The vicious attack that almost killed her erased all that she was. But not what she did. Elyse Tysoni s shocked to learn her taped confessions remove any hope of escaping her nightmare. Desperate for a lifeline, her only option is to be studied by Doctor Steve Bennett, a psychologist who specializes in psychopaths, to prove she is no longer a threat. But as the study progresses, it'sclearthere'smore to herstory than anyone knew.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Geoff Mays
Nurse: Val Cole
Elyse: Hannah Ehman

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

ORIGIN STORY is about a woman, Elyse Tyson, who wakes from a coma to find herself in prison with no memory. Everything that made her who she was is gone; her life turned into a living nightmare. And she's still responsible for what she did. She's a serial killer. Or at least she was. We follow Elyse as she tries to piece together who she is now by delving into her past, even if that means losing herself again.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Psychological Thriller

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

Beyond immersing the audience in a thrilling journey into the dark recesses of the human mind, ORIGIN STORY explores what makes us who we are and the meaning of justice. By putting those concepts to the test in a scenario that is an extreme contrast to what most of us experience, it makes difficult subjects easier to digest and provokes discussion.

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

Relentless suspense

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

It's a toss-up between Terminator 2 and The Princess Bride.

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

For a little over a year. I completed it in film school earlier this year.

7. How many stories have you written?

4 x Novels, 1 x Novella, 2 x Short Stories, 1 x Graphic Novel, 2 x Feature Film Screenplays, 1 x TV Pilot

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

ORIGIN STORY was a concept that I initially came up with to be a novel. I really liked it, but ended up shelving it when other projects demanded my attention. Then, I needed an idea for a feature film for school and decided to dust it off. I flushed out the story as I progressed through my classes, ultimately loving it so much that when I finished my outline, I decided to write a novella in addition to my screenplay.

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

As the saying goes, I didn't know what I didn't know. After finishing my first draft, I thought I'd nailed my screenplay, only to discover in later classes that I still had a lot to learn. Any novelist who has taken on the challenge of writing a screenplay likely felt the pain of having to shift from writing prose to action lines. "Show, don't tell" takes on a whole new meaning in the world of screenplay writing.

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

I dedicated 21 years to military service, but now that I'm retired, I have the luxury of being able to follow my interests. And I'm passionate about living a life that's filled with great memories and happiness. I like to joke that I speak "nerd" in multiple dialects. When I'm not writing (or talking about writing), I love indulging in my many fandoms any time I can: concerts, theater, conventions, movies, and reading (preferably with one of my dogs or kids cuddled up next to me).

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

I entered the festival because I loved the concept of focusing on female-driven stories and the fact that every screenplay receives feedback. As a new screenwriter, any insight I can get from people experienced with evaluating screenplays is extremely valuable, and what I received did not disappoint. Add in the potential to have my work performed as part of the festival, and I was all in.