"Game of Pawns" wins awards

"Game of Pawns," is the amazing true story of how Chinese Intelligence services recruited Glenn Duffie Shriver, an American student in Shanghai, to infiltrate the C.I.A.  The short film was written by yours truly and produced by Rocket Media for the Counter Intelligence Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It recently won six Peer Awards:

Best Docudrama (under 30 minutes) -Silver

Education/Training ($25K and over) -Silver

Acting on Camera (Dramatic, male) - Silver (Josh Murray)

Directing Non-fiction (Under 30 minutess/Over 50K) - Gold (Tom Feliu)

Editing Non-fiction (Under 30 minutes) - Bronze (T. Scott Snider)

Director of Photography (Dramatic Short)  - Silver (Johnny St. Ours)

As you probably noticed, the script itself didn't take home any awards.  However, since the piece won best docudrama, I think it must've been okay!  Plus, I got a Peer Award last year for writing "Betrayed".  Congratulations to everyone involved, and I'm certain the film will convey a compelling message to students at risk of being compromised by foreign intelligence services.

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New Nonfiction Book Proposal

NEW NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSAL

DATE:                March 2013

TITLE:                The Promise, or The Pros and Cons of Talking With God

AUTHOR:            Sean Paul Murphy is a Baltimore-based, award winning screenwriter with eleven feature film credits, mostly in the faith-based genre.  He is a winner of the $50,000 Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting screenplays in 2012.  He is married and has three stepdaughters.

PITCH:               “The Promise, or, The Pros and Cons of Talking With God” is my inspirational discovery of first faith and first love and how the two became almost fatally intertwined.

AUDIENCE:         Christian Life-Style.  It is a perfect book for Christians dealing with heartbreak.  The book also has hard-earned lessons for people who have either contemplated suicide or experienced the suicide of a loved one.   Most importantly, it reveals that joy can best be found while living obediently in the center of God’s will for your life.

LENGTH:            85,000 words.

INCLUDED:         Synopsis, chapter breakdown and three sample chapters.

RIP Laura Lee Murphy Valenti

My sister Laura Murphy Valenti died nineteen years ago on Valentine's Day.  I miss her everyday.  Below is her obituary from the Sunpapers on February 18, 1994:

LAURA L. VALENTI HELPED RESTORE HOME

Laura L. Valenti, a meticulous gardener who was helping her husband restore an old house in Hamilton and was known for taking in unwanted dogs and cats, died Monday at Johns Hopkins Hospital of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was 31.

The former Laura L. Murphy, a lifelong Hamilton resident who attended St. Dominic School and graduated in 1980 from Mergenthaler Vocational and Senior High School, had been despondent after a recent automobile accident, her family said.

Mrs. Valenti was employed at All-Star Video on Belair Road from 1990 to 1993. Earlier, she was cosmetologist and beautician. "She loved to bake and decorate cakes for birthdays and anniversaries," said her mother, Clara M. Murphy, "I love bingo and on my 50th birthday, she made a cake with two bingo cards that said 'You are a winner.'"

A Mass of Christian burial was to be offered at 9:30am today at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, Harford and Gibbons Avenue.

Other survivors include her husband, Frank N. Valenti, whom she married in 1982; a daughter, Natalie Valenti; four brothers, Douglas E. Murphy, Jr., Sean P. Murphy, Mark B. Murphy and John C. Murphy; a sister, Jeanne Coe; her father Douglas E. Murphy, Sr.; two grandmothers, Margaret Murphy and Rita Pollock. All are of Hamilton. The family suggested memorial donations to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 3300 Falls Road 21211.

Here is a little video tribute I made for her:

Behind the Scenes: Revelation Road

Here's a little behind the scenes of "Revelation Road:  The Beginning of the End."  It features interviews with Bruce Marchiano, who plays the mysterious Stranger, and Monte Perlin, who was the stunt coordinator of this action-packed film.  Don't look for me.  I stayed safely behind my computer in Baltimore during this shoot!

RIP Darren Rydstrom

It is with great sorrow that I must report the death of one of my favorite cinematographers Darren Rydstrom.  He died in a tragic helicopter crash in California while shooting footage for a reality series for the Discovery Channel.   Two other people also died in the crash.

