First Place Finish!
Aug. 12, 2020: I'm proud to announce that I won the 2020 SimplyScripts Writer's Tournament. After finishing 2nd in both 2018 and 2019, I finally closed the deal in the 5-week shorts writing challenge. This particular tournament is just as much a test of perseverance as it is skill. To win, you must produce quality scripts that meet specific criteria and themes on short turn. It's fantastic practice for writing on deadline, to specific notes and across genre.
Check out a few of my winning scripts here.
Check out a few of my winning scripts here.
6 New Shorts in 5 Weeks
Aug. 10, 2020: I've been busy -- writing 6 new shorts over the past 5 weeks. And, now you can read 4 of the 6 new shorts by clicking here.
Stayed tuned for news on 1 of the other 2.
Stayed tuned for news on 1 of the other 2.
"60 Feet Under" ScriptBook Analysis: Greenlight!
Apr. 17, 2020: A top industry source for predicting script success through AI analysis, ScriptBook.io, just completed a review of my thriller script 60 FEET UNDER. Their result? 60 FEET UNDER is "one of the very few with a high financial prediction." What does that mean? It means someone stands to make millions off of the project. With a predicted Domestic ROI of 228% and a Worldwide ROI of 307%, 60 FEET UNDER has a 100% predicted probability of a Domestic Gross of $30-60M (predicted: $44.8M). Check out the extensive analysis here: ScriptBook.io
Just Released: For Now, Directed by Sikendar Hemani
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A lonely widow needs a push to begin dating again.
Director - Sikendar Hemani Location: UAE Writer - Paul Knauer Cinematography - Sarfaraz Ahmad Hair/Makeup - Zahra Patanwala Sound - Kunal Bhatia Cast - Sabiha Majgoankar, Laxman Rao, Vaishali Balgu, Joshua Johnson, Mahendra Kumar, Apoorva Mehra, Sai Lakshmi, Kunal Bhatia, Sarfaraz Ahmad Music - Somber Ballads by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: http://incompetech.com/ |
New Quibi-style Short Series: Available
Apr. 30, 2020: Concept work and a pilot script are now complete on a new 10-episode Quibi-style series of shorts I've developed called BETWEEN.
Logline:
A retired literature professor, torn between the real world and a magical fantasy world, fights to heal his broken family while simultaneously working to find and save the Child Princess.
I've imagined a deep, rich world filled with emotional moments, sprinkles of humor and bursts of fantasy magic. I truly believe that this project packs a ton of emotional impact and entertainment into what will be 10 serialized nuggets of goodness.
The pilot (and subsequent episodes) is written for an easy shoot that won't look budget thin. A show bible and the pilot script are available on request, though, interested filmmakers can download the script at ScriptRevolution.com. A second episode will be available soon.
Logline:
A retired literature professor, torn between the real world and a magical fantasy world, fights to heal his broken family while simultaneously working to find and save the Child Princess.
I've imagined a deep, rich world filled with emotional moments, sprinkles of humor and bursts of fantasy magic. I truly believe that this project packs a ton of emotional impact and entertainment into what will be 10 serialized nuggets of goodness.
The pilot (and subsequent episodes) is written for an easy shoot that won't look budget thin. A show bible and the pilot script are available on request, though, interested filmmakers can download the script at ScriptRevolution.com. A second episode will be available soon.
Let's Make It Five!
Mar. 27, 2020: I've been tasked by a production company based in Toronto to write a new short for their team to shoot. That'll make 5 shorts produced in 5 different countries! And, since I've been given an open assignment, if I choose a unique genre, I'll have 5 shorts, with 5 different directors, in 5 different countries, across 5 different genres. I won't force the genre, but if it works...
In other news, I just completed a rewrite of my thriller feature 60 FEET UNDER. Another layer added to fill out the story. If you're looking for a contained thriller with commercial appeal written for big impact at a low production cost, let's talk!
In other news, I just completed a rewrite of my thriller feature 60 FEET UNDER. Another layer added to fill out the story. If you're looking for a contained thriller with commercial appeal written for big impact at a low production cost, let's talk!
