Discussion STEVEN: 8x Award-Winning / 14 Laurels — 1975 Contained Horror — Seeking Producer & Financing

BarryM

BarryM

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Hi all Barry Miller, WGAE Registered #1347110, Phillipsburg, NJ — Stage32 Logline Rated 5.0/5 (3 ratings).

Introducing STEVEN, a 100-page contained 1975 horror screenplay.

LOGLINE:
HALLOWEEN meets THE OMEN and CARRIE. On Halloween night, 1975, a silent 6-year-old boy, cursed at birth in a hospital, sets his entire world ablaze.

TEASE / SYNOPSIS — v13.6 FINAL:
Oct. 15, 1968 — Scott Hask delivers his own son in the backseat. That same night, a deranged woman steals newborn Steven from the hospital nursery and does something horrible to him. The hospital covers it up. Scott's wife Linda senses something is wrong but is told everything is okay.

1975 — Steven is 6, silent, odd and obsessed with fire. His mother is drinking again, his father's plant is closing, his sister is embarrassed by him, and baby Heather screams whenever he is near. Bullied as "Creepy," Steven gradually learns fire step by step. Halloween night becomes the trigger.

TONE / PRODUCTION:
Slow-burn 1970s small-town horror with a universal setting and no specific town names. Practical fire only — matches and fuel, no VFX, no powers, no possession dialogue.

• $175K minimum viable

• $375K target — 18-day SAG Ultra Low production

• $1M version with additional name cast

Production is designed around 8 practical lots on one base, with the Hask House as primary (51 of 173 scenes) plus 7 town lots.

MARKET POSITIONING:
Contained, practical genre horror, North America primary, internationally accessible small-town setting.

WHERE IT STANDS:
Completed screenplay. Latest one-pager: v13.6 FINAL. Script available offline for qualified review only.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR:
Producer, financing, packaging, and sales/distribution conversations, ideally with partners experienced in genre films and international sales.

CURRENT MATERIALS:
• Updated street image

• One-Pager v13.6 FINAL

• 100-page screenplay available for qualified review

• Prelim budget + 18-day strip available

8x Award Winner / 14 Laurels — 8 Wins, 5 Official Selections, 1 Quarter Finalist.

"A grand epic of horror - reminiscent of those kinds of Carpenter films that we all love..." — Pro Coverage

— Barry
 

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BarryM said:
Hi all - Barry Miller, WGAE Registered #I347110, Phillipsburg NJ — Stage32 Logline Rated 5.0/5 (3 ratings).

Introducing STEVEN — 100p contained 1975 horror.

LOGLINE: John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN meets THE OMEN and CARRIE. On Halloween night, 1975, a silent 6-year-old boy, cursed at birth in a hospital, sets his entire world ablaze.

WHERE IT STANDS: Locked one-pager v11 matches public FilmFreeway synopsis. 100-page script offline for qualified review only (not public). Festival circuit.

AWARDS: 13x for STEVEN in 2021:

• Best Horror Script — Gold Star Movie Awards (Newark, NJ)
• Best Feature Script / Screenplay — Gona Film Awards — WINNER
• Best First-Time Scriptwriter — Horror Bowl — WINNER
• Best Debut Script Writer — Red Dragon Creative Awards (Dallas)
• Best Plot — Adbhooture Film Festival
• Best Villain / Award Winner — Frights! Camera! Action! UK
• Award Winner — World Film Carnival Singapore + Virgin Spring Cinefest
• Quarter Finalist — The Script Showcase (Best 1st Time Writer Feature)
• Selected — Venice Shorts, New York Independent Cinema Awards, Montreal Independent, Horrors4You London
Full list in one-pager.

TEASE (public only):
Oct 15, 1968 — Scott Hask delivers his own son in backseat. Same night, deranged woman steals newborn Steven from nursery, chants in strange tongues, eyes flash solid black, curses him. Hospital covers it up.

1975 — Steven is 6, silent, odd, obsessed with fire. Mom was 3 months sober at birth, now drinking. Dad's plant closing. Sister embarrassed. Baby Heather screams near him. Bullied as "Creepy." Matches disappear. Learns fire step by step, movie → bird → haunted house at County Fair → County Fair fire that shouldn't have happened.