I first worked with Darren on "Holyman Undercover."  My writing partner Tim Ratajczak and I flew out to the set to watch the work.  It was a great experience and it was great meeting Darren.  Our paths next crossed on "In The Blink of an Eye," a film Tim Ratajczak and I were originally slated to write.  We were fired off the film as writers, but I ended up editing it.  Darren did a great job shooting the film in tight corners with limited time and budget.  Next I worked with Darren on my film "The Encounter."  Neither Tim or I went out to the set this time, but we knew the shoot was in good hands, and, if I'm not mistaken, "The Encounter" is now the most profitable film released by PureFlix Entertainment.

Next Darren worked on my film "Revelation Road:  The Beginning of the End," and its sequel, which was made at the same time.  Once again, I didn't go to the set but I was confident the film would look great!  My last dealings with Darren involved the Tim Ratajczak-penned Biblical epic "The Book of Esther."  I edited the film.  I thought Darren did some of his best work on the film.  We exchanged a few calls during the edit as I searched for some footage.  We didn't have an weighty conversations.  Never thought one of them would be the last.  That just goes to show you.  Tomorrow isn't guaranteed to any of us.

Below is a picture of Darren and actor/director/producer/writer David A.R. White from the set of "Holyman Undercover."   David was always quick to share the credit.  Anytime I complimented David on a camera setup or camera move on "Holyman Undercover" or "The Encounter," David would always say it was Darren's idea.

We'll miss you, Darren.

Here are some trailers for films Darren worked on:

Be sure to check out my memoir The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking with God, published by TouchPoint Press. It is my true story of first faith and first love and how the two became almost fatally intertwined.

Here are some sample chapters of The Promise:

Chapter 1 - A Photograph

Chapter 2 - My Death

Chapter 3 - Childhood

Chapter 4 - Saved!

Chapter 5 - The Promise

Chapter 6 - The Mission

Chapter 7 - Mission Accomplished
Chapter 15 - Quarter To Midnight

Be sure to check out my novel Chapel Street. It tells the story of a young man straddling the line between sanity and madness while battling a demonic entity that has driven his family members to suicide for generations. It was inspired by an actual haunting my family experienced.

You can buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.

Learn more about the book, click Here.

Watch the book trailer:

  

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Chapel Street - Prologue - My Mother

Chapel Street - Chapter 1 - RestingPlace.com

Chapel Street - Chapter 2 - Elisabetta

Chapel Street - Chapter 3 - The Upload

Chapel Street - Chapter 4 - The Kobayashi Maru

Read about the true haunting that inspired the novel here:

The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 1, An Introduction
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 2, The House
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 3, This Is Us
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 4, Arrival
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 5, Methodology
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 6, Clara's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 7, Clara's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 8, My Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 9, My Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 10, My Tale, Pt. 3
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 11, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 12, Natalia's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 13, John's Tale, Pt. 1 
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 14, John's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 15, Come Inside!
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 16, Marion's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 17, Marion's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 18, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 19, Jeanne's Tale, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 20, Lisa's Tale
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 21, Recap, Pt. 1
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 22, Recap, Pt. 2
The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 23, Recap, Pt. 3

The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 24, Bad News Betty

The Haunting of 21 St. Helens Avenue, Part 25, Joe's Tale

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2013 Kairos Prize Finalists

Congratulations to the 2013 Finalists.  Speaking as 2012 winner, I know a couple of you are going to be going an amazing journey soon!

Jonathan Murphy & Joshua Mills of Los Angeles, CA for A BROKEN BRIDGE
Dennis Lofgren of Westlake Village, CA for A LIFE WORTH LIVING
Steve Armour & Steve Gomer of Altadena, CA for ALL SAINTS
Kate Wright of Los Angeles, CA for THE AMERICAN SAINTS
James M. De Vince of Wallingford, CT for THE BASKETBALL
Maggie TerryViale of Napa, CA for THE CRY OF THE DAFFODILS
Sarah Raudszus of Berkley, MI for FROM THE STORM
Randall Hahn of Miami, FL for GIDEON
Romeo Ciolfi of Toronto, Ont., CAN for PLAY BALL
Glenn Griffin, David Hui & Matt Rust of Fitchburg, WI for SCAR OF CAIN
Kenata Martins of West Hollywood, CA for TANGERINE SON
Christopher T. Lovett of Lago Vista, TX for TIES THAT BIND