Paul Knauer | Script Revolution
Paul Knauer's picture
Paul Knauer
Kansas City, United States

I’m an optioned screenwriter working out of the Kansas City area with a thriller feature currently in pre-production. My main focus is feature writing--thrillers and slightly absurdist comedy with heart. But, I believe becoming a better writer requires pushing personal boundaries, so you’ll notice a thorough mix of genres in my portfolio of shorts. Much of my work has global appeal, evidenced by successful productions (multiple festival award winning shorts) in the UK, UAE and US--along with options in Australia, Russia, India, Canada and Thailand. 

Born and raised in St. Louis, I’ve lived in multiple small towns around Missouri, and now Kansas. My projects often center on life in the Midwest -- highlighting the heart of the hard-working Midwest soul. My first script, a sitcom pilot titled OH, BROTHER!, placed second in the 2012 Fresh Voices Screenplay Competition and was subsequently optioned and shopped. My thriller, 60 FEET UNDER, received a rating of GREENLIGHT from ScriptBook.io, along with a predicted Worldwide ROI of 307% against a predicted $13.7M production budget. Another feature, a Disney-style family sports comedy titled WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR was a 2022 Academy Nicholl Fellowship Quarter-Finalist and won the 2024 Missouri Stories Fellowship contest.

My newest feature (ASHES), a semi-contained psychological horror/thriller, is now available for consideration.

*** Please note: In an effort to support new directing talent, I have several shorts listed for free. A couple of them are specifically set aside for non-exclusive student projects (quality scripts, minimum page counts, mostly easy shoots -- though I have included several more challenging projects for the brave.) If you are interested in shooting one of these projects, please contact me first. I have a simple agreement designed for quick approval: I retain the rights, you get permission to shoot, other directing talents still have access to the script in the future.

Scripts By Paul

Wait Till Next Year
A small-town broadcaster hoping to avoid life in his father's septic business attempts to lift the downtrodden town and his career prospects by calling the winless high school basketball team to a mythical championship.
Feature Comedy, Family, Sport For sale 102pp
1 reader loves this script
Ashes
Fighting to escape her abusive boyfriend, a woman rents a house in the country only to find it inhabited by the dangerous, manipulative spirit of a murderer with an ominous request: stop me from killing.
Feature Horror, Thriller For sale 95pp
The Hand of God
A modern extension of Cain and Abel: A murderer, sentenced to life on earth by God, is given a chance at redemption when God reunites him with his brother— the man he killed long ago.
Feature Drama, Thriller For sale 109pp
Devil's Due
A gambler's plan to rob a preacher meets unexpected resistance.
Short Thriller, Western For sale 8pp
4 readers love this script
Read Review by L. Chambers
Ole Bess' Bait Shop
When you want to catch something big, it's all about the bait.
Short Adventure, Thriller For sale 4pp
3 readers love this script
Potato Radio
When a bored and lonely man's science project unexpectedly agitates his neighbor, he decides to use it to his advantage.
Short Comedy For sale 8pp
1 reader loves this script
Read Review by Michael J Kospiah
Dr. Schnederly, Mobile Psychiatrist
Lulu has an appointment with a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, it's too late.
Short Comedy, Horror For sale 6pp
Bad Fish
A loner fights to regain control over his regimented life after he adopts an out-of-control, hard-charging goldfish.
Short Comedy, Drama For sale 12pp
Bliss
A father takes drastic steps to cope with life-changing events.
Short Drama For sale 7pp
The Taking and The Giving
Three years after a life-altering event, a father and daughter share a meal with guests: one invited and one not.
Short Horror For sale 9pp
Reaching
A soldier deals with the fallout from a long-ago decision.
Short War For sale 6pp
Dark Corners
A woman's plan to break into an apartment goes sideways.
Short Drama For sale 6pp
Between: Pilot -- "Gambrial's Break"
A retired literature professor, torn between the real world and a magical fantasy world, fights to heal his broken family while simultaneously working to find and save the Child Princess.
Web Series Pilot Adventure, Drama, Fantasy For sale 9pp
Playing Cars
A young boy wants to play cars with his mommy. The only problem? He's dead.
Short Horror, Thriller Under Option 5pp
7 readers love this script
House Divided
A couple deals with the consequences of a long-held dispute.
Short Comedy, Drama Sold 6pp
2 readers love this script
Read Review by Matthew Taylor
Ice
A disgraced detective looks to jumpstart his career by solving a complicated murder case.
Short Mystery Available for Free 5pp
4 readers love this script
Read Review by Michael J Kospiah
Passwords
A young video-gamer's session is interrupted by a particularly aggressive online opponent.
Short Horror Available for Free 5pp
2 readers love this script
Read Review by Michael J Kospiah
Kittens
A planned hotel rendezvous takes an unexpected turn.
Short Comedy, Drama, Thriller Available for Free 4pp
Read Review by Michael J Kospiah
3 Hail Marys
Young aviators attempt to survive a mysterious attack on their aircraft carrier task force.
Short Action, Drama, Horror Available for Free 5pp
For Now
A lonely widow needs a push to begin dating again.
Short Comedy, Romance Produced 8pp
3 readers love this script
Read Review by L. Chambers