|
I never met Edmond before the shooting of Precious Mettle, yet I feel like I have known him for years, he has written a wonderful screenplay, and now we are good friends. Paul Sorvino "Screenwriting CAN Change Your Life!" I am Jay Stamatis,Man of God, Screenwriter, loving father, family man, business man and so on...as you can see, screenwriter is near the top, and we writers cannot help this paradox. It is who we are, and who we become. When I started off, I had two scripts under my belt and thought I was the champ....and then I met Edmond. I was referred to him by a mutual friend after he had just made his feature film "Chasing Gold" starring Paul Sorvino.So, at that exact time, I had this great mob comedy concept in tow, and needed to get the script going. Before I knew it we were writing it, collaborating and putting together a fantastic story entitled "Don Appetit!" "Don Appetit!" has won numerous awards and is now being developed! In my case, I was a writer who met Edmond at the right place and the right time. To further refine my writing skills and understand brevity and structure. His guidance surely enhanced my writing and brought me to another level. I believe in God, and know he puts people together. He put Edmond and I together for a reason, and now we have written several scripts together, and still collaborate to this day. Kudos to Edmond for being an excellent steward of the written word and helping others achieve their utmost potential...and nurturing that potential. It has made me the writer that I am today...and this writer is breaking into the field and on the cusp of a production deal! Thanks again Edmond. I am sorry though, as I could not contain this to two sentences, this testimonial truly deserves a story of its own...but that is another script, and I couldn't think of anyone better to write it with than Edmond Coisson! Best, Jay Stamatis Don Appetit! A screenplay by Edmond G Coisson and Jay Stamatis Review from the Chicago International Film Festival 2020 Though high action movies can sometimes be waved away for prioritizing thrills and pulse pounding set pieces over character development, a script like Don Appetit! comes along to show this isn’t always the case. This isn’t to say that this story doesn’t know how to bring the excitement. Life and death conflict, big plot twists, and aggressive personalities are all the name of the game in this narrative. However, character isn’t neglected amongst all the fireworks in the plot. Though a deep character study isn’t the draw of the script, characters all speak in distinctive voices and have clear goals that don’t waver just for the sake of the plot. The bombast of the plot points are derived from character choices and not coincidence. It grants depth to the characters as actions are met with dire consequences and gives real stakes to the ensuing action. I also liked the morally grey actions the characters take. It’s expected of the genre, but making tough character choices where there isn’t a clear right answer makes this script really pop. It raises heady questions about the objectivity of morality, and the writer does well to make characters back up their ideologies through action. The cast, is constantly tested, pushed to the edge to see if their actions match their convictions. It makes for interesting drama and allows the themes to take shape naturally as world views collide in the plot, rather than through obvious and didactic speeches. All in all, this amounts to a great read that sticks with you. All the other aspects necessary to form a complete screenplay are present. The characters are distinct and the structure is solid. At 119 pages this comes in on the lengthier side, but there’s rarely a moment where the script feels like its lagging. Each scene is built upon the last, leading to a lot of forward momentum that concludes with a satisfying climax. While the script maintains a classic three-act structure, I still found it difficult to predict the plot with a lot of twists and turns. Without any singular glaring issue, Don Appetit! proves to be a very enjoyable screenplay that knows how to bring the action without forgetting to develop character. I think Edmond Coisson has done an admirable job in focusing on the real issues in the town that I worked and lived in the western suburbs of Chicago, for the screenplay purpose now is called Raywood, and, focused on my efforts in trying to deal with them at great personal risk. Edmond truly deserves to be recognized as a good writer of the screenplay which I hope will have tremendous redeeming value in the long run. Ray Moffitt, ACSW Founder / Director of the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe (acronym for Messages Which Are Hopeful!) Edmond has a vast overview of the movie industry due to his 40 plus years in the industry. This has been accomplished by his passion for coaching/teaching screenwriting, and, the contacts he has made in the industry. With his knowledge he is able to bring out the best in you, and he is also very flexible in his schedule to adjust to yours. Dominic Bothen Working with Edmond was a truly rewarding experience. As a passionate storyteller, he helps the scene breathe within it's own sphere and I learned a lot from him in taking the time to let the story develop. With that said, his expertise will be useful to the beginner script writer or the seasoned professional looking to collaborate or being coached. Tin Penavic |