JENNIFER RENNER
Best Screenplay Winter 2024: "The Long March"
![]() Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Irwin, OH, US (I recently moved back to my home state after living in Van Nuys, CA) Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project ? My script deals with depression and other mental health struggles. This topic hits home for so many people, myself included. I wanted to show the journey of someone who realizes he needs help but doesn’t really know where to start. 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 started working on this screenplay during the height of COVID-19, and it has gone through many drafts since then. I usually start with a character and build out a story from there. For me, my protagonist, Martin, was always the heart of The Long March. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? My ultimate goal is to see one of my screenplays produced. Any size screen, anywhere: to see a movie I wrote on the big screen would be a dream come true. Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why? Growing up, watching movies by Mel Brooks, the Marx Brothers, and Monty Python made me want to become a screenwriter. A good comedy can entertain, provoke thought, introduce new ideas, and connect unlikely parties all at once. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? The Imposters, by Stanley Tucci. What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Don’t give up! It may take another few drafts or rounds with your writing group, but a story you truly care about will always find its way. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I’m currently co-writing a holiday romantic comedy and individually writing a parody of classic Christmas films. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.) JennRennWrites.com |