MOLLY FRANKLIN-LEARY
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Davenport, Iowa, USA. 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? My mother worked within victim services for most of my childhood, specifically with the family and friends of homicide victims. Because of that, I was exposed to complex grief early on and it fascinated me. The five stages of grief are well known - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. Sometimes people are forced to sprint through these phases after a sudden and violent death of a person they cherished. It was the intensity of grief that drew me to Jordan’s story. He lived his childhood in much the same way I did: experiencing grief and tragedy through young, innocent eyes and watching as someone’s world was ripped apart. I actually began writing this as a 30-page short story when I was in college. My professor at the time told me it needed to be cut down significantly or become a novel, and so I decided to do neither. When I started screenwriting in 2019, I found a new medium to tell stories and when I revisited this particular one it just made sense as a short film. It is a visually impactful, character-driven tale that highlights the quiet mourning that comes from losing a connection where love is difficult, but still present. I intended Still Life to share how we as humans say “I love you” through deliberate action, rather than words. 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? Still Life was one of my quicker projects as I based it on a short story I had already written, but it still took weeks to have a draft that I felt was ready to go out into the world. This script took three large rewrites, one of which I cut ten pages, removing dialogue and unnecessary scenes. I have a tendency to throw everything and the kitchen sink into my first couple of drafts. My writing process is incredibly character-driven. I learned to write short stories using the workshop method from Columbia College Chicago. Usually I start by finding a word and asking myself “What do I see when I think of the word?” For example, let’s go with pigeon. I would first visualize the bird: what it looks like, feels like, even smells like. Then I’ll find the location asking myself questions like “Is it rural or urban? Confined or open?” Once I see the space, I allow myself to walk around the world I have created in my head until I find a character that intrigues me. If the character doesn’t immediately have a story, I will ask them “When was the last time you cried? Who was your first love? When did you experience your first heartbreak?” First and lasts are my favorite questions to ask because that takes me right into a story. From there, it’s simply finding the scene, where at least two people are interacting. Often I describe my writing as a spiritual experience. I try to play a word game like that once a week either to develop new material or expand the world I have already been working in. In my mind, you find your character, you find their life, and then you find the story they are longing to tell. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? When I was twelve, my mom bought me my first laptop. It didn’t have access to the internet. It was thicker than a short textbook and it was mine. She had put a plaque on the front that read, “Molly Franklin, Future Author”. My goal then was the same as my goal now. I hope to be published or produced and be someone’s favorite writer. The best way I can do that is by gaining representation to propel my stories forward. I grew up in Iowa and I currently reside here, but I lived the last ten years in Chicago, chasing the dream of supporting myself writing. Ultimately, the jobs I was working were less than glamorous - copywriting for medical sales equipment, writing learning and development material for companies, things like that. It didn’t give me much time to write for myself. I didn’t feel like I was living the writer life I wanted. Instead it was taking the joy out of writing. So, I’m back to making this a way to express myself and tell the stories of characters that long to be heard. Honestly, my ambition is simple: I want to make you look at the world just a little bit differently. And maybe, if I’m successful, I can even be one of your favorite writers. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? This choice was very easy. I write short scripts. I have one feature film, but that one isn’t ready for the world yet. My shorts range anywhere from one and a half to 30 pages. I found a script that I had been working on, but hadn’t gotten feedback yet, and figured this was my chance to see if the script was saying what I wanted it to in the limited timeframe I gave it. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? Oh god, the dreaded question every filmmaker is asked. Recently my favorite movie is Promising Young Woman written and directed by Emerald Fennell. This film is visually stunning a combination of girlish bubblegum laced with menace. This film tells a sadly familiar story that almost all women can relate to about the excuses society makes for the ‘good guy’ at the expense of women’s well-being.I love the way that this movie encapsulated female rage which often feels like a taboo subject as we are taught from a young age that we can be sad, but never angry. What a fantastic take on vengeance that isn’t bloody - but still leaves you feeling unnerved and fulfilled. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? For some writers, they find the plot first. For others, such as myself, it’s about finding the character and digging into their lives. Put all the details you can find on the page during your first draft. You as the writer will always know more than the reader. If you write as much as you learn first, you can cut and edit later, distilling the story and finding your theme. I was a writer who often hated the question, “But what is the story trying to say?” I would usually answer with “I don’t know yet.” And that’s okay. But after you write that first or second or even third draft, look for what is repeating. Themes, items, character emotions - these will lead you to a more focused story. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! As cliche as it sounds, don’t wait for the perfect draft before you submit. It is never going to live up to your standards. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I currently have partnered with a small production company in Davenport and we plan to film my second short film, Bed of Roses, in April. I currently have one other short available on Youtube named Heirloom. Otherwise, I’m working on two new features, one entitled Gasp of a Match that focuses on Rebecca Trout, who leaves her hometown under mysterious circumstances and decides to enter the adult film industry during the mid-2000s. The other revolves around two sisters who grew up in the child beauty pageant world and are drawn back in by the death of one of the contestants. |
