Spicer’s Pigasus Pictures unveils high school contest

Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Zach Spicer

BLOOMINGTON -- Pigasus Pictures, the Indiana-based film company co-founded by Greencastle native Zachary Spicer, is hosting its fourth annual high school short screenplay competition. 

Project Pigasus is no ordinary contest, however. The winning screenplay will be fully produced by the professional production company alongside students in their hometown. Hoosier high schoolers should submit a 12-page screenplay, a one-page description of their film idea, and a short intro video to www.projectpigasus.org.

Submission deadline is Jan. 5.  

“This is an unparalleled opportunity for young people.” John Armstrong, chief operating officer of Pigasus, said. “Growing up in Indiana it often feels like the film industry is so far away.  With Project Pigasus, we bring the film industry right to their doorstep.”

Past winners include Kira Daniels of Madison, Whitney Roberts and Cynthia Foulke of Fishers, and most recently, Marjorie Abrell of Spencer. 

Film production will take place over three days near the end of the 2019-20 school year. The finished film will be screened in Indiana theaters, submitted to film festivals across the country, and subsequently made available for online streaming. 

Submissions are currently open to any high school student in the state of Indiana.    

“We really want everyone to know that if you’ve never written a screenplay before, that’s okay,” Pigasus Chief Executive Officer Zachary Spicer said. “We want to tell real stories about the real experiences of young people growing up in Indiana, so keep it simple and just write what you know.”  

For the last several years, Pigasus producers have proven their dedication to growing the entertainment industry in Indiana. They have produced three full-length feature films (with several more on the horizon), three full-scale short films, have lobbied the state legislature for favorable filmmaking tax credits, and opened a film and theater academy in Bloomington.

“There are a lot of really skilled and talented people in Indiana,” Armstrong said. “A large part of our work is simply connecting them and creating new opportunities. And we especially want to show young people that cool things are happening in Indiana. With the technology now available, you don’t have to be from somewhere else or move somewhere else to get experience in the film world. You can start your creating right in your own backyard.”  

Pigasus has produced acclaimed Indiana feature films “The Good Catholic” (starring Danny Glover and John C. McGinley), “Ms. White Light” (starring Judith Light and John Ortiz), and “The Miseducation of Bind” (starring David Arquette).

“The Good Catholic,” which featured the 35-year-old Spicer in the role of a young Catholic priest facing a personal dilemma, was screened for audiences at Greencastle’s Ashley Square Cinemas in October 2017.

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