Halloween Night 1975 — hasn't hurt anyone yet that day, until a car crash. That crash is the trigger. That night's payback is family-focused. All practical fire — matches/fuel, no powers.

TONE/BUDGET: Slow-burn 1970s small-town horror. Contained (small town + hospital), $100K-$1M range. Practical fire only.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR: Producer, financing, or sales/distribution conversation for contained practical horror.

Attached: One-Pager v11 with full awards + 13x Award Winner banner.

— Barry
Click to expand...

Barry, the contained setup and defined budget range are strong selling points for a project like this. I’d probably lead with those when approaching producers and use the awards as supporting validation. Are you looking to package STEVEN with a producer first, or are you already having financing conversations?
 
Michael said:
Barry, the contained setup and defined budget range are strong selling points for a project like this. I’d probably lead with those when approaching producers and use the awards as supporting validation. Are you looking to package STEVEN with a producer first, or are you already having financing conversations?
Click to expand...
Hi Michael, thanks for that, really appreciate the note.

You're exactly right, I'm leading with contained + budget ($100K-$1M, small town + hospital, practical fire only — matches/fuel, no VFX/powers) and using the 13x awards as supporting validation.

To your question: Looking to package STEVEN with a producer first ideally someone with contained horror / practical effects track record. No financing conversations open yet, keeping it offline for qualified producer packaging.

100p, WGAE Registered #I347110, script available for qualified review under NDA. One-pager + 13x banner + 2-page Zoltan package are attached in the thread above.

Open to DMs if you have packaging thoughts thanks again.

— BarryM
 
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BarryM said:
Hi Michael, thanks for that, really appreciate the note.

You're exactly right, I'm leading with contained + budget ($100K-$1M, small town + hospital, practical fire only — matches/fuel, no VFX/powers) and using the 13x awards as supporting validation.

To your question: Looking to package STEVEN with a producer first ideally someone with contained horror / practical effects track record. No financing conversations open yet, keeping it offline for qualified producer packaging.

100p, WGAE Registered #I347110, script available for qualified review under NDA. One-pager + 13x banner + 2-page Zoltan package are attached in the thread above.

Open to DMs if you have packaging thoughts thanks again.

— BarryM
Click to expand...

Barry, one thing that may be worth tightening before producer outreach is the $100K–$1M budget range. Those numbers can represent two very different versions of the film in terms of cast, crew, production value and financing strategy. It might be stronger to lead with a realistic target budget, then show what additional financing would actually add to the package. Have you done a preliminary breakdown to identify STEVEN’s real production sweet spot?
 
Samantha said:
Barry, one thing that may be worth tightening before producer outreach is the $100K–$1M budget range. Those numbers can represent two very different versions of the film in terms of cast, crew, production value and financing strategy. It might be stronger to lead with a realistic target budget, then show what additional financing would actually add to the package. Have you done a preliminary breakdown to identify STEVEN’s real production sweet spot?
Click to expand...
Hi Samantha, thank you — that's a really valuable note and you're exactly right.

The $100K-$1M in the post was to show viability, but my preliminary breakdown sweet spot is $375K target:

• $175K minimum viable — non-union, 15 days, 2 locations (small town + hospital), practical fire only (matches/fuel, no VFX/powers), lean crew.

• $375K target — SAG Ultra Low, 18 days, adds contingency + name character actor for the doctor + fire safety/insurance.

• $1M adds name cast for mother + expanded festival/PR package, but not required to shoot.

I've got a rough 18-day schedule / 2-location strip and the budget top sheet. Happy to send the one-pager with the $375K target broken out if useful — still packaging producer-first as discussed.

Really appreciate you flagging that.


Barry
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max
BarryM said:
Hi all - Barry Miller, WGAE Registered #I347110, Phillipsburg NJ — Stage32 Logline Rated 5.0/5 (3 ratings).

Introducing STEVEN — 100p contained 1975 horror.

LOGLINE: John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN meets THE OMEN and CARRIE. On Halloween night, 1975, a silent 6-year-old boy, cursed at birth in a hospital, sets his entire world ablaze.

WHERE IT STANDS: Locked one-pager v11 matches public FilmFreeway synopsis. 100-page script offline for qualified review only (not public). Festival circuit.

