Farrah Pereira
 FARRAH PEREIRA
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I currently live in Los Angeles, but I’m originally from Trinidad. Your script stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your story and why did you write a script instead of a short story or a novel? The inspiration for my story came from a conversation I had with a friend I’d gone to college with in Trinidad. After graduating, she worked with the UN for a year and was stationed in Haiti. While talking to her about her experience in Haiti, one of the questions I asked was whether there was any kind of underlying hostility from the locals toward the UN being there. She immediately said, “Oh yeah! The UN brought cholera to Haiti!” Of course I started digging into what happened, all the while thinking, “How is it no one has written this movie yet?” I decided to write a script instead of a short story or novel because I felt that a screenplay allowed me to bring the story’s urgency and intensity to life in a way that felt more immediate and cinematic. How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process? Do you outline...use index cards...white board...or just start with FADE IN? It took me over a year to write the script. I usually research the subject matter first to understand the world and the characters who will inhabit it. Then I begin outlining the story. When I begin writing the first draft, I focus on getting the story down without over-editing. I’m more intentional in subsequent drafts, and of course, I ensure to get Wiki Screenplay’s feedback once I’m confident the script is in a good place. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? My ambition as a writer is to tell emotionally resonant stories that linger with audiences after FADE OUT. I’m especially drawn to underdog narratives—stories that center on resilience, identity, and the pursuit of justice—and I aim to bring those themes to life in a way that feels both compelling and deeply human. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? I chose to submit the full script because I value the depth of feedback provided by the Wiki Screenplay judges, and I wanted insight on the piece as a whole. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? My all-time favorite movie is Erin Brockovich because it’s the ultimate underdog story. The writing, the acting, everything about that movie was phenomenal, and it was impossible not to root for Erin from the opening scene. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Don’t give up! One of the most important lessons that I’ve learned throughout this entire process is that the writers who are successful are the ones who didn’t give up, even after hearing no countless times. Also, never stop learning! There’s always something new to discover that can help make you a better writer. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I’m currently preparing for the release of my debut novel, Isabela’s Revolution, coming out this September. It’s an adult literary fiction story following a 19-year-old Venezuelan woman who travels to Trinidad to support her family amid the Maduro regime, only to be forced back into Venezuela when her family becomes the target of violent colectivos. It explores themes of migration, identity, and resilience under political and social pressure. Hopefully we get to see the adaptation on screen in the near future. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fallon.farrah/ |
