Dennis Shinners' BOYS IN SUMMER Wins Pride Films and Plays' 2013 Great Gay Screenplay Contest

Pride Films and Plays has announced the winner of the 2013 Great Gay Screenplay contest is Boys In Summer by Dennis Shinners. The award was presented Sunday, November 17 at the conclusion of PFP's Gay Film Weekend in the Hoover-Leppen Theatre of Center on Halsted. The weekend included 'enhanced staged readings' of the top five scripts, including The Starfish Scream by Brent Hartinger, The Passion Child by Amir Sade, Buddy Booth by Edward J. Yaeger Jr., and Saguaro by Brandon Yarns. The weekend also included screenings of the short films The Wait by Mary Guzmán, Scotty Works OUT by Dan Pal, Coffee Talk: Episodes 3 and 4 by Skyrider Films, and Hypocrites + Strippers by Kim Yaged, all having their Chicago premieres.

After the contest, Dennis sent the following note:

"Holy crap!" I blurted out when it was announced that I won this year's Pride Films and Plays' Great Gay Screenplay contest. Not my preferred choice of words, but I hold the martini that was in hand at the time responsible. Not only was I surprised but very happy I chose to take part in this year's tough competition amongst talented writers.

Truth be told I had an excellent advantage to have the piece elevated by the gifted PF&P company member Nelson Rodriguez, whose work with a very talented and brave cast brought to life revelations, successes and areas that need development that I was too close to the work to realize.

It was a really great and rare experience to participate as an audience member for one's own work by an authentic and professional organization that brings stories from LGBT life to the world.

If you're a writer out there with a story to tell, I say get on board. They're also great to drink martinis with.

Boys in Summer Synopsis:

A shy American college boy travels to Paris to reconnect with a French exchange student from his high school years and finds himself in battle for his affections with a bold, brash and aggressive Jersey girl.

Dennis Shinners grew up in New Jersey, attended NYU's film school and has called the city of New York home ever since. He is a writer, producer and director of high profile award-winning on-air campaigns for Nickelodeon, Nick @ Nite, Spike TV, Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, TV Land and the Oxygen Network. His two short films, "Area X" and GO-GO have enjoyed both domestic and international festival runs and distribution deals. His latest short Barrio Boy, based on a 2012 Pride Films & Plays screenplay finalist, hits the road this winter.

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