Script to Screen

Members of the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) launched a new program in September dubbed Script to Screen. The aim was to audition scripts by professional screenwriters in the area. Some established writers were asked if they had favorite scripts lying around that, for whatever reason, never made it to the screen. Not surprisingly they did, and also not surprisingly they were very enthusiastic about the idea. The first reading was on September 24, in a small auditorium in City Hall. About a dozen actors gathered onstage to read a script by Casey Kelly called “Greener Pastures.” 

“Greener Pastures” was originally commissioned by George Roy Hill in the 80s as a follow-up for Paul Newman and Robert Redford after their big successes with “Butch Cassidy” and “The Sting.” “Greener Pastures” is a terrific and funny story about a couple of Texas workers who, while trying to siphon gas from a cross-country line, accidentally blow up a refinery. As good as the script is, for various reasons it never made it to the big screen. The Script to Screen program accomplished exactly what the actors hoped it would accomplish. Investors at the reading liked what they heard and are now talking to Casey about getting “Greener Pastures” into production. 

Subsequent Script to Screen events will be held at Rice Media Center. On October 29, at 7:00 p.m. actors will be reading a script called “Exurbia,” by Kim Henkel. Kim teaches screenwriting in the newly created Film Track in the Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts, and is best known for his horror classic “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” “Exurbia” is dark-sided farce—a fast paced, raucous, and funny story about a college kid who finds himself in the most violently dysfunctional suburb in the universe. As with all Script to Screen events the aim is to provide an entertaining evening, and to showcase the script before potential investors.

We also want to REMIND everyone that they can still join the team (twenty-somethings, teens, and kids too).  We have many projects coming up with a range of ages needed for the
characters. Contact AFTRA Houston for more information>>