Short Screenplay Reading: DEATH’S LADY LOVE, by Stephen M Hunt

Watch the June 2016 Winning Short Screenplay.

DEATH’S LADY LOVE, by Stephen M  Hunt

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Horror

Death falls in love only to find that love is a killer.

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Marsha Mason
DEATH – David Strauss
BELINDA – Roselie Williamson

Get to know the winning writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

Death was originally the arc angel Michael who gently swept away those whose time had come. This script embraces the idea of death as a gentle soul with a job to do but who longs for a human life of fulfillment through earthly love. Suddenly, death falls for a woman and then finds out that love is a killer.

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

The idea of humanizing death as a gentle soul yearning for human love is at the heart of the film “Meet Joe Black”. But in my version death has to fight for his love against overwhelming odds and that makes for a different story that needs to be filmed.

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

Inspiring, heart-warming.

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

Charles Laughton’s version of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.

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

About four months.

6. How many stories have you written?

I’ve written 19 screenplays and 5 stage plays.

7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

A good screenplay must have a powerful concept at its core and the idea of death living like the man next door is a powerful, motivating concept.

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

Good formatting is essential so as usual, I had to spend a lot of time ensuring I had properly formatted work before I presented it to professional eyes.

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

Family, not least my two grandchildren.

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

WILDsound is a prestigious, well-respected festival so is one worth winning. Bad feedback is when the feedback author presents him/her self as an all-knowing guru. Good feedback inspires, which is what my WildSound feedback has always done.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Win screenplay competitions then go to film festivals and network by presenting yourself as a credible screenwriter with a unique own voice.

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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson