CAST LIST:

Narrator: Julie Sheppard
Mark: Steve Rizzo
Fawn: Hannah Ehman
Rabbit: Shawn Devlin

Get to know the writers:

What is your screenplay about?

Log Line: Struggling with insecurity and doubt about the longevity of their relationship, an American couple travels to Iceland for answers through a unique form of therapy, threatening both their relationship and their lives. Every relationship is a leap of faith.

Synopsis: In the mesmerizing landscapes of Iceland, a disillusioned yet determined American couple, Fawn and Rabbit, embark on a desperate journey for answers to their critical relationship questions through an unconventional couple's therapy program - HOPPA. Their path leads through a series of harrowing experiences designed to reveal their truest selves while challenging their perception of reality and their beliefs about love and life. As their experiences grow increasingly eerie and nightmarish, they struggle with their inherent differences, relentless lack of communication, and uncompromising needs of each other. Their journey culminates at the edge of a cliff, where a moment of revelation leads to chaos and unfathomable implications from their decisions throughout their HOPPA experience.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Psychological Thriller, Horror, Drama

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

The story explores relatable, honest partnership struggles as both parties navigate the possibility of compromising their individuality for a shared life together, and the depths they will go to know if their relationship is worth that risk.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Haunting polarity

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Nigel: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze
Ashley: Can't Hardly Wait

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

1 year, started after 2023 holiday in Europe

How many stories have you written?

4 complete; Nigel has been writing stories since he was a kid

What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

Nigel: Modern Leper, Frightened Rabbit
Ashley: Where Is My Mind, The Pixies

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Character development. The main characters are based on us and our relationship, but we did not want to make them gender specific so it was challenging to hold character continuity while intertwining our traits into both equally.

Formatting. We are new screenwriters and learning through trial and error as we go. Our story was maybe not taken as seriously as it could have been from formatting mistakes.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Nigel: All forms of self-expression and creativity, travel
Ashley: Finding my best self, solving hard problems, travel

You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

The platform site allows for additional inputs like pitch decks, social media, and audio/visual tools. Unsure at this point how much this benefits the submission.

What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

Feedback was actionable. We could tell the reader took time to read and understand the screenplay - not AI-generated responses.

This was a well-rated festival with many success stories. The short turnaround time with multiple winners within a year was also attractive.