We are proud to announce that we have brought the Pens to Lens program under the wing of our Youth Co. program.
Warehouse Living Arts Center, Navarro Council of the Arts, Corsicana Independent School District and the Hull Creative Arts Foundation team up to bring a part of the filmmaking process to students to help them learn analytical thinking and an appreciation for the arts. Students will have new opportunities to work with technology, collaborate with peers and mentors, and show off their talents at the Pens to Lens Student Red Carpet Gala.
FROM THE SCRIPT TO THE SCREEN
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Aaaaand ACTION! The Pens to Lens program nurtures within students a number of artistic aspects of the film making process where writers, artists, actors, editors, directors and camera operators come together to bring scripts to life.
For the 2023-2024 competition, students (public, private & home schools) will be split into 3 groups:
Scripts from each group are judged with 3rd, 2nd and 1st place winners receiving cash or awards based on their ranking. 1st Place Winners get their script produced into short film. 2nd Place Winners will have their script cast and read on stage. 3rd Place Winners get their synopsis read. Once shot and edited we will hold a Red Carpet Gala event in May where everyone gets to see the fruits of everyone's creative labor! See Rules & Elegibility below. |
RULES & ELEGIBILITY FOR 2023-2024
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WHO IS ELEIGIBLE
SCHEDULE & DEADLINES
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RULES
Scripts Must:
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Judging Criteria
Entries will be chosen from each of three age categories: grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Script entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
Poster entries will based on the winning scripts. The 1st place winners from each grade group will be given to art classes of the same age group. Entries for the Poster portion of the competition will also be judged on two sets of criteria:
All entries must be original and the sole work of the author(s). Submissions that use copyrighted characters or familiar stories will not be considered. Students are welcome to adapt their own work from other projects into screenplays. However, repeat entries from previous Navarro County Pens To Lens competitions will not be considered. Assistance from teachers and parents is expected, but the student is responsible for the ideas in the story and the way those ideas are expressed. We encourage proofreading of the stories prior to submission.
By submitting a script, students give the Warehouse Living Arts Center the right to produce their script.
Navarro County Pens to Lens nor its filmmakers will own student scripts, nor will they make money from the project. Students, and their parent and teacher sponsors if applicable, agree by submitting that they allow the writer’s name to be used in film credits, in publicity materials promoting the NC Pens To Lens Gala and any other aspects of the competition and promotion of the NC Pens to Lens program and its affiliates. The writer’s name will not be used for profit or outside the context of the NC Pens To Lens screenwriting competition.
WLAC, Navarro Council of the Arts, Hull Creative Arts Foundation (501(3)c, CISD, and any other entities involved are not liable for any legal or medical issues that may arise from the production of any film.
Entries will be chosen from each of three age categories: grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Script entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
- How well the rules and formatting were followed.
- Community filmmakers and artists will choose screenplays that they would like to bring to life.
- Screenplays chosen for films will be creative and understand the practical limitations of filmmaking.
Poster entries will based on the winning scripts. The 1st place winners from each grade group will be given to art classes of the same age group. Entries for the Poster portion of the competition will also be judged on two sets of criteria:
- How well the poster depicts/represents the script it is based on.
- Overall artistic ability relative to the age group.
All entries must be original and the sole work of the author(s). Submissions that use copyrighted characters or familiar stories will not be considered. Students are welcome to adapt their own work from other projects into screenplays. However, repeat entries from previous Navarro County Pens To Lens competitions will not be considered. Assistance from teachers and parents is expected, but the student is responsible for the ideas in the story and the way those ideas are expressed. We encourage proofreading of the stories prior to submission.
By submitting a script, students give the Warehouse Living Arts Center the right to produce their script.
Navarro County Pens to Lens nor its filmmakers will own student scripts, nor will they make money from the project. Students, and their parent and teacher sponsors if applicable, agree by submitting that they allow the writer’s name to be used in film credits, in publicity materials promoting the NC Pens To Lens Gala and any other aspects of the competition and promotion of the NC Pens to Lens program and its affiliates. The writer’s name will not be used for profit or outside the context of the NC Pens To Lens screenwriting competition.
