SUSAN KELEJIAN
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
OJAI, CA Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project ? My script He/She/Us was inspired by two main things: 1) The focus on pronouns and how we are relating to each other and labeling with them 2) the importance of love, especially in present times and those who have been marginalized How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer...and what was your development process? The script started as a stage play and was produced in Kiev in January 2024 and directed by a first time director. It went on to win/be produced at a few venues for short plays. I believe that it is an important enough subject to reach a larger audience. I wrote the film script in one day, then it went through a series of progressive rewrites. So probably it was about 25 hours of work total. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? I am spending the next year writing in every genre and seeing what lands. My work has a throughline of social issues regardless of which genre though. I want to reach a large audience and be a self supporting writer who doesn’t have to have a “day job.” What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Not sure... I don’t write to win as I am an Artist. I guess, other than ask the right questions, one is.. “why am I writing this?” Then don’t attach to the outcome and enjoy the process. Oh, and NEVER use AI for content if you consider yourself an Artist. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I have a few scripts that are currently shopping. One is titled “BELIEF” which is the dearest one to my heart. It uses allegory to display what happens when we have core beliefs that differ, and how so many people are refusing to even look at another angle at things. I want this to be made in order to have people start using critical thinking skills while becoming emotionally more mature, and possibly not be so polarized. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.) I don’t really do social media. If I had my druthers, I would write quill and ink. But my websites are www.kastheatre.com and www.ovate.org |
