Writing for Stage and Screen Festival

The MPW Writing for Stage and Screen Festival showcases outstanding work by MPW students by presenting staged readings of three short scripts—the winners of the annual MPW Writing for Stage and Screen Competition, which is judged by a distinguished panel and which offers cash prizes. Since the readings are a crucial part of the script development process, they are executed by professional directors and actors from the theatre and film/TV industries each Spring. Guided by dramaturgs, the three winning writers collaborate and rewrite, preparing to see their short play, screenplay, or teleplay come alive in front of an audience.

History

2011

First Prize: Jay Guevarra (This Life); Runners-Up: Lynn Maleh (Shapshot Paris), Ben Pack (Danny and Naomi)

Competition Judges: John Cho, Robin Swicord, Erin Cressida Wilson

Festival Directors: Tim Kirkman, Larissa Kokernot, Kirsten Sanderson

Festival Dramaturgs: Mickey Birnbaum, Annette Lee, Gail Lerner

Festival Location: Electric Lodge, Venice, CA

2010

First Prize: Marlene Leach (Bananafish); Runners-Up: Kevin Avery (Valet Only), Tom Rastrelli (Untouched Earth)

Competition Judges: Mary Lou Belli, Marcus Gardley, James Urbaniak

Festival Directors: Coleman Hough, Larissa Kokernot, Julie Hébert

Festival Dramaturgs: Prince Gomolvilas, Tim Kirkman, Elizabeth Passarelli

Festival Location: Mark Taper Hall of Humanities, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA