SA writer among Hollywood's best emerging screenwriters
The Fourth Annual American Zoetrope Screenplay Awards recently named Capetonian screenwriter Paul Johnson's screenplay, The Last Marine, among the top 10 screenplays honoured this year, following a six-month process of assessing the work of 2500 new screenwriters.
As a result of its selection, The Last Marine is under consideration at top production companies Fox Searchlight, Sony Pictures, Paramount, Icon Pictures and American Zoetrope itself. Johnson, formerly communications director for the British Council, is also being considered for representation by A-list Hollywood talent agencies such as ICM, William Morris and CAA.
The American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest is the brainchild of company owner Francis Coppola (The Godfather; Apocalypse Now)and is regarded as one of Hollywood's top-rated contests identifying new screenwriting talent. The judging panel is headed by Gus van Sant, Oscar-nominated director of Good Will Hunting and winner the 2003 Cannes Golden Palm award for Elephant, his chilling take on the Columbine school massacre.