AWARDS: 13x for STEVEN in 2021:

• Best Horror Script — Gold Star Movie Awards (Newark, NJ)
• Best Feature Script / Screenplay — Gona Film Awards — WINNER
• Best First-Time Scriptwriter — Horror Bowl — WINNER
• Best Debut Script Writer — Red Dragon Creative Awards (Dallas)
• Best Plot — Adbhooture Film Festival
• Best Villain / Award Winner — Frights! Camera! Action! UK
• Award Winner — World Film Carnival Singapore + Virgin Spring Cinefest
• Quarter Finalist — The Script Showcase (Best 1st Time Writer Feature)
• Selected — Venice Shorts, New York Independent Cinema Awards, Montreal Independent, Horrors4You London
Full list in one-pager.

TEASE (public only):
Oct 15, 1968 — Scott Hask delivers his own son in backseat. Same night, deranged woman steals newborn Steven from nursery, chants in strange tongues, eyes flash solid black, curses him. Hospital covers it up.

1975 — Steven is 6, silent, odd, obsessed with fire. Mom was 3 months sober at birth, now drinking. Dad's plant closing. Sister embarrassed. Baby Heather screams near him. Bullied as "Creepy." Matches disappear. Learns fire step by step, movie → bird → haunted house at County Fair → County Fair fire that shouldn't have happened.

Halloween Night 1975 — hasn't hurt anyone yet that day, until a car crash. That crash is the trigger. That night's payback is family-focused. All practical fire — matches/fuel, no powers.

TONE/BUDGET: Slow-burn 1970s small-town horror. Contained (small town + hospital), $100K-$1M range. Practical fire only.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR: Producer, financing, or sales/distribution conversation for contained practical horror.

Attached: One-Pager v11 with full awards + 13x Award Winner banner.

— Barry
Click to expand...
UPDATE v12 — per Industry feedback in thread (thanks Samantha/Michael), tightened budget to $375K Target ($175K min viable / $1M with name cast) — 18 days, 2 locations, practical fire only. Previous v11 above still shows old $100K-$1M range.

— Barry
 
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BarryM said:
Hi Samantha, thank you that's a really valuable note and you're exactly right.

The $100K-$1M in the post was to show viability, but my preliminary breakdown sweet spot is $375K target:

• $175K minimum viable non-union, 15 days, 2 locations (small town + hospital), practical fire only (matches/fuel, no VFX/powers), lean crew.

• $375K target, SAG Ultra Low, 18 days, adds contingency + name character actor for the doctor + fire safety/insurance.

• $1M adds name cast for mother + expanded festival/PR package, but not required to shoot.

I've got a rough 18-day schedule / 2-location strip and the budget top sheet. Happy to send the one-pager with the $375K target broken out if useful — still packaging producer-first as discussed.

Really appreciate you flagging that.


Barry
Click to expand...

Barry, $375K feels like a much clearer proposition. At that level, I’d start thinking not only about where the money goes, but which elements create the most market value. For a project like STEVEN, North America would obviously be an important primary market, but ideally the package should also be built so the concept can travel internationally. If you could strengthen one element at the $375K level cast, production value, or market positioning which do you think would give the film the strongest chance with buyers?
 
Max said:
Barry, $375K feels like a much clearer proposition. At that level, I’d start thinking not only about where the money goes, but which elements create the most market value. For a project like STEVEN, North America would obviously be an important primary market, but ideally the package should also be built so the concept can travel internationally. If you could strengthen one element at the $375K level cast, production value, or market positioning which do you think would give the film the strongest chance with buyers?
Click to expand...
Hi Max, great question — and exactly where I'm focusing the $375K.


At that level, I'd prioritize cast first, specifically Mother as the market anchor:


• Cast: A recognizable genre-mother (70s-born, festival/genre credits) is the single biggest buyer trigger at this budget. The rest can be strong regional / SAG Ultra Low. $1M level would just add a bigger name for the same role + expanded PR/festival package — not required to shoot.


• Production value: Within $375K, the money goes to what buyers see on screen: 1975 authenticity (small town + hospital = 2 locations, period detail) and a dedicated practical fire safety/insurance line — all fire is matches/fuel, no VFX/powers. That's the elevated part.


