Holy crap, I won! I’m so proud to announce that I was selected as one of the 5 winners in Netflix New Voices contest and got to toast to that with none other than CEO of Netflix global, Reed Hastings! What?! Four months ago 15 screenwriters were selected from a pool of 550 to write a feature screenplay based on their 10 page proposal. I was among them and with the help of a wonderful coach started a journey to finish a synopsis, treatment and full fledged 90-100 page screenplay. Within three and a half months…

I’m not gonna lie: there have been tears, asshole behavior to the poor editors and DPs that had to work with me during the final stretch, and even eyesight problems (though they turned out to be just overworked eye muscles). But most of all there was so much joy. Because I love creating worlds inside my head.

Though originally Netflix planned to only option the top two screenplays, it was announced last Wednesday that they would option all top 5 screenplays, and even two extra! So now it’s a wait and see what happens in development. Especially since mine ended up a semi-fantasy film. In case you’re now wondering what my screenplay is about, here you go: A lonely female game designer falls in love with the lead character from the popular video game she’s helping develop. When an update to the game’s artificial intelligence makes the character seem sentient, she recreated herself in the game and a relationship ensues. Until her boss announces he has different plans for his character…

I’m so grateful to have been part of this experience, and most of all to have met all these wonderful fellow scribes. I can’t wait to see all their films on the big (or small) screen. And just look at this picture of all the winners…Who run the world? ;p (Ok, probably CEOs)

Cheers,

 Shanice