ANGELA THORNE
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ANGELA THORNE

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in a small town in Virginia.

How did you discover The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
I first discovered The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards on Film Freeway. What drew me in was that every entry receives feedback. Had I realized exactly how detailed and helpful the feedback would be, I would’ve entered much sooner!

Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project?
I wrote the themes and characters I’ve always wanted to see more of in media: children who act like children, accurate portrayals of coercive control, and a neurodivergent female protagonist who is neither ultra-gifted nor a savant who is simply trying to survive and protect her kids in a world where everything’s stacked against her.

How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer...and what was your development process?
This particular script took me about a month to write, which is relatively fast for me. Despite the quick turnaround, however, this script was not easy to write as it required wading through personal pain and was deeply felt.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker?
I want to help people feel less alone. Representation matters. I want to see more characters on TV that resemble real people going through real-world struggles.

Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why?
Screenwriters that inspire me: Ari Aster (because Midsommar was a movie I found both amazing and disturbing), Robia Rashid (for her tight writing and effective use of voice- over and images in Atypical), Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (for the myriad interwoven narrative techniques they’ve used to bring Wednesday alive for two seasons), and Brian Baker (my partner in crime, who reads everything I write and helps me improve).

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
All-time favorite? That’s not fair. There are too many! I love The Princess Bride, but who doesn’t? Fight Club, Blink Twice, and Get Out all come to mind as favorites. The scene in Sinners that blends music and dance from across time deserves a mention of its own, too. Amazing! My favorite TV show lately has been Wednesday. Love the characters.

How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests?
At this point, I approach competition entry with an eye for feedback. There was a time I would enter any contest for a chance to win or be recognized, but not so much anymore. I want to be able to take something out of the experience that will improve my writing.

What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist, as you have?
Write what you know, have others read your work before you submit, and know what tone you're working toward. It will give you a means to measure progress.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I have another pilot I’m quite proud of, and a couple of screenplays that are inching toward a level I would call mostly finished.
As a writer, I don’t know if anything is ever completely finished, but at some point, you do have to stop and turn to other projects. It’s the nature of things.

Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.)
I have an account on Medium. Small potatoes, I know. But I enjoy posting my thoughts there sometimes, and I no longer paywall my stories.

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