• Market positioning: Contained horror travels. The core — silent 6-year-old cursed at birth, family on Halloween 1975 — is universal, not US-dependent. North America is primary, but 1970s period + family horror + practical fire plays internationally, plus the 13x awards validation helps with festival positioning.


I have an 18-day strip / 2-location top sheet built around that $375K target. Happy to send the updated v12 one-pager with the breakdown if helpful.


Thanks again for flagging it —


Barry
Thanks for the like
 
BarryM said:
Hi Max, great question and exactly where I'm focusing the $375K.

At that level, I'd prioritize cast first, specifically Mother as the market anchor:

• Cast: A recognizable genre-mother (70s-born, festival/genre credits) is the single biggest buyer trigger at this budget. The rest can be strong regional / SAG Ultra Low. $1M level would just add a bigger name for the same role + expanded PR/festival package not required to shoot.

• Production value: Within $375K, the money goes to what buyers see on screen: 1975 authenticity (small town + hospital = 2 locations, period detail) and a dedicated practical fire safety/insurance line all fire is matches/fuel, no VFX/powers. That's the elevated part.

• Market positioning: Contained horror travels. The core silent 6-year-old cursed at birth, family on Halloween 1975 is universal, not US-dependent. North America is primary, but 1970s period + family horror + practical fire plays internationally, plus the 13x awards validation helps with festival positioning.

I have an 18-day strip / 2-location top sheet built around that $375K target. Happy to send the updated v12 one-pager with the breakdown if helpful.

Thanks again for flagging it.

Barry
Thanks for the like
Click to expand...

Barry, the $375K version feels much more focused now. One other avenue that might be worth exploring is the genre sales side. I know Raven Banner works extensively with horror and genre films, and Black Mandala is involved in both genre production and international sales. Companies operating in that space are also likely to have relationships with producers who understand this kind of project, so they may be worth researching as you build the package.

Beyond financing, what would you most want from the right producer for STEVEN, genre experience, packaging connections, or a strong track record with sales and distribution?
 
Hi Michael — thanks, that $375K focus came straight from Max/Samantha notes, so glad it reads tighter now.

Appreciate the pointers to Raven Banner and Black Mandala — I'll research their genre sales / production slates as I build the package. That side is exactly what I was trying to get to with the international question.

To your question — beyond financing, what I want most is genre experience + a track record with sales/distribution first, packaging connections second. Carpenter-esque epic horror needs a producer who understands contained practical fire and can get it to buyers, not just finance.

For reference, now described as:


STEVEN — Carpenter-esque epic horror — 13x Award-Winning — 5.0/5 Stage32

Pro Coverage: "A grand epic of horror – reminiscent of those kinds of Carpenter films that we all love..."

Logline: HALLOWEEN meets THE OMEN and CARRIE — Halloween night, 1975, silent 6-year-old cursed at birth sets his world ablaze.

100p, WGAE I347110, $375K target ($175K min viable / $1M with name cast), 18-day / 2-location.


New v13 one-pager attached with the coverage quote. Thanks again for flagging the sales avenue.


Barry
 
UPDATE: The new v13 one-pager, now including the Pro Coverage Carpenter quote, replaces v12. Please use v13 as the current version going forward.
 
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Parabéns BarryM! Filme premiado é inspiração.
Sou atriz de Angola e adoro terror.
Desejo muito sucesso no financiamento!
 
BarryM said:
UPDATE: The new v13 one-pager, now including the Pro Coverage Carpenter quote, replaces v12. Please use v13 as the current version going forward.
Click to expand...

Barry, since the screenplay is complete, have you had any interest yet from a sales agent or distributor even a letter of interest or LOI? That kind of early market validation can make a real difference when approaching producers and investors.

We’ve also shared STEVEN where we can to help give the project more visibility. The more industry people who see it, the better the chance of it reaching the right producer, sales partner or investor.
 
Zoltan said:
Barry, since the screenplay is complete, have you had any interest yet from a sales agent or distributor even a letter of interest or LOI? That kind of early market validation can make a real difference when approaching producers and investors.

We’ve also shared STEVEN where we can to help give the project more visibility. The more industry people who see it, the better the chance of it reaching the right producer, sales partner or investor.
Click to expand...
Hi Zoltan — thanks again for sharing STEVEN.

