Monika Moreno-Lapp

Screenwriter

Fullerton, California

Member Since:
April 2015

Last online:
3 days ago

Invites sent:
0

About Monika

A screenwriter and former film festival director, Monika's screenplays have won numerous competitions and she is currently listed in the top 2% in discoverable projects on Coverfly. She is a 2021 recipient of the prestigious THE WRITERS LAB NYC, supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. Monika writes character-driven comedies and dramas that feature strong, colorful and flawed characters that reflect the triumph of the human spirit. She received a certificate in Screenwriting for Film & Television from UCLA's Writer Program while running the acclaimed Angelus Student Film Festival in Hollywood.

Her screenplay, WHIRLWIND, a crime dramedy has been named winner in THE WRITERS LAB NYC, semi-finalist in the NICHOLLS SCREENWRITING FELLOWSHIP, the Final Draft BIG BREAK competition, Official Selection of the TORONTO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL, finalist in the SANTA BARBARA INTL SCREENPLAY AWARDS, Official Selection in the LA INDEPENDENT WOMEN FILM AWARDS as well as other accolades.

Currently, her time travel feature comedy, ALLY ALL OVER AGAIN is a selection in the Santa Barbara Int'l Screenplay Awards and quarter-finalist in the Stage 32 Female-Driven Screenplay Competition. She's also had two radio dramas produced and translated in Spanish -- THE MIDGET AND THE MUSIC and SHIP OF FOOLS.

Her first screenplay, EMERALD CITY BLUES, won 3rd place at UCLA. Her subsequent screenplays took 1st place at THE SANTA CATALINA FILM FESTIVAL 1st place BLUE CAT FILM FESTIVAL, 2nd place BIG BEAR FILM FESTIVAL among other awards.

She currently belongs to the Twin Bridges Writing Salon – weekly workshops and continues to develop specs. (The pilot NON-PROPHETS is based loosely on her own experiences working in a non-profit in Los Angeles.)

Gender:
Female

Ethnicity:
Latin/Hispanic

Badges

2024-11-05

Double Recommended Screenwriter

2024-11-05

Writers' Room Member

Certifications

Photos

Loglines

WHIRLWIND Budget: $1M - $5M | Drama ⋄ Crime MAUREEN'S life is disrupted by a young child whose mother turns up dead. When the wrong man is accused, Maureen finds herself entangled in a case which may hit too close to home.COMP: THREE BILLBOARDS IN EBBING, MISSOURI meets THELMA & LOUISE.
ALLY ALL OVER AGAIN Comedy When ALLY MENDOZA reluctantly returns to her Latino family’s home for Christmas, she unwittingly sets off a chain reaction which catapults her back in time to the 90s. She needs to uncover how her life went awry and maybe get that second chance at love -- before time runs out.
THE STOWAWAY Family ⋄ Comedy When ANTHONY PUCCINI's (10) dad brings home a new wife, Anthony decides to stow away on a boat to Catalina Island where he believes 'heaven' is, and his departed mother. But he stows away on the wrong boat, belonging to arch enemy, deli-owner ROY MIYAMOTO, who has chosen this day to die. An unexpected and unforgettable adventure.

Awards

NICHOLL FELLOWSHIPS, semi finalist
(2023)
SANTA BARBARA INTL SCREENPLAY AWARDS, Finalist (Totally Awesome Ally)
(2022)
THE WRITERS LAB NYC, winner
(2021)
TORONTO INT'L WOMEN FILM FEST screenplay awards, official selection
(2021)
SANTA BARBARA INTL SCREENPLAY AWARDS, Finalist (Whirlwind)
(2021)
SAN PEDRO INTL FILM FESTIVAL, Screenplay awards, finalist
(2021)
L.A. INDEPENDENT WOMEN FILM AWARDS, Official Selection, screenplay
(2021)
Final Draft BIG BREAK Screenwriting, semi-finalist
(2021)