I'm a Praxis fellow again (screenplay competiton) at DVinfo.net

Keith Loh · September 28th, 2006, 12:45 PM

I'm a fellow again!

To explain: A screenplay I wrote was selected for the fall Praxis Screenplay Competition (http://www.praxisfilm.com/en/competi.../default.aspx).

The Praxis competition is open to Canadian screenwriters who want to see one of their feature-length screenplays workshopped by industry mentors. It's held every fall and spring. Out of all the entries, 4-6 screenplays are selected to be workshopped. Praxis takes first drafts and tries to make them into polished industry-standard screenplays. In the summer session, winners from the year can submit their second drafts to be workshopped again by a larger group and read by working actors.

(Excuse the rough logline)

My screenplay "The Lakehead" (working title) is a gangster drama set in the 1920s in the 'smuggling lane' between Winnipeg and Minneapolis-St. Paul which was a center for gangland activity during Prohibition. Frank Marsh, an ageing enforcer with a Minneapolis mob is asked to take his old mentor, the retired patriarch Joe Gran into Canada to hide in exile while a gang war rages in America. Choosing to hide out in a farm run by the wife of an imprisoned rum runner and her son, Frank is shown a different way of life and a way out of his gangster past. However, trouble follows them across the border.

I wrote "The Lakehead" right down to the wire, finishing it in the early morning of the deadline and submitting it later that day. No offense to those others who meticulously crafted their screenplays but I was just surprised that it got in.

I am a second-time fellow of Praxis. In 2004 I was selected for "Exclusion Zone", a war movie about a squad of Canadian soldiers in Bosnia.

Joe Carney · October 2nd, 2006, 01:28 PM

Well then, congrats again Keith. Good luck.

Dylan Couper · October 3rd, 2006, 12:08 AM

Good work Keith, I'll let you buy me sushi to celebrate! :)

Jipsi Kinnear · October 25th, 2006, 09:53 PM

As legend goes, I had heard that Al Capone was around Moosejaw and Winnipeg during Prohibition. Sounds like a cool story Keith, good luck.

Keith Loh · October 25th, 2006, 10:14 PM

I didn't read about Al Capone but for sure there were a lot of gangsters who did the bootlegging themselves or had to travel to make sure the deals got done.

Richard Alvarez · October 25th, 2006, 10:17 PM

Congrats Keith.

Validation is always good motivation for keeping the butt in the chair!

Keith Loh · October 26th, 2006, 02:09 PM

Thanks all.

I'll report back on my experiences if anyone is interested.

September 28th, 2006, 12:45 PM	#1
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	I'm a Praxis fellow again (screenplay competiton) I'm a fellow again! To explain: A screenplay I wrote was selected for the fall Praxis Screenplay Competition (http://www.praxisfilm.com/en/competi.../default.aspx). The Praxis competition is open to Canadian screenwriters who want to see one of their feature-length screenplays workshopped by industry mentors. It's held every fall and spring. Out of all the entries, 4-6 screenplays are selected to be workshopped. Praxis takes first drafts and tries to make them into polished industry-standard screenplays. In the summer session, winners from the year can submit their second drafts to be workshopped again by a larger group and read by working actors. (Excuse the rough logline) My screenplay "The Lakehead" (working title) is a gangster drama set in the 1920s in the 'smuggling lane' between Winnipeg and Minneapolis-St. Paul which was a center for gangland activity during Prohibition. Frank Marsh, an ageing enforcer with a Minneapolis mob is asked to take his old mentor, the retired patriarch Joe Gran into Canada to hide in exile while a gang war rages in America. Choosing to hide out in a farm run by the wife of an imprisoned rum runner and her son, Frank is shown a different way of life and a way out of his gangster past. However, trouble follows them across the border. I wrote "The Lakehead" right down to the wire, finishing it in the early morning of the deadline and submitting it later that day. No offense to those others who meticulously crafted their screenplays but I was just surprised that it got in. I am a second-time fellow of Praxis. In 2004 I was selected for "Exclusion Zone", a war movie about a squad of Canadian soldiers in Bosnia. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

October 2nd, 2006, 01:28 PM	#2
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Well then, congrats again Keith. Good luck. __________________ Boycott Guinness, bring back the pint!!!

October 3rd, 2006, 12:08 AM	#3
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Good work Keith, I'll let you buy me sushi to celebrate! :) __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 25th, 2006, 10:14 PM	#5
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	I didn't read about Al Capone but for sure there were a lot of gangsters who did the bootlegging themselves or had to travel to make sure the deals got done. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

October 26th, 2006, 02:09 PM	#7
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Thanks all. I'll report back on my experiences if anyone is interested. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

October 25th, 2006, 09:53 PM	#4
Jipsi Kinnear Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 108	As legend goes, I had heard that Al Capone was around Moosejaw and Winnipeg during Prohibition. Sounds like a cool story Keith, good luck.

October 25th, 2006, 10:17 PM	#6
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Congrats Keith. Validation is always good motivation for keeping the butt in the chair!