There are stories that whisper. Others that shout. What’s Buried Beneath the Pines does both — it starts as a slow burn and ends as a Southern reckoning. And this week, I’m honored to share that it’s been named a Semifinalist in the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, one of the most competitive and well-respected screenplay contests in the industry.
This recognition means more than a line on a resume — it means this story is connecting in the very city where deals are made, shows are greenlit, and careers take shape.
Why LAISA Matters
The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards draws thousands of entries from across the globe. Scripts from seasoned writers and first-time voices alike. Judged by active industry professionals — story editors, development execs, showrunners, and reps — the competition is known for spotlighting stories that carry weight, vision, and production potential.
For What’s Buried Beneath the Pines to rise to the level of Semifinalist among this crowd is a clear signal: the story is resonating. Not just regionally, not just with niche audiences — but with readers who spend their days scouring for what’s next.
In an industry built on story, that matters.
About the Script
What’s Buried Beneath the Pines is a one-hour Southern Gothic drama set in the haunting backwoods of Georgia. The story follows Gray Harris, a prodigal son and family black sheep who returns home to bury his estranged father — only to uncover the brutal truth behind the family’s timber empire.
It’s a world of whispers and wounds, of land soaked in secrets and blood. As Gray digs deeper into the legacy he’s inherited, he must confront a chilling question: what happens when the very foundation of your family is built on lies?
This isn’t a ghost story. It’s a generational one.
Dark. Rooted. And all too real.
A Year of Recognition
This semifinalist honor adds to a growing track record for What’s Buried Beneath the Pines. So far this year, the script has also been named:
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Second Rounder – Austin Film Festival
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Finalist – Nashville Film Festival
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Semifinalist – Script Pipeline TV Writing Competition
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Quarterfinalist – Final Draft Big Break
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Quarterfinalist – PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
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Quarterfinalist – Outstanding Screenplays TV Pilot Competition
Each of these honors reinforces a simple truth: this story is landing. It’s being read, remembered, and rewarded across multiple tiers of the screenwriting world.
Why This Story?
I wrote What’s Buried Beneath the Pines because I’ve lived versions of it. Not the plot, but the feeling — the weight of legacy, the pull of home, the unspoken trauma we inherit and carry whether we want to or not.
I come from the South. I know what silence can do to a family. I’ve seen what happens when people keep things buried for too long. And I believe Southern stories deserve more than clichés and caricature — they deserve depth, danger, and dignity.
This is that story.
It’s about identity. About loyalty. About what it costs to finally tell the truth.
And to see that truth recognized — especially by a competition based in Los Angeles — tells me this isn’t just a personal story. It’s a universal one.
Looking Ahead
With each new accolade, What’s Buried Beneath the Pines takes another step forward. Toward the right producers. Toward the right collaborators. Toward the right screen.
The goal has never been to stack trophies. The goal is to get the work made — and to make sure it’s ready when that opportunity comes. This script was always built to go the distance. And recognition from LAISA only sharpens its momentum.
Final Thoughts
There’s something sacred about a story that refuses to stay buried.
Thank you to the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards for lifting this one up. For seeing past the moss and mud and finding the marrow. For reminding me that even the quietest stories — the ones rooted in silence, grief, and grit — can still echo loud in the right hands.
This isn’t the end of the road. Just another signpost on a path I’ve been walking a long time.
And wherever it leads next, I’ll keep digging.