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The Lakes List is a collection of exemplary screenplays for movies, short films, web series and TV shows, written by the screenwriting students and alumni of the Screenwriting BA program at Metro State University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

For inquiries, and for access to a writer and their screenplay, please send an email to lakeslist@metrostate.edu.

Logline and summary

A young skater, Kit, has a bad encounter at a skate park one day and makes an enemy out of the new kid in town. Now the tension between these two puts Kit in a very stressful and uncomfortable situation.

  • Year
    2021
  • Set in Minnesota
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genres
    Drama
    Action/Adventure

Logline and summary

At a pool party with his friends, a teen struggling with self-harm is forced to wear swim trunks that puts his biggest insecurities on full display.

  • Year
    2019
  • Set in Minnesota
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genre
    Drama

Logline and summary

A group of friends take a trip to a landfill to break things, in order to vent, after one of them is cheated on by his partner. At the landfill, a chain of events reveals a traumatic plight one of the other friends has been experiencing but not saying anything about.

  • Year
    2021
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genre
    Drama

Logline and summary

A woman undergoes increasingly bizarre interruptions as she tries to meditate and reminisce on a past relationship, leading to chaotic exaltation.

  • Year
    2022
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genres
    Drama
    Comedy

Logline and summary

A pair of Alien anthropologists, operating on little time and even less funding, discover a lost and hopeless earthling guide to help them on their evidence-gathering mission. Through their city escapades, both parties find more than they ever expected.

  • Year
    2021
  • Set in Minnesota
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genres
    Drama
    Comedy
    Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Logline and summary

Old college friends confront their previous relationships after an illness is discovered at an impromptu wedding.

  • Year
    2020
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genres
    Drama
    Comedy

Logline and summary

After discovering that her husband is cheating on her, Jodi takes matters into her own hands.

  • Year
    2019
  • Set in Minnesota
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genre
    Drama

Logline and summary

A shy elementary school boy finds a mysterious pendant necklace that can stop time for a short period. When he sees his father slowly dying at the hospital, he tries to keep him alive as long as possible.

  • Year
    2020
  • Set in Minnesota
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genres
    Drama
    Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Logline and summary

A young hiker’s chance of survival depends on the help of a high-functioning autistic child and a two-way radio.

  • Year
    2020
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genre
    Drama

Logline and summary

A boy and an android run away from their homes, cross country, evading men in suits trying to retrieve them.

  • Year
    2019
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genres
    Drama
    Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Logline and summary

A self-absorbed fly thrives in the Richardson Family Garden without a care in the world. When he befriends his natural predator, he risks his wits and his survival.

  • Year
    2020
  • Set in Minnesota
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genres
    Drama
    Animated

Logline and summary

A heartwarming story about a boy and his mom struggling to understand each other and better their relationship after the loss of the father figure.

  • Year
    2022
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genre
    Drama

Logline and summary

A quiet young boy named Wyatt waits with his uncle in a bar for Wyatt's father, who is being released from prison.

  • Year
    2021
  • Set in Minnesota
  • Format
    Short film
  • Genre
    Drama

About the Lakes List

The Lakes List is a collection of exemplary screenplays for movies, short films, web series and TV shows, all written by the screenwriting students and alumni of the Screenwriting Program at Metro State University in St. Paul, MN.

The Lakes List is created by Metro State Prof. Jeremy Bandow, who was inspired by other national screenwriting 'lists' - like the Black List, and the Red List - which highlight excellent screenplays and help connect screenwriters to producers.

The Lakes List mission is much the same, to connect our emerging writers and their stories with local & regional directors, producers, and actors looking for future film and TV projects to bring to life.

As new and improved tax credit incentive programs spur production and create a wellspring of film & TV opportunities in Minnesota, there is no better time to ensure that the stories that get told here are our own stories.

Read more about the new film production incentives in Minnesota.

Many of these scripts are Minnesota’s stories, written by local writers. All contribute to the diverse artistic and cinematic culture of Minnesota, and assist in reinforcing our thriving, vibrant, regional artistic identity.

Enjoy your visit. We hope you find a screenplay you like!

Contact us

For inquiries, and for access to a writer and their screenplay, please send an email to lakeslist@metrostate.edu.