Ash is a young man living a privileged yet empty life with his older boyfriend, Tom. When he receives a phone call from his estranged brother, Ash finds himself in the small desert town of Mesquite, Nevada where he reluctantly faces his past traumas with help from an unexpected source... his former high school bully.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Hannah Ehman
Ash: Steve Rizzo
Tom: Geoff Mays

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

Ash is a young man living a privileged yet empty life with his older boyfriend, Tom. When he receives a phone call from his estranged brother, Ash finds himself in the small desert town of Mesquite, Nevada where he reluctantly faces his past traumas with help from an unexpected source... his former high school bully.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Although there are elements of humor throughout the film, I'd categorize this as a drama.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Although we've come a long way over the years, I still think there are not nearly enough LGBT films out there. I think we need more films that show queer characters exploring all different aspects of life and my film could contribute to that.

How would you describe this script in two words?

My baby

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

I can't think of a particular film that is my favorite, but my favorite actor is Patty Duke. I have an entire shelf in my living room that's dedicated to her movies and I've seen most of her films multiple times.

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

In all honesty, I have been thinking about some variation of the story for many many years, but this particular story I wrote the first draft back in 2016 and then shelved it. About a year ago I did a page one rewrite and am finally happy with the results.

How many stories have you written?

More than I can count, although most will never see the light of day. Only recently have I gained confidence in my writing.

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

I tend to latch on to a specific musician rather than a song. For example, I'm a huge fan of the German singer, Sandra. I even got a passport and powered through my fear of flying so I could attend a concert of hers that had a meet and greet.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I've seen many stories out there that romanticize toxic relationships. This story deals with a blooming romance as well as the main character experiencing abuse in many different forms. While I was writing the story, I knew I had to handle the topic of abuse delicately. I didn't want someone to leave this film feeling like an abusive relationship whether it be a romantic partner, parent, friend, etc is okay and although some people may change, many don't.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I'm an avid movie collector. Most of the films I own are on VHS or Laserdisc. I have a strong passion for underrated films that most people either forgot about or just dismissed. In my spare time, I have an Instagram and TikTok channel where I post short videos discussing underrated films that I feel deserve more. Feel free to check it out: Vid in SD

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

I've used FilmFreeway a couple of times and I like the platform. The browsing functions make it very convenient for me to find festivals that might be more suitable for the stories I write.

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

I definitely wanted to enter this screenplay into festivals that highlight LGBT stories. Although I hope this film is one that all will enjoy, I definitely wanted to hear feedback from people who have lived the gay experience. So far I have found the feedback very beneficial.