When a successful HR professional realizes her soulmate is quickly marrying someone else, she must center her goals around the idea of truly being single forever.

https://instagram.com/cheja_tucker

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Sean Ballantyne
Mariah: Hannah Ehman
Dave: Geoff Mays

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your screenplay about?

Employee Relations is about a woman, Mariah, who has been madly in love with her boyfriend, Evan for eight years. One night over dinner, Mariah believes Evan is going to propose and instead, he informs her he will be marrying someone else. Mariah now has to navigate her life as a single woman, still reeling over Evan.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Employee Relations would be considered a comedy and a drama (dramedy).

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

I would love to see Employee Relations as either a romantic comedy or a TV series. The visualization of Mariah's and Evan's decisions are a must watch.

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

Shocking Romance

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

I watch The Holiday every year since the movie came out in 2006.

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

I had an idea for this screenplay in 2024 and started working on the plot. I didn't start writing it until October 2025. Between character development and edits, I would say I've been working on this screenplay for a little more than a year.

7. How many stories have you written?

I have written creative writing pieces since 2011, just never published anything. This is my first story I've written that has received an audience.

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I don't mean to sound morbid when answering this question, but my grandmother passed in 2024. I always wanted to work on my writing and I knew not at least trying to get my work out there would be a regret. Once she passed, I began working on things I always wanted to say I at least tried it. This screenplay was one of the items I wanted to say I at least tried!

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

Definitely deadlines; meeting deadlines was a huge obstacle and I made so many edits for my first submission. I wanted the audience to really understand Mariah's hurt, but also understand she is a woman that fell in love with someone that she truly believed was the one person who understood her.

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

I'm a huge goofball, when I'm not meeting deadlines, and I am also a standup comedian. I really enjoy making people laugh.

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

I wanted to enter this festival because I wanted to take a leap of faith. I work full time in HR and it's not really a leap of faith kind of job. There's guidance that we follow and we stick to it; there's no bending the rules. This festival was one of the first times (outside from standup) where I could bend the rules, because it is my idea. I thoroughly enjoyed the feedback I received regarding Employee Relations. It truly helped me illustrate Mariah's point of view.