Stephanie Ogozaly

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1. What is your screenplay about?

In "HELP! I'M ALIVE," a young woman is unceremoniously kicked out of the mental health facility she has been living in for two years. She struggles to find her place in the world after her release by cracking jokes and working hard to connect to people. Ultimately she decides it's a lost cause. She settles on suicide... but first she's going to throw a 'suicide party' to celebrate. After the party, she must come to terms with the way her life has gone... and the way it might go.

2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay?

The main character, Israel Green, has existed in my mind for years, but I could never find a place to put her. Finally, I decided to sit down and let her tell me her story. As it turned out, "HELP! I'M ALIVE" was it.

3. How long have you been writing screenplays?

I've been telling stories since I was six years old, but I'm fairly new at screenwriting. This was actually the first full-length I took to completion. Before this, I was co-writing and developing a web series with some friends. (And we're still working on it.)

4. What film have you watched the most in your lifetime?

It's probably "A Christmas Story." I've never missed the 24 hour Christmas marathon.

5. What artist in the industry would you love to work with?

It would have been a dream to work with Dorothy Parker on a script, but as she died in 1967 I'd either need a time machine or the ability to talk with the dead to make that happen.

6. Who was your hero growing up?

Dorothy Parker! 7. Ideally, where would you like to be in 5 years?

My ideal future includes making a living with my writing. If I could do that, I think I would be happy anywhere (although I wouldn't mind a nice flat in the West End of Glasgow). 8. Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing?

I don't have much of a routine, but I mostly write at night simply because that's when I have the most free time. Once I get caught up in it, I can write until dawn. I tend not to begin with a written outline, because personally that takes a lot of fun out of the writing of the actual script. I always know where I'm going, but I like a little adventure in getting there.

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

Music. I have no talent for playing it, but I appreciate it deeply. I don't feel complete unless music is playing and some of my best memories are from my high school years when I would frequent a hole-in-the-wall music venue where the stage was so low to the ground that you could reach out and touch the band. Being able to connect with music in this way changed how I thought about the arts and life in general -- it's all about establishing a connection. 10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Script Contest?

I was drawn to the promise of coverage for my script. I like to have as many people as possible look over my work, so I was happy to have an impartial party look at the script and give me notes. The prospect of having it read by professional actors was also a big draw. 11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Never, ever give up.

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