WLAC, Navarro Council of the Arts, Hull Creative Arts Foundation (501(3)c, CISD, and any other entities involved are not liable for any legal or medical issues that may arise from the production of any film.
Resources
You can write your script using any program you have available to you such as Microsoft Word or Apple's Pages. Another great resource is Google Docs where all you need is a gmail account and a web browser. There are also a number of script writing software options available. Below are a few of the free ones we have found:
Free Script Writing Software: > FADE IN | > KIT SCENARIST | > WRITER DUET
Free Script Writing Software: > FADE IN | > KIT SCENARIST | > WRITER DUET
SCREENWRITING FORMATING SAMPLES
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TEACHER & PARENT GUIDES
The original Pens to Lens that inspired Lynda Green to start the Navarro County Pens to Lens has a set of lesson plans and examples that you can download and use to teach within this PDF.
Here is the scoring sheet judges will be using to rank each submission. You can use this to work with your student or child when working with them on developing their script (just be sure you're only helping guide them and not writing it for them!):
Here is the scoring sheet judges will be using to rank each submission. You can use this to work with your student or child when working with them on developing their script (just be sure you're only helping guide them and not writing it for them!):
| scoresheet_for_pens_to_lens.pdf |
Past Winners
2022-2023
Senior
1st Lindsay Branch, Script: Her Letter From the Boat, 2nd Christian Cuellar, Script: Freshmen, 3rd Carson Hoover, Script: Abbie
Intermediate
1st Paulina Solis, Script: The Unexpected Day, 2nd Joselynn Gonzalez, Script: The Homework Hero, 3rd Charles Parson, Script: Acid
Elementary 1st
Sophia Gonzalez, Charlette Stewart, Piper Capps, Script: The Finding
Elementary 2nd
Abigail Grider, Jadyn Taylor, Victoria Rico, Script: Necklace Generations
Elementary 3rd
Asa Burns, Christopher Lewis, Beau McCarthy, Luke McSpadden, Script: A-bomb-alypse
The films were directed by Zane Marsh, Colton Ogburn, and Frances Dodds. The editing was done by Zane Marsh, Colton Ogburn, and Jack Allen. Camera work was done by Zane Marsh, Colton Ogburn, and Jack Allen.
1st Lindsay Branch, Script: Her Letter From the Boat, 2nd Christian Cuellar, Script: Freshmen, 3rd Carson Hoover, Script: Abbie
Intermediate
1st Paulina Solis, Script: The Unexpected Day, 2nd Joselynn Gonzalez, Script: The Homework Hero, 3rd Charles Parson, Script: Acid
Elementary 1st
Sophia Gonzalez, Charlette Stewart, Piper Capps, Script: The Finding
Elementary 2nd
Abigail Grider, Jadyn Taylor, Victoria Rico, Script: Necklace Generations
Elementary 3rd
Asa Burns, Christopher Lewis, Beau McCarthy, Luke McSpadden, Script: A-bomb-alypse
The films were directed by Zane Marsh, Colton Ogburn, and Frances Dodds. The editing was done by Zane Marsh, Colton Ogburn, and Jack Allen. Camera work was done by Zane Marsh, Colton Ogburn, and Jack Allen.
2021-2022
Elementary Winner
Mae Baldwin
Script: Best Friends
Junior High (tie)
Olivia Heisserman and Ava Rodriguez
Script: An Unexpected Day
Abigail Berg
Script: Backpack Switcheroo
High School Winner
Christian Cuellar
The films were directed by Mae Baldwin, Jay Jones, Guy Chapman, and John Kaiser III. The editing was done by Julie and Marcus Baldwin, Jay Jones, Guy Chapman, and Christian Cuellar. Camera work was done by Marcus Baldwin, John Kaiser, and Guy Chapman.
Mae Baldwin
Script: Best Friends
Junior High (tie)
Olivia Heisserman and Ava Rodriguez
Script: An Unexpected Day
Abigail Berg
Script: Backpack Switcheroo
High School Winner
Christian Cuellar
The films were directed by Mae Baldwin, Jay Jones, Guy Chapman, and John Kaiser III. The editing was done by Julie and Marcus Baldwin, Jay Jones, Guy Chapman, and Christian Cuellar. Camera work was done by Marcus Baldwin, John Kaiser, and Guy Chapman.
