Arylaan Evans is a third-year Screenwriting and Theater Arts major at the University of Iowa. An excerpt from her screenplay “Murderer’s Row” took home the top prize at the Golden Corn Screenplay Competition, an annual event spearheaded by the Cinematic Arts Student Organization. Also known as CASO, the organization is one of many groups open to students in the screenwriting department.
The judging process was initially supposed to be spearheaded by guest judge and producer Daniel Pipski, but due to a family emergency, Pipski had to drop out. A table reading of the Golden Corn finalists was held in Room 105 of the Adler Journalism Building on April 4, where students eagerly awaited the verdict as the honorable mentions were announced, followed by front and center readings of the first and second place scripts. It was here that Evans’ script was announced as the first-place winner.
The Daily Iowan: What is your screenplay about?
Arylaan Evans: My screenplay is called “Murderer’s Row,” and it’s about a warden coming into this prison, set in 1911, who makes a baseball team out of the inmates. The warden hopes it can earn enough money to reshape the prison and make it better. At the start of the story, it’s not in a very good place.
What inspired you to write this screenplay?
It’s based on a true story, which I didn’t know about before researching. My friend randomly referenced it and was like, “This is like those prisoners that played on a baseball team.” I was like, “I’m sorry, can you explain more about that?” So then I researched it, and I thought it was really interesting. The more I learned about it, the more I wanted to write it. I just started thinking about it a lot and was like, “I could write something about this,” because it’s a fascinating story. I read about the real-life baseball prison team and then took inspiration from it. Because it’s 1911, there’s not a lot of details about its origin. There’s stuff about the actual team but not really about how it came to be. That’s the part that I took and made my own. I kind of filled in the blanks with it.
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What inspired you to submit to Golden Corn?
I submitted it last year, but it was a first draft. I couldn’t attend last year, but I don’t think I was one of the finalists because I didn’t get an email or anything. I wanted to submit it again this year and actually attend it.
What is your relationship to CASO and the university’s screenwriting program?
I’ve been a screenwriting major since my first year, and I know some of the people who are in CASO. I’ve heard about them enough, and they’ve had enough events that I’ve attended before. I like supporting the cinematic arts, and they’re a newer organization.
What do your future writing prospects look like?
I’m planning to move to the East Coast to be in an area with more writing opportunities than in Iowa. No offense, Iowa. I’m a screenwriting and theater arts major, so I want to dabble in playwriting too, which is why I’m going near the East Coast. I’m just gonna keep writing and hope for the best.