MPower Pictures Makes Deal on 2012 Competition Winner Megalopolis

In the first deal since announcing the winners of the 2012 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition just one month ago, 1st place winner in the Science-Fiction/ Fantasy category, Moutaz Jad has struck a deal with established Hollywood production company MPower Pictures, to attach the company as producers to his winning script Megalopolis. MPower Pictures has produced several movies including Snowmen, American Carol, and the Golden Globe Nominated Machine Gun Preacher directed by Marc Forster and starring Gerard Butler.

2011 Fresh Voices Grand Prize Winner Jack Messitt is now collaborating with A-List Screenwriter Jeremy Garelick.

Since winning last year's Grand Prize, Fresh Voices circulated Jack's winning screenplay Adventures in Babymaking to leading production companies and ultimately caught the eye of A-List Screenwriter Jeremy Garelick (The Break-Up, The Hangover). Since their first meeting, the two are collaborating on a project with an eye towards Jeremy directing. Jeremy was most recently hired by New Line to write the reboot of the Police Academy franchise.

SIGNED!! 2010 Fresh Voices Finalist Bill Balas has signed with top management company Principato Young.

Since being a finalist in the 2010 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition, Bill quit his day job selling insurance and is now a staff writer for the upcoming A&E TV series The Bates Motel starring Vera Farmiga. With the help of Fresh Voices, Bill optioned his winning screenplay Already Gone and attached Shawn Ashmore (X:Men 1,2,3) and Harry Shum Jr. (Glee) to star in the project. See the trailer here!

Upcoming A&E series hires Fresh Voices Finalist Bill Balas as staff writer.

The Bates Motel is a new series created by Kerry Ehrin (Parenthood, Friday Night Lights, Boston Public) and Carlton Cuse (Lost, Nash Bridges). The Bates Motel is based on Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and is a further exploration of Norman Bates dark and twisted relationship with his morther. The series stars Vera Farmiga (The Departed, Up in the Air), Max Theriot and Freddie Highmore. The show is under a 10 episode order from Universal Television and will air on A&E in 2013.

Fresh Voices Winning Script In Production

Already Gone Poster 1 Shawn Ashmore (Iceman from the X:Men movies) and Harry Shum Jr. (Glee) star in Already Gone by Bill Balas.

As a direct result of placing in the action category of the 2010 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition, producers Peter Katz and Don Le optioned the script for up and coming filmmaker Ross Ching to direct. Joel Mendoza of Fresh Voices and Attraction Entertainment is Executive Producer.

Adventures in Babymaking wins Grand Prize Award at the Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition

jack messitt LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2012- Jack Messitt claimed top honors in the 2011 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition with his drama ADVENTURES IN BABYMAKING. Messitt, a longtime cinematographer turned writer/director, was named the grand prize winner on Wednesday by competition chairman Joel Mendoza.

“Adventures in Babymaking touched me on so many levels” said Mendoza. “I laughed, I cried. It’s a story full of humor and heart and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters on their journey towards parenthood. It is that gem we were looking for. Jack’s unique voice resonates through every page.”

Chosen from close to 1000 scripts read and evaluated over the past 10 months, ADVENTURES IN BABYMAKING is the story of a reluctant father and his persistent wife as they navigate the frustrating and often ridiculous world of trying to have a baby.

Shawn Ashmore & Harry Shum Jr cast in indie film Already Gone

shawnashmore harryshum

HOLLYWOOD, January 27^th 2012

Shawn Ashmore, star of the X:Men movies, has been cast alongside Harry Shum Jr. , star of the hit Fox series Glee, to play partners in crime in Already Gone. Shawn Ashmore plays Jude Mulvey, a low level criminal suffering from a debilitating and life threatening disease, but after making a huge score against the Mob, he’s got bigger problems than just his health.

The screenplay, written by Bill Balas, was discovered through the Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition.

Fresh Voices Finalist Options Winning Screenplay!

bill balas headshot Hollywood, Ca. October 2011

As a direct result of his placement in the 2010 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition, screenwriter Bill Balas has optioned his winning screenplay, Aleady Gone, to producers Peter Katz and Don Le.

Bill’s journey began in February 2011 when his script was chosen from nearly 1,000 entries and announced a finalist in the Thriller Category of the 2010 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition. While submitting the winning scripts to producers, Fresh Voices were approached by Peter and Don seeking high quality thrillers that could be made on a budget. Having read a number of samples, they quickly identified Already Gone as their next project.