2019-2020
SCRIPT WRITING WINNERS
The high school winners are:
Cayden McGee, first place; Samantha Miranda, and Christian Cuelliar, Karen VanDiver, teacher, CHS
Grades 5-8 winners:
Lana Gober, first place; Mattehew Perez, and Kate Higgs, LaReese Arnold, teacher, JJCS
Elementary winners:
JaTaveanna Willis, first place; Kyla Ross, Eva Sodd, Bowie Elementary.
All the scripts and filming have been revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The high school script will be acted by members of the same family. Direction will be done virtually. The grades 5-8 script will be filmed in a family home with an amended script for safe filming conditions. Zoom and cell phone footage will be used.
POSTER WINNERS
Birthday Scare
Tie : Bowie Madelynn Berry
Bowie Annabelle Robertson
Both 4th graders | Bowie | Fowler
From Everyone
Caroline Brown
4th grade | Bowie | Wilkes
There is No such Thing as Uno
Addie Jones
4th grade | Bowie | Wilkes
The high school winners are:
Cayden McGee, first place; Samantha Miranda, and Christian Cuelliar, Karen VanDiver, teacher, CHS
Grades 5-8 winners:
Lana Gober, first place; Mattehew Perez, and Kate Higgs, LaReese Arnold, teacher, JJCS
Elementary winners:
JaTaveanna Willis, first place; Kyla Ross, Eva Sodd, Bowie Elementary.
All the scripts and filming have been revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The high school script will be acted by members of the same family. Direction will be done virtually. The grades 5-8 script will be filmed in a family home with an amended script for safe filming conditions. Zoom and cell phone footage will be used.
POSTER WINNERS
Birthday Scare
Tie : Bowie Madelynn Berry
Bowie Annabelle Robertson
Both 4th graders | Bowie | Fowler
From Everyone
Caroline Brown
4th grade | Bowie | Wilkes
There is No such Thing as Uno
Addie Jones
4th grade | Bowie | Wilkes
2018-2019
First place winners for movie produced from grades first to third went to Ailey Moore and her movie “Miss Goldie and the Three Students.”
She is a second grader from Sam Houston Elementary.
Cast includes: Mae Baldwin, Grayson Smith, Ailey Moore. Narrator - Julie Mitchell. Film Crew: Martin Nuez, Azucena Nuez, William Ahmed, Shakrukh Ahmed; director: Markus Baldwin and editors, Adam Flores and Johan Rodriguez.
Corbin Branch, narrator, earned first place in grades fourth through fifth for his production of “Little Red in the Big City".
He is a student at Sam Houston Elementary.
Cast includes: Lindsay Branch, Debbie Hanks, Markus Baldwin. Corbin Branch, Narrator. Film Crew: Martin Nuez, Azucena Nuez, Teresa Roberson, Elizabeth Wadsworth; director: Julie Mitchell and editor: Gerardo Delgadillo.
First place in the sixth through eighth grade division went to Christian Cuellar for his movie “RHETORICALLY.”
He is an eighth grader at Corsicana Middle School.
Cast includes: Christian Cuellar, Macee Shealy, Hannah Carlisle, Guy Chapman. Film Crew: Elizabeth Wadsworth, Azucena Nuez, Martin Nuez.;
director, John Kaiser; editor, Martin Nuez.
Kayla Rozelle, 11th grader at Corsicana High School earned first place in grades ninth through twelfth division for her movie, “The Hideout.”
Cast includes: Kayla Rozelle and Cayden McGee.
Film Crew: William Ahmed, Shakrukh Ahmed, Ben Rozelle, Logan Stallings; director, Tabitha Wilkes; editor: Kayla Rozelle and credit editor, Wesley Gunn.
Poster and story board winners include: Wesley Gunn, Corsicana High School student, with his poster, “What's Left Behind” Aubrey Prator, first through third grade division for her poster, “The Three Little Raptors” and Verniece Agreda in her story board ninth through 12th grade.
She is a second grader from Sam Houston Elementary.
