STEPHANIE GARRISON
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STEPHANIE GARRISON

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Originally, I’m from the Hudson Valley in New York, but I currently live in New Orleans, LA.

How did you discover The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
My producer and friend originally alerted me to The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards, and among the other reasons including the prestige, we also loved the idea of receiving reputable feedback.

Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project ?
The original idea started from a dream after a binge session of Elementary. There’s something about the Holmes/Watson relationship that always fascinated me. But as it always goes with my writing, that idea faded with every new version. The detective relationship morphed into film noir inspiration into Black Mirror-esque science-fiction. The core, though, has always been the missing person and the eidetic memory. And then I read When We Were Villains by M.L. Rio over a summer and the last bit clicked. Like Edison, my mind tends to hoard quotes that I can call up without much thought. So that’s the most of me in this world.

How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer...and what was your development process?
Altogether the process spanned about four years. King of Infinite Space originally started as a stage play that went through three virtual readings not long after the pandemic in 2021. One of the actors from that first reading, Natasha Brown, ended up loving the concept so much, she reached out and encouraged me to adapt to a screenplay. The two of us spent the next couple of years adapting and modifying it into the version you have now.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker?
To create new and interesting stories that play with the nature of time while experimenting with new visuals. Like many writers, I want to balance storytelling with commentary. It’s my way of doing more than just complaining that society sucks right now. I like to use genre to call attention to the ways we can and should fight back.

Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why?
Rian Johnson, for sure. His command of storytelling balance is so interesting to me. You can watch one of his movies once and enjoy the story, and then on every subsequent viewing you find new breadcrumbs he’s left for you, new references he’s hidden, and so on. Jordan Peele too. I love geeking out and analyzing all the symbolism in his films. My husband and I once spent an entire dinner breaking down the scene in Nope with the monopoly game pieces as stand-ins for characters. And Ryan Coogler’s Sinners? Chef’s kiss.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
Without a doubt, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is at the top of the list. I learned a lot about character interactions and dialogue banter through that show as well as Firefly.

How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests?
We keep up with Film Freeway and look for contests that fit our project’s vibe and genre. The best thing I have learned so far is to take the risk and submit. You can’t gain anything if you don’t put yourself out there.

What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Surround yourself with people who know more than you. No matter how long you have been writing, there’s always new information or tips. Finding knowledgeable people who want to read your stuff and work with you to make it better is one of my favorite parts of the collaborative process.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
As of now, I’m tooling around with a couple of different ideas, one inspired by the Robert Johnson myth and another involving the Astor Place Riots.

Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.)
These days I’m mostly on Instagram. My handle is @Stephgwarsh.

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