Jersey City Horror Film Festival Rejection

Personal Demons was shot down by the Jersey City Horror Film Festival. 

This is Personal Demons' 4th rejection of 2026 and it's 6th in a year.

It was broken up only by being a semi-finalist at the Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards in February (where it remains in that spot, according to Film Freeway).

Not going to lie, this is disheartening.

Has the magic worn off?

Has my luck run out?

Or am I just in a bit of a dry spell?

I guess I am just so impacted by these recent rejections because I am so used to winning. Thus far I have 19 either wins or near-wins since 2019. I suppose no one can maintain that impressive of a track record for that long (7 years!). It's just disheartening that I haven't had a win yet in 2026. 

However... onward I trudge.  

 

I'll meditate on this more in a separate post, but here is the rejection email.

Dear Erik D., This is an automated email to notify you that Jersey City 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 Jersey City Horror Film Festival by replying to this email or sending an email to jcpfilmfestival@gmail.com.

 

 

 

More Accoldaes From Austin!

 Just got this email today...

Your submission has been selected!

Greetings ,  Congratulations! Your submission, Muscles & Wine, is rated in the top 30% of submissions by our judges and has been named an official selection of Austin Comedy Film Festival Fall 2026! This event will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at the Southwest Theaters, 13729 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78750, USA. Please check the name, spelling and credits of your submission on the event page: https://filmfestivalcircuit.com/event/austin-comedy-film-festival-fall-2026 You can manually update the public information about your screenplay by creating an account at filmfestivalcircuit.com with the email address erikdharshman@gmail.com and update your synopsis, tagline, state, writer's statement, public contact info and poster if you'd like. Here is a YouTube tutorial if you need help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGNhRL-2ny4  Download the Official Selections and Award Finalist Laurels here: Film Festival Circuit Public Google Drive (LINK)

Visit Event Page

What is my scorecard and why is this important?  You've received an email from us with a link to our premium option to unlock the five scorecards from the judges about your specific submission. This is optional for screenwriters who want feedback from our Texas-based judges. We have created one marketing scorecard, three private creative scorecards, and one private technical scorecard for your submission.  The marketing scorecard is worth 20 points, the technical scorecard is worth 20 points, and each creative scorecard is worth 20 points. If you didn't score a full 20 out of 20 on your marketing scorecard, you can log in at filmfestivalcircuit.com and update this information yourself. Here is a link to the instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RChdDeEiK2Y. If you didn't score a full 20 out of 20 on your technical scorecard and want to make changes, you must first unlock your scorecards. Then, contact me if you'd like to update your video file so your submission can be re-evaluated. Here are the technical requirements we use to evaluate all films, regardless of genre:  Screenplay technical scorecard criteria video: https://youtube.com/shorts/G_gziAlsPUg  At this time, your creative scorecards cannot be changed. The Texas-based judges have evaluated your submission and will not re-evaluate creative scorecards this season. If you submit to any of our partner film festivals https://filmfestivalcircuit.com/submissions a different group of judges will evaluate your submission and issue three new creative scorecards. Different judges in different markets have different opinions, so their evaluations may differ. Here is a link to the creative scorecard evaluation video: https://youtu.be/WM45PnaQFsI.  Please connect with us on social media  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/austincomedyfilmfestival Instagram https://www.instagram.com/austin.comedy.film.festival/ TwitterX @mikelfair (Festival Director)  Hashtag #filmfestivalcircuit, #austincomedyfilmfestival, #womenincomedy Every attendee must purchase a ticket. There are no screenwriter passes. How does the award process work? Is there a Q&A? Is there a dress code? If you are planning to attend this event, please read this article first. Link: https://filmfestivalcircuit.com/blog/live-awards-presentation. I've written an article that you may find helpful if you're thinking about attending https://filmfestivalcircuit.com/blog/five-reasons-why-screenwriters-should-attend-film-festivals.  We are looking forward to the audience reaction to these films, meeting this great group of screenwriters, and networking with all of you in Austin. Award Winners will be announced on Saturday, September 26, 2026 live at the event. Thank you for sharing your creative work with us.

Best Regards,  Mikel Fair, Film Festival Circuit CEO

 

My Austin Comedy Fest Scorecard

 So... apparently there is a score card / rubric for screenplays at the Austin Comedy Fest.

I just got the note that my screenplay is an 86/100.

At least, that's the "Marketing" score.

There is a "Technical" and "Creative" score cards, but they are "locked" and require more money to access them.

I don't especially like that.

It seems like my submission free should entitle me to all the feedback I receive on my submission.

