"Window"

Screenplay by Gil De Palma

U.P. National Writers Award for Screenplay

Finalist, 2002 Cinemanila International Film Festival

Semi-finalist, 2001 Paramount Pictures/Chesterfield Film Company The Writers Film Project

Semi-Finalist, 1999 Big Australian International Screenplay Competition

Dear Reader,

Thanks for being here. I'm much honored to have you read a story close to my heart.

I wrote the first version of "Window" back in 1999 to join the Big Australian International Screenplay Competition. It was my first draft and last-minute entry to the competition.

As a young writer who didn't even know standard Hollywood format back then, you could just imagine my amazement when the Big Aussie awarded "Window" semi-finalist out of the many entries from different parts of the world.

I'm sure you would surmise that it encouraged me to keep on improving "Window" to join film festivals and other international competitions.

You got it right. From Manila to Hollywood.

By the grace of God, my little screenplay always placed within the top three of every contest I joined.

At about the same time, my second screenplay "Moon Dragon" (now a novella titled Nevertoon here on Wattpad) became a finalist in the 2003 Moondance International Film Festival.

Too bad, I had to stop creative writing.

For years.

I had to run my own tech company (yes, I also create mobile apps and video games) and work on my ocean conservation cause. Since I didn't have a literary agent, my screenplays and novels just gathered e-dust in my laptop.

Then I discovered Wattpad...

And now you are about to read the magical reality version of "Window."

WARNING: You will watch a movie with me.

You don't realize it, but when you read any of my stories, you're watching its movie with me.

The movie in your mind.

No way around it.

In every story, I only describe the imagery and make my characters come alive to the point where you can put yourself in someone else's shoes.

No flowery words. No long descriptions. No over explaining.

Then your imagination takes control of that magical moment, picks my words apart, and weaves them back together to form the images you see in your mind's eye.

Priceless.

My words can never do justice to what you see.

Even the coolest Hollywood visual effects will fall short of the power of your very own imagination.

How I'd love to see what you see. If you have time, please drop me a line and let me know.

So here you are. You're holding a free premiere ticket to a movie in your mind.

Do you let it pass you by or do you watch it?

I'll be waiting for you on the other side.

Sincerely,

Gil

P.S. It's not possible to write using the standard Hollywood format on Wattpad, so I decided to post the original screenplay pages for you. Below each page, you'll find the screenplay's transcription, slightly modified for your easy reading. Thanks!