Success Stories: JAN'7 Script progressed for OWA. Not selected. But optioned another way.

Script progressed for OWA. Not selected. But optioned another way.

Happy to report that my script 'DUE' is moving forward for consideration for an OWA. It was also requested by a pro when I submitted a written pitch a few weeks ago (yet to hear back). Nice little injection of validation for the new year. Update: My script wasn't selected for the OWA and I never heard back from the pro. But it won Kinolime's Script to Screen where the prize is the script being optioned and produced.

Kathryn Zizek

Thanks Raul! Wishing you a good year.

Thomas Medori

Hey, that sounds fantastic—congratulations! ... Written pitches are a topic many of us, myself included, struggle with. Would you be open to sharing yours?

Kathryn Zizek

Vladimir - my last 3 action lines spilled over onto page 95

Thomas - I'll dm you. But, in short, the first page had: Title, Genre, Format, Logline, Concept, Themes, and Characters. The second page was: Synopsis. All had to be as concise as possible, including the brief character descriptions which were only 1 or two short sentences.

Kathryn Zizek

I'm sharing so others can see that submitting/pitching does sometimes yield results.

Kathryn Zizek

Also - I got a mention in the newsletter :) Weee

Kathryn Zizek

'DUE' was just announced as one of the Top 26 in the Kinolime Script to Page competition. The winner receives a $25,000 cash prize and up to $15M for Kinolime to finance and produce their film. Also, the competition was free to enter!

If anyone has a spare moment, please help me progress to the next round by visiting this link and voting for my treatment.

https://www.kinolime.com/screenplays/due

Do let me know if you get selected for the next comp and I'll return the favor!

Kathryn Zizek

I received some good news this morning. My feature script 'DUE' has made it to the TOP 10 in Kinolime's Script to Screen Competition! Now the judges will pick the final 3. Never been so close to having a film produced! Thank you to everyone who voted! You guys are the best!

Pat Savage

​Nice to meet you and welcome to Stage32! Happy networking! Kathryn Zizek congratulations,

Volkan Durakcay

Congratulations Kathryn — and honestly, this is exactly how momentum in this industry begins.

What stands out to me is not only the validation itself, but the fact that your script generated interest through a written pitch first. That usually signals something extremely important:

The concept is communicating dramatic tension at a foundational level.

A lot of writers underestimate this, but when industry professionals respond before reading the full screenplay, it often means the premise already contains:

narrative propulsion,

thematic curiosity,

emotional stakes,

and cinematic promise.

That’s a very strong sign.

One thing I’ve noticed as both a screenwriter and script analyst is that projects gaining traction today often succeed because they create an immediate psychological question in the reader’s mind — something unresolved, emotionally charged, or morally dangerous.

The title DUE alone already suggests tension, inevitability, and consequence. Those are powerful subconscious triggers in storytelling.

Also, the fact that you’re receiving recognition early in the year is valuable creatively because external validation can reinforce instinct — and instinct is one of the most underrated tools a writer has.

A screenplay can always be rewritten structurally.

But authentic narrative instinct is much harder to teach.

Wishing you continued momentum with OWA and hopefully strong follow-through from the pitch request as well. Sounds like your project is beginning to resonate in the right rooms.

Ayesha Simra

Kathryn Zizek, Congratulations! Wishing you more success ahead! And Congratulations on the top 10 placement too!

Kathryn Zizek

If you have time to read my script (or listen to it), that will count as a vote for me to win. You could change my life. Thank you in advance. https://www.kinolime.com/screenplays/due

Kathryn Zizek

I received notification that my script was not selected for the Stage32 OWA. But that's probably a good thing since it's still a contender in Kinolime's Script to Screen comp. I will know if I've won on June 15th and will come here to post a victory (or defeat) update.

Wendy Kay

Congratulations!

Michael Dzurak

Not selected, Kathryn Zizek, but you reached a milestone and generated buzz. Keep writing and ptiching!

Heidi Schussman

Congrats Kathyrn! Being considered is great. I had that happen to me and it was hard to consider the it a good thing when I wasn't selected, but it really is a compliment.

Volkan Durakcay

Congrats Kathyrn!

Kathryn Zizek

Thank you all for being so positive and supportive. Kinolime organised a table read of my script and I haven't stopped smiling since watching it. This is a 12min clip of it. Let me know what you think! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWdPHFA_FgY&feature=youtu.be

Muhammad Muhammad

Congratulations. Would love to connect with you.

Gasem Habibian

سلام وقت بخیر. عالیه. موفق و سربلند باشید

Kathryn Zizek

Well as my final update: DUE was selected as the 2026 winner of the Kinolime Script to Screen competition. My screenplay will now be produced. I can't explain what that feels like, and still can't believe it. There are so many hidden pathways into the industry. Please don't stop looking for them!

Darrell A Pennington

What an amazing accomplishment Kathryn Zizek ! So excited - I hope you will keep us informed about the progress of the project.

Kathryn Zizek

If anyone wants to stay in the loop, I'll be posting updates on my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kat_zizek?igsh=MWl1b3o1ejhyZWhrbQ==

Michael Dzurak

Amazing! A very big congrats with the project, Kathryn Zizek!

Guy O'Neal

Congrats! Best wishes. :)

Ayesha Simra

Kathryn Zizek, Congratulations, Kathryn! Watching Due go from a script I loved reading to the winner of the Kinolime Script to Screen competition has been incredible. So well deserved. Thank you for sharing your journey and for the reminder that there are so many paths into this industry. Wishing you the very best as Due makes its way to the screen, can't wait to see where this adventure leads!

Guy O'Neal

Hi all. Great news!! My submission just made the quarter-final in THE WIKI Screenplay Contest. All Glory to God!

Kathryn Zizek

Congratulations, Guy! That's how it all began for me too. DUE made the quarterfinals in two categories of ISA Emerging Screenwriters Comp last year. So, who knows where you'll find yourself next year!

Vanessa Chattman

Congratulations

Guy O'Neal

Thx...All glory to God. I am really excited.

Richard Lasser

Hi Kathryn,

I'm a produced screenwriter ("Miranda's Victim", "Walking With the Enemy") who has been hired by 10 producers and writers here on Stage 32 to consult on or rewrite or polish their screenplays and render them into colloquial American English to make them more saleable and appealing to US producers. Can I help with "Due"?

My best,

Richard Lasser

Kathryn Zizek

Hi Richard. Further script development will be completed by myself and Kinolime's internal team. Thanks for the offer though.

Kathryn Zizek

For those still following along, here's my podcast interview with Kinolime, where I break down my process for writing 'DUE'. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JV11dC816fs

Kathryn Zizek

Their short script competition opens in 5 days and is free to enter. Highly recommend.

Abhijeet Aade

Kathryn Zizek Congratulations! I really admire your persistence. It's a great reminder that one "no" doesn't define a screenplay's journey. The fact that DUE went on to win Kinolime's Script to Screen and be optioned for production shows how unpredictable this industry can be. Wishing you the very best as the project moves into production I hope it's the first of many successes!

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