And, if that is not the case, then addition fees need to be made clear and stated up front.

But whatever.

86/100 is a B (in a teacher's mind), so I'm good... for now.  

 

 

MUSCLES & WINE Austin Comedy Fest Win!

Just got the following email from the Austin Comedy Festival! 

Muscles & Wine is an official selection!
Such a good feeling!
I was beginning to think I was a one-hit wonder with Personal Demons.
So gratifying that a script (especially a non-horror script) of mine is getting recognition and wining awards! 

And Austin is, from what I understand, the liberal arts epicenter of Texas.  It is, after all, home to SXSW. All I'm saying is: this is a city... a crowd... a culture that is discerning, aware and creative. It's a honor that a film fest in Austin is giving me accolades. 

This is a seriously big deal for me.

I may actually be a good writer, if I can effectively write comedy and horror (separately, of course). 

I just needed this bit of recognition to make me believe that it is all worth it and to keep trying. 

Hopefully I can keep this momentum up until something wonderful... a happy accident... a good luck streak... I don't know... happens.

 

Dear Erik D., Congratulations! Please check your inbox within the next 48 hours for a detailed acceptance email from filmfestivalcircuit.com. The email will include award nomination information for all filmmakers and screenwriters. For film submissions, it will also include file delivery instructions and our screening schedule policy. Please do not send or share any video files until you have read the acceptance email. Thank you. Mikel Fair, Film Festival Circuit, CEO Muscles & Wine Selected Project has been selected to be included in festival. You can contact Austin Comedy Film Festival by replying to this email or sending an email to austin.comedy@filmfestivalcircuit.com.

 

Inspiration Has Landed!

 And just like that I have an idea for my first stage play.

It's a combo kaiju / old spooky house / mad scientist / cosmic horror / Lovecraft-esque play full of jump scares and creature FX (that can, obviously, be modified for every theater company / playhouse that puts it on, allowing for liberal interpretations that suit each company's culture and perspective).

It is titled "Under Foot".

The exact plot details I am keeping under my hat and only sending them to my buddy Tim Scott for now. 

Stage Play

 So, back in August of 2023 my mom and I were making our second trip to New York. We go there from time-to-time to see Broadway shows, see the touristy sites and eat some good food.

I would say the main attraction that brought us back so soon after our initial trip (in March 2023) was a horror play called The Grey House by Levi Holloway.

However, the play closed before we got there.

I guess attendance wasn't great.

Which really brought me down, as it was playing at an old gothic-looking theater is literally across the street (about 40 steps) from the hotel where we usually stay (The Millennium).

I bring this up because I am currently reading this play (the next best thing before someone decided to revive it... hopefully in St. Louis or Chicago) and just remembered that Final Draft (the software I use to write screenplays) allows writers to use templates for all kinds of other writing (teleplays, stage plays, etc.).

I am thinking I need to expand my repertoire into stage play writing.

Now I just need an idea.

On the one hand, I want to do a David Kemp stage play.

A simply comedy/drama.

A bit of transgressive (realistic) escapism that only a Kemp story can provide.

Another part of me wants to write a horror stage play.

In fact, I'm heavily leaning in that direction.

Well, I am going to rack my brain.

I'm sure an idea will descend upon me... probably while I'm at the gym.

We shall see.

It's just exciting to be exploring a new genre of writing.

A week or so ago I was watching the special features on the 4K steelbook of The Dark Crystal (a Jim Henson movie that traumatized me as a kid). In it, someone (I think it might have been Henson's daughter, Lisa) said that once Jim Henson had mastered one type of puppetry, that he was anxious to move on to master something else... something that challenged him.

That was inspiring.

And as Jim Henson is one of my many role models (and certainly one of my foundational role models, having been raised a PBS kid), I feel like I need to take a page from his approach to creativity and the workmanship it entails.

So here I go... 

 

 

 

More Kindle Publishing

 So... I have not only thrown my 3rd screenplay (Invoking Henry... a love story involving ghosts and murderers) up on Kindle, but I have made a list of all of my works (short story collections, novels, screenplays, etc.) that I still need to publish on Kindle and what I have to do with them (check the manuscript for problematic material, create a cover, etc.) before I publish them.

So, I have a roadmap for publishing my entire oeuvre on Kindle.

I am extremely pleased with what I have done thus far this summer (by publishing nearly all of my screenplays on Kindle), but I cannot rest on my laurels. I want as much (or all) of my work on Kindle for (someone!) everyone to enjoy.

So... onward I go.