Emerging Screenwriter Mark Winzer Wins Prestigious Award in the CCIFF Screenplay Competition

Nov. 24, 2009 - PRLog -- The Cinema City International Online Film Festival is proud to announce Mark Winzer as this month’s winner of the “Best Screenplay” award for his film “Dressed in a Black Flag”.  

Winzer studied film at Grand Valley State University and earned a Master of Arts degree from Seton Hall University.  Mark enjoys writing screenplays that both entertain and challenge the viewer through bold choices with subject matter and style.  As a Gulf War veteran he is especially capable of adroitly writing authenticity into the action genre.  DRESSED IN A BLACK FLAG is based on the true life rise, capture and trial of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two women who rejected the shackles of 1720 society to become pirates on the high seas.  

The historical subject matter is compelling and timely.  Mark broke away from the typical cliché's of the genre to explore how these notorious female pirates rose within the ranks of a male pirate crew during an era where sailors considered it unlucky just to have a woman on board a ship.   As with other pirates of the golden age of piracy, much of their story is considered folklore or legend.  Unlike other pirates, their trial in 1720 created a scandalous sensation in society as the public learned that Anne and Mary sailed as equals with the men of Captain "Calico" Jack Rackham's crew.  They commonly wore men's clothing and this revelation caused a media frenzy in the New World and across the Atlantic.  Anne and Mary dismissed all the restrictions placed on contemporary women of the era and became for many icons of feminine power.  They broke all the rules to live free on the seas.

The subplot explores the near economic collapse of the British Empire during the summer of 1720 caused by English noblemen artificially inflating the stock value of the South Seas Company.  When that economic bubble burst, numerous members of high society were bankrupted and the effects were so widespread that the Empire itself teetered on economic ruin.  When one considers the events that unfolded on Wall Street last fall, an audience will find it interesting to be able to apply some historical perspective to our current events.  

Anne Bonny, the main character, is a well developed protagonist with clearly defined goals and a transformation that will offer an exciting challenge to both actor and director.  Her larger than life persona and her abhorrence for the defined societal norms make her instantly likeable and she has reeled audiences into the story at the live readings of the script at film festivals.  Her strong moral code contrasted to the bloody life she has chosen adds a depth unfamiliar to the genre and makes her truly worthy of a lead role that would appeal to an "A" list actress.  

“This is an extremely interesting concept for a screenplay”, said 30 year veteran film director and co-founder of the festival, Suzanne DeLaurentiis.  She further commented, “Our festivals are dedicated to making things happen for emerging filmmakers and screenwriters.  Since the launch of our first festival we have cultivated excellent relationships within the film community nationally.  We strive to become the “voice for independent filmmakers”.  

The festival represents a new wave of independent filmmakers and offers a unique opportunity for members of the film

# # #

About Suzanne DeLaurentiis: Suzanne DeLaurentiis is a thirty year film veteran and is the recipient of several proclamations from the mayors of major cities throughout the United States for bringing quality film projects, as well as tens of millions of dollars to the cities' economies. A tireless advocate for the Marine Veterans Association, Suzanne also supports a number of other causes including the Lupus Foundation and the Multi-Cultural Motion Picture Association. In addition, she is the co-founder of the Cinema City International Film Festival.

Some of Suzanne's independent filmmaking credits include 10th & Wolf, Brothers By Blood, Silicon Towers, Pocket Ninjas, Skate Dragons, Twin Towers, Graduation Day, Out of the Black, Shut-up Kiss and Me, A Month of Sundays, The Vegas Connection, Mutant Man, Swiss Family Robinson, Mannequin 2, Rocky V, Transylmania and New Hope Manor.