2-Time Winner Alan Tregoning wins with "A Clip in Time"
Congratulations to the 2nd Annual Write of Passage Screenwriting Competition winner Alan Tregoning for "A Clip in Time." Alan's urban fantasy is about a man who retraces his steps to learn how a paper clip has derailed his life.
He will receive $1,000 cash and introductions to key Hollywood players (producer Ralph Winter, "X-MEN Origins: Wolverine") and expert critique from writer/producers Luke Schelhaas ("Law and Order," "Smallville") and Brian Bird ("Not Easily Broken").
You might recognize Alan's name because he won the 1st annual Write of Passage contest last year. This year, Alan bested over 130 entries with his script "A Clip in Time." Alan's urban fantasy is about a man who retraces his steps to learn how a paper clip has derailed his life.
All Write of Passage entries were based on Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (NIV).
Click here to read Alan's and the other ten finalists' work (all scripts are 12-pages).
Alan Tregoning is a speed filmmaking veteran, having entered several films in the 168, 48 and 24-hour film competitions.
“Adoptation,” his 2010 entry in the 168 Film Project was nominated for three awards including Best Comedy and Best Comedy Screenplay. It's the story of a couple who adopts a 40-year-old man as their son.
His short film “Sanctuary” won four awards at the 2010 Dallas 48-Hour Film Festival including Best Film and may screen at Cannes 2011.
Alan co-wrote season Two of “iShine Knect,” a tween sitcom seen weekly on TBN, JCTV and the Smile of a Child network. As a part of the Prestonwood Baptist Church creative arts team, he helps write and produce a weekly video element for first through sixth grade children.
Alan lives in Dallas, TX with his wife and son and has a daughter on the way.
Alan talked about his Write of Passage Experience:
Thank you! (Winning) is an honor knowing the level of talent the 168 Project and Write of Passage attracts.
The inspiration for “A Clip in Time” came from an incident back when I was in high school. I guy in my youth group shared a story about how he needed a paperclip, but was all out. That evening at work he noticed a stray paperclip and took it.
Later that night he was reading a devotional that made the point that “even if you steal something as small as a paperclip” you are still guilty of stealing.
Feeling convicted, the next day he returned the paperclip to his work. One of the other guys in the youth group made fun of him and told him that he was silly as the paperclip was just trash no one cared about.
His response “What could I do? I was convicted!” I always thought that it was a great testimony as to how sins we see as small and insignificant are actually a big deal to God.
I really liked the verse for this year because there was a natural story arc built right in; a man who conceals his sin and does not prosper, he then repents and confesses his sin and prospers. It also left the story possibilities wide open as there was no specific sin defined in the context of the verse. Pick a sin, any sin.
When I was coming up with story ideas to pitch to my RCP one idea I had was about how small compromises can actually have great repercussions. I took the stolen paperclip idea from my buddy in high school and expanded the idea to include what would happen if the Holy Spirit did convict you of something as insignificant as stealing a paperclip and you ignored it. How bad could things possibly get for you.
Writing the story in reverse chronological order proved to be a challenge. I knew how I wanted the story to open and close so I started writing from each end until I eventually met in the middle. I tracked down a transcript of the Seinfeld episode “The Betrayal” that was also written in reverse chronological order and studied it to figure out how they did their set ups and pay offs.
Jason Flynn, my RCP, was a great help in getting the script developed. I originally pitched him seven ideas and he helped me zero in on the paperclip story. I then wrote up a three page treatment and sent it in for some feedback.
Once I got the notes back I went to script. Jason gave me some great development notes over the three drafts I did of the script and really helped polish it before the deadline.
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Runner up 1: J.J. Bailey's "Predatory" is a courtroom drama indicting sub-prime loan sharks.
Regarding Write of Passage, J.J. said, "It was an absolutely invaluable experience to work with an honest to goodness producer. It was like having my very own script coach for a week! How great is that?!"
"I have learned a tremendous amount because of this entire process. The competition stretched me as a writer in ways that I had not really been challenged before," he said.
J.J. Bailey is a twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter from San Diego. J.J. looks forward to including his faith in the trenches in Hollywood.
Runner up 2: Torry Martin and Marshal Younger's "Covering Your Tracts" is about a para-church manager embarrassed by his own carelessness.
Torry said, "We had an absolutely wonderful (Write of Passage) experience. We were partnered with the amazing Doug Goodrich as our RCP (or mentor). His insightful and thought-provoking notes motivated us to push deeper and write better."
Torry Martin writes for "Adventures in Odyssey" and is an award-winning actor, screenwriter, comedian and author. He is a two-time Gospel Music Association Grand Prize Winner for acting and writing, who currently resides in Sparta, Tennessee.
Marshal Younger is a writer/director and producer on the popular audio drama "Adventures in Odyssey." He also penned "A Greater Yes" and many stage plays and sketches, as well as the children's book series, "Kidsboro." He currently lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and four children.
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