SHADOWS begins with Reverend Josie Strickland (late 40s, African-American) entering her office at St. Thomas Church and finding her mother, Violet Audrey, (60), standing over a dead body and holding the bloody murder weapon. Through a series of flashbacks, it’s revealed that Diana (21) , the granddaughter of Violet, has been receiving calls from a man warning her of a dangerous outcome for her grandmother (Violet) because of a situation that goes back years when Violet was an investigative reporter in Paris and had dealings with the C.I.A. Once the murder is committed, Diana finds herself at odds and attracted to the Detective (Troy Andrews) assigned to the case, forcing Diana to face a new reality about herself and in relation to her grandmother, mother, and her role in the world.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Steve Rizzo
The Rev: Val Cole
James: Allan Michael Brunet

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

SHADOWS is a T.V pilot that begins with Reverend Josie Strickland (late 40s, African American) entering her office at St. Matthew's Church and finding her mother, Violet Audrey 6os), standing over a dead body. Through a series of flashbacks, it's revealed that Diana (22) , the daughter of Reverend Strickland and granddaughter of Violet, has been receiving calls from a man warning her of a dangerous outcome for her grandmother (Violet) because of a situation that goes back years when Violet was a student in Paris and had dealings with the C.I.A. Once the murder is committed and the search begins for the murderer, Diana finds herself at odds with her mother and attracted to the Detective (Troy Andrews) assigned to the case.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Whodunit

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

Even though Shadows is a classic murder mystery, because the setting is a church and the three main characters are three generations of African American women - one being a minister, there is an originality to a familiar genre.

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

Puzzling Murder

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

Hitchcock's Rear Window

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

On and off for five years.

7. How many stories have you written?

I have written many plays and stories.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

Sam Cooke's "A change is going to Come"

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

Dealing with so many characters with different backgrounds and trying to keep them true to their individual backgrounds was a challenge.

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

Teaching and Cooking

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

It is very usher friendly.

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

The description of the goals of the festival made me want to be a part of it. The feedback was very detailed and clear, which even helped me better understand what I had written.