Logo with sunglasses, an open book with a feather pen, and the text 'JFM WRITES' on a gray circular background.

My goal is to share my stories about those ordinary people who do extraordinary things…

My writing projects
Black List Recommended (blcklst.com)

“This writer has received at least two 8+ overall scores from Black List readers on one or more of their scripts. Only 3.5% of all evaluations result in an 8+ overall score, so this writer's work ranks among the top 1% scripts on blcklst.com.”

Three outstanding screenplays inspired by true events for your consideration.
Scripts are available upon request. If interested, email john@jfmwrites.com

Logo of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences featuring a stylized golden A with a silhouette of an Oscar statue, with the text "ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES" below.

Po’Pay
Semi-Finalist, The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

A white statue of a Native American man with traditional clothing and headband is positioned next to a sign that reads "New Mexico Pō Pay" and includes historical and cultural information about the Oñate expedition in 1680.

In the American Southwest, a peaceful shaman unites the fractured Pueblo tribes to reclaim their lands.

Logo of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences featuring a golden Oscar statue inside a stylized 'A' with text below that reads 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.'

Operation Babylift
Semi-Finalist, The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

Watercolor painting of soldiers raising a flag in a green landscape with a sky filled with clouds, and a child lying on the ground in the foreground.

As Vietnam collapses, mixed-race babies fathered by American G.I.’s face being the war’s most innocent victims.

Logo of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a gold silhouette of an Oscar statuette inside a gold letter 'A' and the text 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' underneath.

Blood and Roses
Quarter-Finalist, The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

The cover of a film titled "Blood and Roses" features a blood-stained rose with blood splatters on a light background.

During the Afghanistan War, two young marines, a naive country kid and a wise cracking inner city dude, are sent into harms way to make reparations with victims of U.S. drone strikes.

Live Script Reading of “When Angels Weep”

I was honored to have my screenplay When Angels Weep selected and directed by John Lee Hancock for a ticketed live script reading at the Hollywood American Legion Theatre.

Event poster for Hollywood Post 43 Auxiliary featuring a live script read directed by John Lee Hancock, scheduled for December 12, 2025, at the American Legion Theater in Hollywood at 7 PM, with a background of red theater curtains and an American Legion Auxiliary emblem at the top.
A red-themed brochure featuring photos and biographies of film industry professionals, including John Lee Hancock, John Francis McCarney, and Christopher Lockhart. It promotes their work, achievements, and upcoming projects, as well as an ISACONNECT screenwriting community with a discount code.
People sitting around a long conference table during a rehearsal, with a miniature train track running along the center of the table, and a sign that reads 'Week of Angels' on the train track.
Two men stand on stage with a large red backdrop that reads 'Hollywood Post 43 Auxiliary Presents When Angels Weep.' One man wears a black blazer, glasses, and a white t-shirt, the other man wears a green sweater and glasses. They are holding a framed poster for a script read series titled 'When Angels Weep,' directed by John Lee Hancock, scheduled for December 12th, 2025, at the Hollywood American Legion Theater. Several empty chairs are visible on stage.
A navy blue baseball cap with yellow embroidery that reads "Post 43 Hollywood, CA". Next to it, a red pamphlet titled "When Angels Weep" with the Hollywood Post 43 Auxiliary presents. Also on the table, a white paper with signatures and handwritten notes, and some typed pages. In the background, there are green pills or containers and a striped black and red item.
A group of eleven people standing together on a red carpet in front of a backdrop with the Hollywood POST 43 emblem. They are smiling and posing for a photo at an event, with a poster in front announcing a live read series titled 'When Angels Weep' directed by John Lee Hancock.
Event poster for a script live read series titled 'When Angels Weep', directed by John Lee Hancock, written by John Francis McCarney, scheduled for December 12th, 2025 at the Hollywood American Legion Theater, presented by Hollywood Post 43 Auxiliary with a red curtain background and a photo of a man in glasses and a plaid shirt.
Panel of speakers sitting on stage with large red curtain backdrop. Display reads 'Hollywood Post 43 Auxiliary Presents When Angels Weep.'
A stage with a large screen displaying red curtains with the American Legion Auxiliary emblem at the top, and text reading "Hollywood Post 43 Auxiliary Presents When Angels Weep." There are ten people seated at tables with microphones in front of them.

About John McCarney

John McCarney is an award-winning screenwriter with three of his screenplays placing in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science Nicholl Fellowship in the last five years; two of them Semifinalist. He has had multiple screenplays finish in the Austin Film Festival Screenwriting contest, along with many other wins. He is an American-Cuban, having been embraced by a Cuban family who took him in during his teen years. He likes to say, “Soy Americano de nacimiento, pero Cubano de cultura.” He is certified bilingual and volunteers as an ESL teacher, helping new immigrants learn English.

Please check out the highlights page and email John for a copy of any of the scripts and pitch decks.

  •  2023-2024 Writers Guild of America Veterans Writing Project Fellowship Awardee