A scientist explores the choice between benevolence and hostility as he tries to guide his artificial human toward humanity.

Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Computer: Hannah Ehman
Tablet: Steve Rizzo
Dr. Woods: Geoff Mays
Okoro: Sean Ballantyne

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

Okoro is based on a speech by my father, who's a NASA Center Director (retired). It's called, "Definition of a Human Being" in which he defines a human in engineering terms.

At the end of the definition he asks what separates that definition from other engineering marvels, like the Mars Rover? He concludes that it's our ability to care about one another that makes us more than machine. That we're able to make the choice to be good within a universe where hostility is the status quo.

In "Okoro" that theme is explored as a newly birth replicant (artificial human). Wary of his new surroundings, Okoro picks up a tool that he can either as a weapon or to make the world a better place. He chooses the latter.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Sci-Fi/Thriller.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

I remember a teacher telling the class to make movies that we wanted to see. I love thought provoking projects with striking visuals. I admittedly love eye-candy. I hope that Okoro embodies these elements.

Plus the subject matter is incredibly timely, with the advent of A.I. technology and the fear of what it could become. Others have tackled this subject matter, but where I feel Okoro is different is that it's optimistic.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Sci-fi Joint.

When I posted on Instagram that you folks honored my script with an award, she replied, "A Greg Earls Sci-Fi joint!" The joint part reminds me of Spike Lee. I like the idea of science fiction and black film crossover, so let's go with that.

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

Star Wars. I overdosed on that film when I was a kid, so there's no catching up to it, despite watching the Godfather and Shawshank Redemption every time they're on TBS.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I wrote the first draft in a couple days back in January of 2023. I'm doing a shot-list now, and that's inspiring new tweaks. Your live reading also has inspired changes. So I'll have another draft soon. I guess technically that's make it seven months!

7. How many stories have you written?

I feel like I have about four solid feature screenplays, same number of TV scripts, three completed short films, and a novel that was published back in 2011. But I'd have to go back and really scour my files to get a real count. Those mentioned are the milestones projects that I feel are completed, but I'm sure that I have more that are collecting dust.

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

It would be a toss up between "What's Going On" and "Mercy Mercy Me," both by Marvin Gaye. Those two songs book-end an almost perfect side-one of the What's Going On album. It plays like one long killer track. If you put a gun to my head I'd go with "What's Going On."

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I had always wanted to write a short based on my dad's speech, but I couldn't figure out a narrative. At first my concept was like David Fincher's Nike Commercial, "Instant Karma" (1992), a montage of athletes performing, with my dad's voice-over atop the visuals. But I kept coming back to the fact that Fincher obviously did this already!

It wasn't until a good decade later that the replicant angle finally hit me. I'm glad I finally got it, but angry that it took me so long to figure it out. This short should've been shot years ago. But there's a reason for everything. Maybe this is a better time for in terms of technology, both cinematic and A.I.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love the Italian language. I was inspired to learn it by a friend back in Cleveland, and after studying the works of cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and the painter Caravaggio. Thank goodness I did because studying the language was how I met my wife, who is from Milan, Italy. I love Italy and I hope that will settle down there someday.

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

It's been fantastic. No complaints. It's an amazing tool.

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

I loved that there was a festival that focused on short screenplays and sci-fi. The live reading is an incredible gift, and it's already inspired me to make changes in the script and how I try to get it funded. If and when this short comes to fruition, the Fantasy Sci Fi/Fantasy Screenplay Festival will be a major reason why it happened.