Synopsis/Details
SHOULD I DIE BEFORE I WAKE...is a brutally honest, passionate film about love, brotherhood, and escaping one's past. The writer compellingly instills themes, wrapping the narrative in sheer struggle, inequality, and bigotry. It's a balance of adrenaline-fueled action and pure drama, pinning two families against each other with the common tie of love. Tommy is an uncontrollable force who introduces the story in a characteristically violent manner, also serving as a throughline to provide a loose justification for his actions and the story's overarching goals. The splintered relationship between Rob and Lee is palpably tense. The love between Rob and Anna is well-conceived, culminating in a Shakespearian way. Not only is this a tragic ending, but it's also revelatory to the struggle between the Mathews and La Duke. The imaginative dream sequences grounded by the struggle of the Native Americans versus their oppressors are enveloping, the type of style that helps define the tone and provides this story with a unique perspective.
I've worked on and off on this project for the last few years. My inspiration comes from the plot of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and the racial divide between the fabric of all communities, the families at their core; that eventually gives birth to the manifestation of evil; intolerance, and hatred; which gives them the tools to destroy themselves and each other.
All Accolades & Coverage
Coverfly All-Time Overall Top 25%
Page International Screenwriting Awards Quarter-Finalist 2017
Northern Lights Screenplay Contest Finalist 2017
The Monthly Film Festival Screenplay Quarter-Finalist 2017
Wild Sound Festival Best Scene Screenplay Winner - Last Scene Reading 2017
Screamwriting Festival Official Selection 2021
Quarter-Finalist Page Turner Screenplay Competition 2021
13Horror.com Film & Screenplay Contest Finalist 2021
KinoDrome International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival Official Selection 2021
KinoDrome International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival Honorable Mention 2021
Shockfest Film Festival 2021 Official Selection.
Santa Barbara Film Awards 2022 Official Selection. 2022 Official Selection Austin Under The Stars Film Festival.
Sydney Cinematic Horizons Film Festival 2024 Official Selection
Page Turner Screenplays Genre Drama Semi-Finalist
18th Annual StoryPros Screenplay Contest Semi-Finalist 2024
HorrorOrigins Film Fest Official Selection 2025
Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards Season 9 Semi Finalist
Area 51 Film Festival Semit Finalist
13HORROR.COM
Judge Feedback
Screenwriter -- Nicholas R. Zingarelli -- Screenplay -- Should I Die Before I Wake... -- Date submitted -- 15 January 2021
It’s written to a very high standard and presented to perfection. It clearly represents a lot of natural talent and meticulous hard work, neither of which have gone unnoticed. Well done on taking the time and making the effort to get it into the shape it’s in.
You have a nice, punchy, no-bullshit style when it comes to your actions and descriptions. You’re very visual but you’re able to convey your vision into short, sharp bursts of sentences rather than meandering prose.
Storywise, it’s very original and quite niche. Your characters and the world you’ve created for Should I Die Before I Wake... are larger than life and for some reason it brought to mind The Big Lebowski. There’s a pervasive dark humor and some nicely worked horror set pieces as the brothers battle it out.
Usually I’d offer some constructive criticism but it’s to your credit that I can’t offer any here - you’ve had an idea and your screenplay brings it to life in a very readable way and engaging style. Great Job.
Judge AH
