CAST LIST:

Narrator: Sean Ballantyne
Spike: Geoff Mays
Andrei: Shawn Devlin
Nadine: Elizabeth Rose Morriss

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?
A professionally trained chef stuck in a dead-end diner job gets a shot at culinary stardom when he’s chosen as a wildcard contestant in a prestigious fine dining competition. As he rises through the ranks, he must confront his self-doubt and the truth he’s been hiding about where he comes from.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama, with elements of comedy and ensemble-driven storytelling.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It fits in a space that is currently underserved. Character-driven, mid-budget stories with a clear hook.

The culinary competition world provides a built-in engine and audience familiarity, while the execution focuses on grounded, performance-driven storytelling. It is contained enough to be produced efficiently, while still offering scale through the competition setting.

It also offers strong ensemble roles, which creates multiple opportunities from a casting standpoint. From a business perspective, it is the kind of film that can travel well across festivals, streaming platforms, and word-of-mouth audiences who connect with character-first storytelling.

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

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
It is probably a tossup between Sister Act and Beauty & the Beast. Sister Act is a film I grew up revisiting, and it balances comedy, character, and transformation in a way that still holds up. It commits fully to its premise, and that is something I really respect as a storyteller. B&B is just a goldmine as far as narrative storytelling, moving music and sweeping visuals. I can’t get enough of that film.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
This version of the script came together over the past year, but the idea itself has been with me much longer. It evolved as I refined the tone and focused on what the story actually needed.

7. How many stories have you written?
This is my first feature-length screenplay, and I am currently developing two additional feature ideas. Most of my previous work has been in filmmaking, so this project represents a shift into long-form narrative writing.

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
It came from a personal place. I connected with the feeling of having the training and the passion, but still questioning whether you belong in bigger spaces. Writing this was a way to explore that mindset in an honest and grounded way.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Finding the right writing style for the story.

I spent a lot of time studying scripts I admire, especially how they handle pacing and structure. At one point I was trying to mirror those styles too closely. The breakthrough came when I focused on applying those techniques without losing my own voice. Once that clicked, the script became much more consistent.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Filmmaking. I run a production company and create documentary and narrative-driven video work, often for nonprofits and organizations. Storytelling through film is really where everything connects for me.

11. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I entered to see how the script would resonate outside of my own circle.

The feedback was encouraging, especially in how it recognized the ensemble and the tone of the story. It also reinforced areas I have been actively refining, which made it feel like I am on the right track.