Horror Haven Rejection

 

Hi Erik D., Thank you for submitting your project to Season 2 of the Horror Haven Film Expo. We deeply appreciate the time, effort, and creativity that went into your work. After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that your project was not selected for this year’s showcase. The level of submissions we received was extraordinary, and the selection process was highly competitive. Please know that this decision does not diminish the quality or vision of your work — it simply reflects the limited number of spots available in this year’s lineup. We sincerely encourage you to continue developing your craft and to consider submitting future projects to the Horror Haven Film Expo. Your contribution to the horror genre helps keep independent storytelling alive, and we look forward to seeing where your creative journey leads next. Thank you once again for sharing your work with us, and we wish you the very best in your future endeavors. Best regards,  The Horror Haven Film Expo Team

Aggravating placating

 So... when I reached out to Stage 32 about a response to my script, they had this boiler plate response.

It reads like a lot of placating and nonsense.

How much do you want to bet I never hear from the "VIP" I pitched to? 

Again, don't mean to sound cynical, just realistic.  

"I understand how frustrating the silence can be after receiving a script request. This waiting period is one of the most challenging aspects of the screenwriting journey, and your feelings about it are completely valid. Patience is key.

Here's what's likely happening behind the scenes: executives receive numerous script requests and operate on varying timelines based on their current production schedules, development priorities, and reading capacity. Some review material within weeks, while others may take several months. The silence doesn't reflect the quality of your work - it's simply the reality of how busy industry professionals manage their workload.

Consider this perspective: the fact that they requested your script means something in your pitch, logline, or previous material caught their attention enough to warrant further review. That's already a meaningful accomplishment and a very positive signal for you in a highly competitive field.

While you wait, channel this energy productively if you can. Continue writing or outlining your next project, refine other scripts in your portfolio, or research additional industry contacts who might be interested in your work. The most successful writers use these waiting periods as fuel for continued creativity rather than letting uncertainty stall their progress.

Script requests represent genuine industry interest, even when followed by extended silence. Many writers have shared stories of receiving responses months later that led to meaningful opportunities, such as our past contest winner Richard Zelniker, who after earning a general meeting with Executive Producer Brodrick Haygood for winning the 1st Annual Rom Com Contest, spent 2 years toiling away before eventually collaborating as a writer/director on his 2025 film THE VORTEX with Brodrick as his EP.  Your material is being considered by someone with the power to advance your career - that's worth celebrating regardless of timeline.

Stay focused on what you can control: continuing to write, improving your craft, and building multiple pathways for your work to find the right champions. Your persistence and dedication to storytelling will serve you well throughout this process.

Cheers!

Pat A.

Writer Liaison"

 

Thing in the Basement Intro. / thanks video

 The Thing in the Basement Horror Fest invited me to film a video introducing my script for them to show at the film festival.

Here it is in all its glory.

Thing in the Basement Horror Fest Intro. / Thank You Vid

Thing in the Basement Horror Fest WIN

 

Dear Erik D., Congratulations Creep! Your project Personal Demons is now an Official Selection with The Thing In The Basement Horror Fest. Feel free to share the news on your social media sites, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with the fest! We will be partnering up with The Roxy this chapter to bring everyone a live showing on November 1st! More information will be posted to all The Thing In The Basement Horror Fest social medias closer to the date. If you need to book a hotel to be able to attend the live event, please feel free to use either of the two following links for a 15% discount to one of these hotels! The Hampton is higher quality but the Fairfield is almost catty-corner to The Roxy so pick which works best for you. Here are your custom laurels created by the talented Dave Dick! You may use these laurels for promotional purposes in any way you see fit!  We will promote your project by making a post on our Instagram, where we will tag you personally before we send it out into the Horrorverse!  If you have a moment at the conclusion of the fest, please leave us a review on FilmFreeway. Questions, concerns, or feedback? Feel free to reach out by sending an email to: thinginthebasementhorrorfest@gmail.com Thank you for your offering, and welcome to the BASEMENT - The Thing In The Basement Horror Fest Personal Demons Selected Project has been selected to be included in festival.

Two Things... One Great... One Okay

 Two things happened just this weekend (and the weekend is young):

1.) I got my letter/receipt of confirmation that my latest batch of screenplays has been registered and copyrighted with the Library of Congress.

Which means Momo: Survival, Personal Demons 1-2, Muscles & Wine, Wolves at the Door and Run, Run Rudolph are all secured.

 That feels good.

I don't think I've c copyrighted anything in over ten years.

Feels good to get that on the books.

2.) I reached out to Stage 32 to ask about a response to my pitch session on there.

I have a whole narrative (complete with my commentary, perspective and criticism) of this pitch session, but I will wait until the inevitable rejection comes in before I post it. Even then, I still won't name names, because I don't want to burn any bridges (however small), but I do want to give this individual the benefit of the doubt.

And some may think me cynical or bitter when I saw "inevitable rejection"... but, let's face it, if my script was important to this individual, they would have read it and gotten back to me by now.

Instead, experience has taught me that these execs usually have a rejection already in mind when they go into a pitch session.

Let's see if this individual proves me wrong.

I doubt it.  

 

Nashville Horror FIlm Festival Rejection

 

Dear Erik D., This is an automated email to notify you that Nashville Horror Film Festival has updated the Judging Status of your submission. Personal Demons Not Selected Project was not selected to be included in festival. You can contact Nashville Horror Film Festival by replying to this email or sending an email to Nashvillehorrorfilmfestival@gmail.com.

Semi-Finalist at Lit Scares Int'l Horror Fest

 

Dear Erik D., Thank you for submitting to this years Lit Scares International Horror Festival 2025 Out of the 100's of entries we had this year you placed 'Semi Finalist'  This is essentially a Silver medal which means unfortunately you did not make it to the finals but you still did incredibly well beating a very high amount of submissions to finish here so a massive congratulation's. We really hope you will submit with us in our future editions and we wish you the very best of luck with your project.    Please find below a link for your Laurel  Regards  Velton & Mike & all the Lit Scares Team https://filmfreeway.com/laurels/56507/LitScaresInternationalHorrorFestival