Cast includes: Mae Baldwin, Grayson Smith, Ailey Moore. Narrator - Julie Mitchell. Film Crew: Martin Nuez, Azucena Nuez, William Ahmed, Shakrukh Ahmed; director: Markus Baldwin and editors, Adam Flores and Johan Rodriguez.
Corbin Branch, narrator, earned first place in grades fourth through fifth for his production of “Little Red in the Big City".
He is a student at Sam Houston Elementary.
Cast includes: Lindsay Branch, Debbie Hanks, Markus Baldwin. Corbin Branch, Narrator. Film Crew: Martin Nuez, Azucena Nuez, Teresa Roberson, Elizabeth Wadsworth; director: Julie Mitchell and editor: Gerardo Delgadillo.
First place in the sixth through eighth grade division went to Christian Cuellar for his movie “RHETORICALLY.”
He is an eighth grader at Corsicana Middle School.
Cast includes: Christian Cuellar, Macee Shealy, Hannah Carlisle, Guy Chapman. Film Crew: Elizabeth Wadsworth, Azucena Nuez, Martin Nuez.;
director, John Kaiser; editor, Martin Nuez.
Kayla Rozelle, 11th grader at Corsicana High School earned first place in grades ninth through twelfth division for her movie, “The Hideout.”
Cast includes: Kayla Rozelle and Cayden McGee.
Film Crew: William Ahmed, Shakrukh Ahmed, Ben Rozelle, Logan Stallings; director, Tabitha Wilkes; editor: Kayla Rozelle and credit editor, Wesley Gunn.
Poster and story board winners include: Wesley Gunn, Corsicana High School student, with his poster, “What's Left Behind” Aubrey Prator, first through third grade division for her poster, “The Three Little Raptors” and Verniece Agreda in her story board ninth through 12th grade.
2017-2018
Third Grade — Sam Houston Elementary
"The Visit to the Salvia Jungle"
Allyson Ramos, Dennise Alonso, Analia Garcia
Fourth Grade — Sam Houston Elementary
First Place - Sam Houston Elementary
"Three Wishes"
Ava Rodriguez, Olivia Heisserman, Josue Gonzalez, Giovanni Guarneros
Second Place – Sam Houston Elementary
"The Lost"
Kelli Boyd, Elle Marie Hintz, Sergio Palacios
Fifth Grade — Collins Catholic School
Tie for First Place
"Mattie’s Mystery" - Juliana Hernandez
"A Space Adventure" - Sofia Thapa
High School Division
First Place - Sam Guffey, Ivan - CHS
Second Place - Stephen Jones - Mildred HS
"The Banana Cream Cabana"
Third Place — Wesley Gunn — CHS
"The Visit to the Salvia Jungle"
Allyson Ramos, Dennise Alonso, Analia Garcia
Fourth Grade — Sam Houston Elementary
First Place - Sam Houston Elementary
"Three Wishes"
Ava Rodriguez, Olivia Heisserman, Josue Gonzalez, Giovanni Guarneros
Second Place – Sam Houston Elementary
"The Lost"
Kelli Boyd, Elle Marie Hintz, Sergio Palacios
Fifth Grade — Collins Catholic School
Tie for First Place
"Mattie’s Mystery" - Juliana Hernandez
"A Space Adventure" - Sofia Thapa
High School Division
First Place - Sam Guffey, Ivan - CHS
Second Place - Stephen Jones - Mildred HS
"The Banana Cream Cabana"
Third Place — Wesley Gunn — CHS
2015-2016
Elementary Division-Fannin Elementary
Madison Edwards
Hillary Zhang
Selena Sanches
Junior High Division—Mildred Junior High
Erin Jones
Second Place, Junior High-Rice Junior High
Hanna Chappell
Lexi Herrin
Jordan Jackson
High School Division-CHS
Erin Derden
Brittany Rhodes
Sarah Montgomery
Kaitlyn Wear
Madison Edwards
Hillary Zhang
Selena Sanches
Junior High Division—Mildred Junior High
Erin Jones
Second Place, Junior High-Rice Junior High
Hanna Chappell
Lexi Herrin
Jordan Jackson
High School Division-CHS
Erin Derden
Brittany Rhodes
Sarah Montgomery
Kaitlyn Wear
