CAST LIST:

Narrator: Steve Rizzo
Realor: Hannah Ehman
Soothsayer: Elizabeth Rose Morriss

https://www.shadowhorsetheatre.com/dark-pony-radio

Get to know the screenwriter:

1. What is your screenplay about?
A couple who are dealing with a loss, and purchase their first home. Only to experience an unforgettable first night where memories, dreams, and nightmares mix and come to life.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Horror Fiction, Psychological horror

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Grief, which is the heart of this piece. There are several haunted house movies out there, several movies that deal with grief. And yet the main protagonists always find conflict with each and turn on each other, I wanted this to be different. I wanted a couple that supports each other and yes, gets frustrated at the world around them, but they try to navigate this world together. I want a horror movie that anyone who has lost a loved one could connect with. The horror may be supernatural at times, but that's the reality of grief. Beyond the nightmarish horror in this script several of the conversation are similar to ones I've had with my partner while she was going through a death in the family. Yes I want scare people, and give them that joy from a horror film, but I want them to keep coming back, to feel like they can watch a story that helps them deal with their own grief. Even if the audience doesn't get scared or predicts the ending, I want each time this see this movie, they find a different story. I wrote this story with a character that is non-binary, who experienced childhood trauma based on who they are, and that strikes a chord with any child that grew up being bullied, and I wanted that to be a part of the character, but not a defining part of them. After all this explanation, there are so many real life moments in this story, that I feel people will gravitate toward. It's been fun talking with those that have read it and come up with a whole through line from the story, that was never intended. It would be a true dream, to have this filmed and give the opportunity for others to find THIER story in it.

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

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
It's a tie between "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Jaws"

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
A year, It started as episode on our podcast, and has since expanded to a screenplay, and currently being altered for a stage play as well (from the POV of the Antagonist)

7. How many stories have you written?
Through out my life too may to count; as a creative producing content 50 -60 different scripts right now including stage scripts.

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

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Balance. With the pacing, whenever I wanted to add more to the story, making sure it didn't cause issues with the pacing. and structure. I love films and stories that have a slow burn, especially in horror. I love space and silence in my stories. Either on stage or on Film. What can be said, when nothing is being said.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
This creative world is what I love and am passionate about. I was trained as performer, so beyond writing I love being on the stage or in front of the camera (even if it doesn't like me)

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your
experiences working with the submission platform site?
Honestly, when I discovered it, it opened my world up for my Podcast (Dark Pony Radio) and gave me an out lit to start putting my script work out their with some success this year. And I have so many more to submit next year, both feature length and stage scripts.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings
on the initial feedback you received?
I love constructed criticism, and of course praise but if I want to reach my goals in the creative world, I need to hear from the community at large, and hear the things that can just make better faster stronger. As much as we are singular artists, I believe the more collaboration we have the better the end result. (within reason of course) I loved the initial feedback, it gave me a place to go from rather than nothing. It made me look at my choices from a different set of eyes, and see where I could expand or clarify or flat out get rid of.