Fun With Numbers
Feb. 16, 2020: Just for kicks, I sat down yesterday to count how many scripts I've written. Here are the totals for "completed scripts": 5 sitcom pilots with a total of 9 scripts (one project has 5 episodes), 2 sitcom spec scripts, 4 features (2 comedy, 2 thrillers), and 25 shorts (2 action, 13 comedy, 7 thrillers, 3 horror).
That's 40 scripts, and counting.
Looking through the scripts, the biggest surprise? 12 thrillers and horrors. I've always considered myself a comedy writer first. But, I've thoroughly enjoyed writing serious projects. And, surprisingly, some of my biggest audience reactions have come from the horrors. I never knew I had it in me.
That's 40 scripts, and counting.
Looking through the scripts, the biggest surprise? 12 thrillers and horrors. I've always considered myself a comedy writer first. But, I've thoroughly enjoyed writing serious projects. And, surprisingly, some of my biggest audience reactions have come from the horrors. I never knew I had it in me.
2 More Shorts Picked Up
Dec. 5, 2019: Momentum continues as 2 additional shorts are picked up for production. I now have 4 shorts, in 4 different genres, at various stages of pre-production. Additional fun fact: the shorts will be produced in 4 different countries!
Stay tuned for details as I'm allowed to share.
Stay tuned for details as I'm allowed to share.
Writing Update: Pre-Production begins for 1 horror short and 1 romcom short, plus other news
Nov. 15, 2019: Several of my shorts have garnered international attention, with 2 currently in pre-production across the pond. In addition, I've taken on a rewrite project of a feature written to be filmed in India. It's a unique project that promises to be loads of fun. Further updates as they are available.
NEW PROJECT START
I've begun early work on my next Imagine Impact application. I'll be pitching my sitcom idea: 1,000 Reasons I'm Going To Hell.
ANOTHER CONTEST WINNER
COLD BLOOD, a psychological horror short written for an online writing challenge, is my latest winning script. The short, based on the killings made famous by Truman Capote's book IN COLD BLOOD, finished first in the Halloween-inspired contest.
I'm now in the very early stages of developing the project as my first horror feature. The project is a psychological horror/thriller that'll make your skin crawl. If you're interested in reading the short, drop me a line at the contact link above. I won't be posting it here. But, let's just say: It would make a GREAT proof-of-concept short for the feature, and I'm supremely confident in the idea's ability to generate some real buzz.
FIRST DRAFT FINISHED ON COMEDY FEATURE
I recently completed the first draft of a family comedy feature very loosely based on my life as a small-town broadcaster. Now, I'll set it aside for a bit to let it mature. I'll let everyone know when the second draft (and the real work) begins.
NEW PROJECT START
I've begun early work on my next Imagine Impact application. I'll be pitching my sitcom idea: 1,000 Reasons I'm Going To Hell.
ANOTHER CONTEST WINNER
COLD BLOOD, a psychological horror short written for an online writing challenge, is my latest winning script. The short, based on the killings made famous by Truman Capote's book IN COLD BLOOD, finished first in the Halloween-inspired contest.
I'm now in the very early stages of developing the project as my first horror feature. The project is a psychological horror/thriller that'll make your skin crawl. If you're interested in reading the short, drop me a line at the contact link above. I won't be posting it here. But, let's just say: It would make a GREAT proof-of-concept short for the feature, and I'm supremely confident in the idea's ability to generate some real buzz.
FIRST DRAFT FINISHED ON COMEDY FEATURE
I recently completed the first draft of a family comedy feature very loosely based on my life as a small-town broadcaster. Now, I'll set it aside for a bit to let it mature. I'll let everyone know when the second draft (and the real work) begins.
New Scripts: Click Here
I hope you'll jump to my 2019 Writer's Tournament page and check out three of my new shorts written over the past several weeks. Each was written in 72 hours to tournament-provided handcuffing parameters. Each one has something unique to offer, and the list includes one of my all-time favorite shorts. I'm proud of all three for different reasons.
Sample Scripts
by Paul Knauer
Features: (Additional features in varied genres available on request.)
