-
mood
I want to make films about the human condition,
what we're doing to the world and ourselves.
Ridley Scott
Nature is the miracle. There is so much we don't understand.
My films pay hommage to Nature's complexity.
James Cameron
The script has many strengths that could set it on path to incredible
success moving forward. A distinct vision for the film is evident on the page,
which makes the environment that Pris and Wade inhabit come to life in extraordinary ways. The script wonderfully allows the locations to reflect the moods and tones of the story in an unbelievable way, and the stunning visuals and cinematography will undoubtedly elevate the quality of the film on the screen. There's a lot of material to work with, from Wade's unique backstory involving his robotic limb to Pris' complicated relationship with Duke and the subsequent storyline involving M.A.C. The screenplay wonderfully weaves them all together convincingly and achieves a high level of cohesiveness that is often difficult to establish in this medium. The relationship between Duke and Wade and their unique history adds significant layers to their scenes, making their interactions some of the most riveting moments in the screenplay. Wade and Pris' connection beautifully anchors the script in authenticity. The script shows proficiency and mastery over dialogue, producing rich and distinctive voices that help
to make this a true ensemble narrative with heart.
The Black List (March '24)
ENGINE does a lot of things really well. To start with, it has a
great visual writing style. It’s specific and engaging. It feels like the script knows this world well and each word feels carefully chosen. Right from the beginning I really want to know more about this world. I’m intrigued and totally in on the mystery. In addition, the dialog is great. The script makes really good use of subtext. The action scenes are well written as well. Scene structure and pacing work together to create a strong visual and cinematic feel that make the reader “see” the scenes playing out before them. It’s so well written that I would like to see it also break new ground, thematically. But overall it’s an exciting and satisfying story
and the characters and dialog are sharp.
The Nicholl Fellowship (Top 15% '23)
ENGINE is told with a rich sense of specificity, and the writer's voice
comes across as distinctive and is unquestionably drenched in the fabric of the narrative. The most striking element of the story is how the script excels in building an immersive setting, entrenching the audience in the world's intricate details, and fostering a strong connection between the narrative and the audience. In a story like this, the mood works when the visuals deliver at a high level, which the script does in striking ways while driving home the micro and macro stakes. The writing has a knack for set pieces, as there is plenty of adrenaline coursing through the veins, which makes this more commercially accessible. M.A.C. draws out the most intrigue, as the writing takes big swings at technology, identity, corporate greed and justice on a philosophical level while putting real effort into personalizing the journey through Wade and Pris. It all adds up to a well-told story that crescendos into a ferocious third act, paying off enough emotions accumulated throughout the story. The writer's passion for the story arena is visible on every page, and a
literary manager who handles sci-fi should champion the material.
The Black List (April '24)
The writing was effective, as was the use of genre, pacing and tone. The voice and point of view felt clear, confident, and skillful, particularly with the way it described the locations, technology and landscapes; I was quite impressed by the ability to conjure up images with vivid imagery and a cinematic eye. It overall made for an immersive and entertaining read. While the strongest aspect of the script was the ways in which the setting informed its tone, style, and scope, there is a lot of intricate, complex internal mythology and world building happening.
The Nicholl Fellowship ('24)
ENGINE boasts an interesting fusion between science fiction technology and
tactile, recognizable, contemporary technology and science. Pris's pop culture interests and the general cluttered nature of the world makes this not a sterile future, but a sort of "retro-futurist" vision with its own aesthetic and personality.
Pris and Wade are very likable, approachable main characters because it never denies them their youth or inexperience. This is definitely a story about bravery more than skill, and that is a commendable message in a story that also evokes children recruited into war, and contains an ex-soldier character whose main desire is to reconnect with a daughter he is estranged from. This faces some harsh realities while also keeping a good humor that balances out the more distressing elements. This is very smart about the world, its equating of child enslavement with the A.I.'s enslavement of humanity, and smart about computers, which makes it very capable of impressing an audience. All the times they acknowledge they are working with alien technology and cannot predict precisely the outcome of their interfacing with it are great moments. This feels fully fleshed out in all its plots and ideas. It is a strong hero's story, and this offers the same rousing structure as a TRANSFORMERS film, not to mention the mechanical aesthetic that has become so equatable with blockbusters. The premise is strong, and even the biggest commercial hook -
the alien A.I. that helps our hero when made more "input-friendly,"
is smartly done and very fun.
The Black List (November '24)
The technology the story covers, some of it real, some of it sci-fi futuristic technobabble, sounds authentic. It's believable that everything the characters discuss is how the future tech works and the screenplay makes it easy to understand. The writer shows an evident talent for visuals and action. The descriptions are well-written and do an excellent job of bringing the visuals of the technology and the world to life, and the story is chock-full of stunning futuristic visuals. Wade and Pris make for good leads. They're different from each other and share unique life perspectives, which gives them chemistry and a palpable dynamic. Their connection works well, and it's believable that they would form this bond even though they've only known each other briefly. The screenplay wisely infuses the story with human emotion, mainly with the father/daughter connection
between Pris and Duke.
The Black List (December '24)
The writing on the page is sharp and the writing style is crisp and vivid.
Action scenes are punchy and dynamic. The script has a lot of conflict,
and there are intriguing themes in the material. It’s easy and quick to read.
Overall, in terms of writing craft, there’s a ton to be impressed with here.
PAGE ('24)
The characters are the strongest part of the story. We have a sense of
Wade, Pris and the others in terms of who they are and the parts they play.
We have a strong female lead, and saving the world through
self-sacrifice is powerful.
The Nicholl Fellowship ('24)
Invent intruments that don't exist.
Invent sounds that don't exist.
Don't let the machine control you.
Hans Zimmer