UPDATE: The original post has been updated with the latest and corrected project information and materials, including the new v13.5 one-pager.

Please refer to Post #1 for the current version of STEVEN.
Click to expand...
 
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Zoltan said:
Barry, since the screenplay is complete, have you had any interest yet from a sales agent or distributor even a letter of interest or LOI? That kind of early market validation can make a real difference when approaching producers and investors.

We’ve also shared STEVEN where we can to help give the project more visibility. The more industry people who see it, the better the chance of it reaching the right producer, sales partner or investor.
Click to expand...
Hi Zoltan, thanks for sharing STEVEN and updating the street image today.

No formal LOI yet — just festival traction so far (8 wins / 14 laurels for STEVEN) and early reads. I'm still packaging producer-first, but open to a sales intro if you think it helps with investors.

Appreciate the push.

Barry
 
Barry, STEVEN has a clear concept and award recognition, but the pitch leans too much on production details and comparisons. The logline works, yet it doesn’t fully show what makes the story unique in today’s horror market. Tightening the focus on the hook and emotional core would make it stronger.
 
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Simon_Writer said:
Barry, STEVEN has a clear concept and award recognition, but the pitch leans too much on production details and comparisons. The logline works, yet it doesn’t fully show what makes the story unique in today’s horror market. Tightening the focus on the hook and emotional core would make it stronger
Click to expand...
Hi Simon, thank you — really helpful note. You're right, I was leading with production details.

Tightened to hook + emotional core:

October 15, 1968, on a rainy night in a small town, a deranged woman steals newborn Steven from the hospital nursery. Cornered by staff, she places a curse on him. The hospital covers it up.

Seven years later, October 1975. Steven is six, silent, odd, and obsessed with fire. His mother has started drinking again. His father learns his chemical plant is closing before Christmas. His teenage sister is embarrassed to be seen with him. Even his two-year-old sister Heather screams when he comes near. At school he's bullied as "Creepy."

The same nurse — fired that day for looking into his sealed files — tracks his parents to a diner to whisper, "That woman cursed him. If someone wrongs him, there will be consequences." They dismiss her as crazy.

Until the County Fair, where a man who humiliates Steven is caught in a fire that shouldn't have happened.

With Halloween night approaching and his parents leaving his older sister in charge for trick-or-treating, Steven is left alone on the streets as something dark finally snaps.

A slow-burn 1970s small-town horror in the vein of John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN meets THE OMEN and CARRIE.

Thanks again for the push to tighten it — does that land more on the unique hook for today's market?

Barry
 
BarryM said:
Hi Simon, thank you really helpful note. You're right, I was leading with production details.

Tightened to hook + emotional core:

October 15, 1968, on a rainy night in a small town, a deranged woman steals newborn Steven from the hospital nursery. Cornered by staff, she places a curse on him. The hospital covers it up.

Seven years later, October 1975. Steven is six, silent, odd, and obsessed with fire. His mother has started drinking again. His father learns his chemical plant is closing before Christmas. His teenage sister is embarrassed to be seen with him. Even his two-year-old sister Heather screams when he comes near. At school he's bullied as "Creepy."

The same nurse fired that day for looking into his sealed files tracks his parents to a diner to whisper, "That woman cursed him. If someone wrongs him, there will be consequences." They dismiss her as crazy.

Until the County Fair, where a man who humiliates Steven is caught in a fire that shouldn't have happened.

With Halloween night approaching and his parents leaving his older sister in charge for trick-or-treating, Steven is left alone on the streets as something dark finally snaps.

A slow-burn 1970s small-town horror in the vein of John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN meets THE OMEN and CARRIE.

Thanks again for the push to tighten it does that land more on the unique hook for today's market?

Barry
Click to expand...

This is definitely stronger, Barry. One thing that might help sharpen it further is identifying the audience’s emotional point of entry.

Steven is clearly the source of the horror, but whose fear, guilt or helplessness are we experiencing as his story unfolds? If there’s one family member who carries that emotional perspective, bringing them forward in the pitch could give producers something more than the horror hook a character journey to attach to.

That might also help distinguish STEVEN from the films being used as comparisons.
 
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