Dellwood

After learning of his friend’s murder, a successful but unhappy novelist reluctantly returns to his childhood town to attend the funeral. While there, he reminisces about his childhood experiences playing basketball on a city court to escape from emotional abuse, and he understands himself and the theme of his next project more clearly. STAND BY ME meets THE BASKETBALL DIARIES.

  • Jonathan LaPoma
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    drama, sports, urban
  • Number of Pages:
    146
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Indie Gathering Film Festival, 2013

    Honorable Mention
  • California Film Awards, 2015

    Finalist
  • Aura Screenwriter Awards, 2015

    Semifinalist
  • Oaxaca Film Festival, 2014

    Official Selection
  • Finow International Film & Script Festival, 2016

    Official Selection
  • WriteMovies, 2013

    Quarterfinalist
Writer Biography - Jonathan LaPoma

Jonathan LaPoma is an award-winning, best-selling novelist, optioned screenwriter, songwriter, and poet from Buffalo, NY. In 2005, he received a BA in history and a secondary education credential from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and he traveled extensively throughout the United States and Mexico after graduating. These experiences have become the inspiration for much of his writing, which often explores themes of alienation and misery as human constructions that can be overcome through self-understanding and the acceptance of suffering.

LaPoma has written three novels, eleven screenplays, and hundreds of songs and poems. His screenplays have won over 140 awards/honors at various international screenwriting competitions, and his black comedy script HARM FOR THE HOLIDAYS was optioned by Warren Zide along with Wexlfish Pictures (AMERICAN PIE, FINAL DESTINATION, THE BIG HIT). LaPoma's novel DEVELOPING MINDS: AN AMERICAN GHOST STORY is an Amazon Best Seller ("Satire" and "Urban Life" Kindle categories), and it won the 2015 Stargazer Literary Prizes (Visionary and Metaphysical Fiction category) and won the bronze medal in the 2016 Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Awards (Adult eBook category). His novel UNDERSTANDING THE ALACRÁN won the silver medal in the 2017 FAPA President's Awards (Contemporary/Literary category). He lives in San Diego and teaches at a public secondary school.

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Writer Statement

I typically write character-driven dramas that are equal parts dark and humorous, and my work often explores themes of alienation and misery as human constructions that can be overcome through self-understanding and the acceptance of suffering. With my work, I hope to inspire people to lean toward their own suffering so that they can live fuller and richer lives.