When an unnamed virus begins to kill off human males, a family takes refuge on a sailboat in hopes they can escape the virus.

CAST LIST:

Narration: Sean Ballantyne
Mila: Hannah Ehman
Erica: Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

This story, like all of the stories I seem to write, is about my daily agony knowing one day I will have to say goodbye to my only Son, and figuring out how to make the most of the little things in life that bond us and my family.

The story itself is about an unnamed, new virus that is causing a mass die-off of human males. A father takes his wife and young daughter to his own father's sailboat on the Atlantic Ocean to try and evade the virus.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Drama.

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

If I can pull this film off, it has the potential to be visually stunning, relying on the simplicity of a sailboat, human drama, moments of levity, grief, and elation. My attached actors, the stellar and criminally underutilized John Conway and a fantastic tiny powerhouse of an actress, Mila Rose, have the ability to push you far into the reaches of emotion. I am looking forward to working with a very intriguing, talented actor, Heidi Danea Crane who is also signed on.

This story will give the audience a heartfelt, intense and beautiful drama that will hopefully generate deep emotional resonance and stronger appreciation for the people closest to them.

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

Contained heartbreak.

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

The Outsiders (of course).

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

Completed in about ten days.

7. How many stories have you written?

About 13 features, most with Recommend coverage, many festival placements, several optioned, several in development, several I don't want anyone ever reading again, plus a short I directed, another short that was produced, and a collaboration on a feature in post production.

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I am constantly on the hunt for just the right 1987 Hunter 23 sailboat. One morning while searching for one I came across a one of a kind, 75 foot, steel hull sailboat in disrepair. I reached out to the owner, asked if I could write a movie that takes place on his boat. He said yes, and that was all I needed.

I was also looking to write something for my favorite actors, wanted to write a project I could direct, and would be low budget.

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

Often times I just can't type fast enough to roll a script out between the worst moment of every school day (when I drop my son at school) and the best moment of my day (when I pick him up); so the main obstacle always seems to be time.

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

Currently I am intensely passionate about my distaste (aka abject fear of) for AI...

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

The very first script I wrote, a short called "Throwaways" was a winner at Wildsound. Mathew interviewed me; I loved the experience! Sadly I haven't made that movie (it will be very complicated), but I love Wildsound and am happy to support it when I feel I have an appropriate project.

The feedback was definitely constructive and gave me food for tnought; I know the reader "got" the story, and offered insight into an audience perspective.