A captive on a British slave vessel joins the ship's navigator to rise against a ruthless captain who takes the ship on a murderous detour. Adapted from the true events of the 1781 Zong Massacre.
Connect with us to request a copy of 'Nothing More Than Cargo'.
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Nicholl Academy Screenplay Competition |
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2021 Top 15%
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Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition |
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2019 Second Rounder
2018 Second Rounder
2017 Second Rounder
2016 Second Rounder
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PAGE International Screenwriting Awards |
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2017 Quarterfinalist
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BlueCat Screenplay Competition |
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2017 Quarterfinalist
Industry Reader Feedback...
"I read CARGO in one sitting on the plane and couldn't put it down. Very entertaining, very difficult to read too because of what was portrayed."
- Tom Miller, Big Pictures Media
"a masterpiece in harrowing drama and tension."
"illuminates a horrendous chapter of human history that needs to be told and does so without feeling too exploitative or heavy-handed"
"excellently imagined and excellently written"
- BlueCat Competition Feedback
"This script showed the true horrors of slaving in a way that I've never quite seen done before."
- Nicholls Reader Comments
"It has an unpredictable and exciting third act with a strong conclusion that will leave audiences very satisfied"
"an enjoyable read with a unique and high concept"
- Blacklist Evaluation #3
"The narrative...has a very compelling nature in the vivid picture of the horrors described"
"...is able to show very graphically the trials of the slaves on the ship"
"Good choice on historical piece and time."
- First Round Reader (AFF)
"the type of project that really needs to be put together with an A-list producer and creative team to really have a shot given the scale and inherently challenging topic"
- Blacklist Evaluation #2
"The characters feel real to the world that is created."
"It has structural builds and arcs fitting a script of this genre."
- Second Round Reader (AFF)
"focuses on...an aspect of slavery that--though often discussed and eluded to--is rarely seen on film"
- Blacklist Evaluation #4
"a strong...ability to bring the world to life and craft believable period dialogue"
- Blacklist Evaluation #5
"Our readers commend the vivid detail you used to tell a difficult story. Keep writing!"
- Matt Dy
Screenplay & Teleplay Competition Director
Austin Film Festival (AFF)
Screenplay & Teleplay Competition Director
Austin Film Festival (AFF)
About the Screenplay...
Nothing More Than Cargo is based on the Zong Massacre, an atrocity involving the murder of 132 slaves during the ship's voyage across the Atlantic in the winter of 1781.
The screenplay for Nothing More Than Cargo was written by Joseph Craig & Jason Rein of Atypical Tales and is currently on a quest to find the means to get it realized into a feature film.
Interested in reading 'Nothing More Than Cargo'?
Connect with us to request a copy.