When a troubled teen’s wish to make everyone disappear comes true, she risks losing them permanently and must rely on an unlikely ally to save her town – the school bully.

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

It’s about a teenage girl who gets bullied at school and is in a very dark place at the beginning of the story. She gets in a fight with her mother and in the heat of the moment, she wishes everyone would disappear. Little does she know that her wish instantly becomes true. She has to navigate through her new world and come to terms with herself and the other people in her life before she can move on.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

coming of age, fantasy, drama

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

I think a lot of young people can relate to the feelings of isolationism, grief, and trauma early in life that this movie presents. The lead character also deals with a lot of loneliness. Sometimes that loneliness is desired and wanted and sometimes it makes her wish for someone to be with her. It shows that our feelings are changing on a daily basis and don’t evolve in a neat linear pattern. I think ultimately what this movie expresses is that having these feelings is normal and takes time to sort out. Hope is around the corner even in our darkest hour.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

resilience, perseverance

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

In recent history, I’ve seen “Whiplash” the most. It’s a master class in the writing and performing of an antagonist who is dynamic and rich in character. And the way that the protagonist meets the moment at the end of the movie is chef’s kiss.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I’ve been working on it since the end of June 2025

7. How many stories have you written?

Besides this one, I’ve written a TV pilot for a sci-fi medical comedy, I’ve also written a couple horror features, and I just finished a Christmas rom com feature that I hope to either sell or produce one day.

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

For me, this story represents the feelings of being lonely and isolated when you’re surrounded by lots of people. It’s about the duality of wanting to be alone and wishing you weren’t so isolated from others. That’s something I’ve felt a lot when I was at college away from home. I didn’t go through the same traumas and loss as the protagonist, but the feelings were very similar.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I think writing in the tone of a younger generation was a challenge. I haven’t been a teenager for quite some time, so writing like one is not easy. Also, I don’t want to get caught up in the latest lingo because when that lingo goes out of style, so too will my dialogue become dated.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I’ve recently got into improv acting and I absolutely love it. I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of people who are passionate about it. I used to act in plays as a teen, but I find improv to be very unique and different than scripted acting. I’m sharing a moment with someone else on stage that I will never replicate again, and I find that to be very special. And if I’m not performing well, I have someone else with me who can help me out. And if we both don’t do well, then maybe we can laugh about it afterwards. No matter anyone’s skill level, you can always find something to enjoy when you’re doing improv.

11. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I just liked the ability to have a professional recording of one of my scenes. I think the feedback was helpful and I appreciate it.