins' “Breathing Underwater” garnered industry attention and was optioned.

Torye Mullins' "Breathing Underwater" has been optioned by Trevor Macy, producer of "Auto Focus", with Fina Torres attached to direct.

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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