HANNAH LERNER
Diverse writers Best Short Script Winter 2024: "Burro"
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Los Angeles, CA. Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project ? Burro was inspired by my time working in a hospital during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The specter of overwhelming loss sparked an intense desire for human connection within my community. I witnessed people entering unhealthy relationships, and, more surprisingly, I saw women with no desire to be mothers trying to conceive. These observations coincided with my academic research on memory and perception, prompting me to explore the internal narratives required to maintain control under duress. Burro challenges the viewer to question societal expectations of women and their bodies, and to consider how far they would go for human connection—even if it’s not strictly human. How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer...and what was your development process? I developed the concept in a day, but I hadn’t yet mastered the technical aspects of screenplay writing. My background was in experimental film, which does not require any kind of standardized formatting. It took me a year to learn how to write to industry standards. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? My ultimate ambition is to explore and portray the complexities of the human experience. I am particularly captivated by the dissonance between people’s internal narratives and external realities and how these differences result in diverging perspectives. I intend to create engaging works that invite audiences to explore these nuances within their own lives. Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why? Antonioni has been a profound source of inspiration for me. I first watched L'Avventura as a teenager and recall being mesmerized by its breathtaking cinematography and frustrated by the film's unresolved ending. Initially, I longed for a clear resolution. Over time, I realized Antonioni was challenging viewers to actively engage with his narratives. His approach has shaped my understanding of the audience’s role in storytelling and influenced the stories I choose to share. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? I don’t have an all-time favorite, but one movie I think of often is Pasolini’s Teorema. What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Develop your writing skills, not just your narrative. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? Alongside my short films, I am developing a new feature-length screenplay, Penguin. This project is particularly dear to me as it further explores the themes of memory, perception, and objectivity. I am excited about the direction it is taking and its potential impact. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.) www.linkedin.com/in/h-lerner |
