CAST LIST:

Narrator: Geoff Mays
Gloria: Hannah Ehman
Esther: Val Cole

1. What is your screenplay about?
HUMDRUM is an exploration of complex family dynamics, particularly the strained relationships between Gloria and her daughters Esther and Lily. On the surface, the film is about Gloria, a widow who suffers from tinnitus. As Gloria's tinnitus worsens, her daughters' lives start to fall apart. While Lily keeps her distance, losing herself in suburban motherhood and marital woes, Esther bears the weight of their mother's deteriorating condition, while also coming to grips with her own desires and struggles. Desperate for relief from Gloria's relentless criticism and manipulation, Lily and Esther turn to an experimental treatment that promises salvation. But as Gloria's behaviour becomes more disturbing post-treatment, the lines between care and control, reality and delusion, start to blur.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
HUMDRUM falls under Psychological Horror, Body horror and Family Drama genres.

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
HUMDRUM's exploration of psychological horror rooted in familial trauma feels especially relevant in today's genre climate, where audiences increasingly seek horror that provides both visceral scares and emotional depth. I haven't seen tinnitus used as a catalyst in this way before in a film; this excites me, as it offers a unique perspective on the genre. The film's focus on women's experiences also speaks directly to contemporary conversations about women, mental health, and family dynamics, which I am passionate about showcasing in a film.

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

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Wow, I had to think this one through. I would say either Dirty Dancing or The Breakfast Club.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
It's been about 1 year. I wrote the first draft in August 2024.

7. How many stories have you written?
I've written 4 short films, and HUMDRUM is my first feature. Before that, I wrote several short stories (back in my early teens).

8. What motivated you to write this screenplay?
I was motivated to write HUMDRUM because of my personal experience watching my mother struggle with tinnitus that worsened significantly after my father's death. Witnessing how grief can transform into physical torment compelled me to explore this story. I was also motivated by the possibility that audiences might recognize their own struggles with aging parents, family guilt, or the search for meaning during a crisis, and that the story could spark meaningful conversations about grief, faith, coping, generational trauma, and how we care for one another.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
Is it ever really finished? I'm still working on a draft! So I guess I would say, knowing when to leave it be, to truly accept that it's a completed piece of work, is the biggest obstacle.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
The ultimate goal for me is to direct feature films. I've directed a few short films, but I really want to get on more film sets as a second AD, get my feet wet, pay my dues, and possibly shadow a director. Watching movies is my ultimate passion. I could do that every day - and almost do!

11. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I loved that the festival was geared toward female talent and female stories. I was also very intrigued by the idea of having a scene from my script performed–that's such a great opportunity for new writers to hear their work out loud, read by professionals.