Harm for the Holidays

After his younger brother attempts suicide a few weeks before Christmas, an asshole with a heart of gold moves back in with his dysfunctional family to help his brother, only to find his brother helps him.

  • Jonathan LaPoma
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    Drama, comedy, black comedy, holiday (Christmas)
  • Number of Pages:
    107
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hollywood Screenplay Contest, 2017

    Grand Prize (Comedy)
  • MAC Underground Film Festival, 2016

    1st Place
  • iHolly Next Generation Indie Film Festival, 2017

    1st Place
  • New Renaissance Film Festival, 2017

    1st Place: Drama
  • Las Vegas Screenplay Contest, 2017

    3rd Place: Comedy Category
  • World Series of Screenwriting, 2017

    3rd Place: Comedy
  • Indie Gathering Film Festival, 2016

    4th Place
  • WriteMovies Monthly Contest (December), 2016

    Honorable Mention
  • California Film Awards, 2016

    Honorable Mention
  • Creative World Awards, 2017

    Finalist
  • Twister Alley Film Festival, 2017

    Finalist
  • Screenplay Festival, 2017

    Finalist
  • Oaxaca Film Festival, 2016

    Finalist
  • Beverly Hills Film Festival, 2017

    Finalist
  • Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, 2017

    Finalist
  • Los Angeles CineFest, 2016

    Finalist
  • Table Read My Screenplay Contest, 2017

    Semifinalist
  • Extreme Screenplay Contest, 2016

    Semifinalist
  • Sacramento International Film Festival, 2017

    Semifinalist
  • Sunset Film Festival, 2017

    Official Selection
  • Austin Film Festival, 2016

    Second Round
  • Page International Screenwriting Awards, 2016

    Quarterfinalist
  • Fresh Voices, 2017

    Quarterfinalist
  • WriteMovies Winter, 2016

    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.