SCRIPTBOOK RATING: GREENLIGHT
"... one of the very few (scripts we see) with a high financial predication."
Desperate to help his anxiety-riddled, claustrophobic daughter,
a father takes her on a road trip, only for them to be kidnapped by an erratic couple
and held in an underground missile silo.
This semi-contained thriller is designed to be made on a small budget (ScriptBook analysis: $13.7M).
Limited locations, a small cast and minimal FX required,
60 Feet Under is sure to thrill audiences and producers alike (ScriptBook expected Domestic Gross: $44.8M).
Check out the project page here. See the SCRIPTBOOK.IO financial analysis here.
"... one of the very few (scripts we see) with a high financial predication."
Desperate to help his anxiety-riddled, claustrophobic daughter,
a father takes her on a road trip, only for them to be kidnapped by an erratic couple
and held in an underground missile silo.
This semi-contained thriller is designed to be made on a small budget (ScriptBook analysis: $13.7M).
Limited locations, a small cast and minimal FX required,
60 Feet Under is sure to thrill audiences and producers alike (ScriptBook expected Domestic Gross: $44.8M).
Check out the project page here. See the SCRIPTBOOK.IO financial analysis here.
In this modern extension of Cain and Abel, a murderer, sentenced to life on earth by God,
is given a chance at redemption when God reunites him with his brother --
the man he killed so long ago.
A semi-contained thriller with limited locations and a small cast, The Hand of God builds to a dramatic
and satisfying conclusion. Though centered on strong religious themes, it is written for broad appeal, and would not be considered a strictly-religious script. Check out the project page here.
Sitcom Pilots: (Additional sitcom pilots available on request.)
Edward, an aspiring politician, has a secret: His backyard is now home
to an unauthorized underground survival bunker built and occupied
by his paranoid and fiercely anti-government brother.
This multi-camera sitcom brings a light-hearted look at life in the Midwest.
This script was actually written several years ago, as I was experimenting with different types of sitcom formats.
If you've read my early sitcom scripts, the themes will be familiar. I offer this here as a fun writing sample.
And, for a peek at one step along the evolutionary chain of my newest concept: 1,000 Reasons I'm Going to Hell.
Shorts: (Additional shorts in varied genres available on request.)
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PROJECT UPDATE: RELEASED
A widow needs a push to begin dating again. Directed by: Sikendar Hemani |
Sixty years ago they made a pact to die together. One of them intends to honor it.
This 9-page short is tested and ready to shoot.
A contained drama with slight thriller elements, Blood Brothers is a festival-level script written to help you wrap quickly. All you'll need is a cabin in the woods, 4 seasoned male actors, 1 middle-aged female, a few easy to find props and a camera.
For more details and a link to the full script, check out the project page here.
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A young boy wants to play cars with his mommy. The only problem? He's dead. This tight little 5-page thriller (with slight horror elements) is written to be a one day shoot. Set entirely in a suburban home, and with a cast of two (not including one line of VO), PLAYING CARS is a great low-cost project for any team looking for a quick addition to their portfolio. For more details and a link to the script, check out the project page here. |
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*** Contest-Winning Short ***Wanna catch something big? It's all about the bait.
The contest challenge: write a 5-page creature feature that could easily be converted into a PG-rated, anthology-style, graphic comic. Click here to read my winning entry. |
What Others Are Saying About My Work
“... one of the very few (scripts we see) with a high financial predication." Rated: Greenlight
— ScriptBook.io, regarding my thriller 60 FEET UNDER
"Impressive, witty storytelling."
— NPS, Page International judge
“I loved your style.” “The dialogue was first rate...”
— CS, ScriptQuack analyst
“... a great deal of potential.”
— JPB, Fresh Voices judge
“A beautiful piece.”
— Sikendar Hemani, Director
— ScriptBook.io, regarding my thriller 60 FEET UNDER
"Impressive, witty storytelling."
— NPS, Page International judge
“I loved your style.” “The dialogue was first rate...”
— CS, ScriptQuack analyst
“... a great deal of potential.”
— JPB, Fresh Voices judge
“A beautiful piece.”
— Sikendar Hemani, Director