RAVEN PETRETTI-STAMPER
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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Jersey City, NJ, the sixth borough of NY.
 
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?
I originally wrote a short play version that had its world premiere at a one act festival at a professional theatre called Alleyway Theatre in Buffalo, NY in 2022. The reception was positive and I loved the characters and wanted to see more so I started working on my TV Pilot shortly after. My thought was, Who wouldn’t want to spend time with these zany characters week after week? It’s been a little shy of two years working on my pilot and getting it here, to a point where I am really proud and can’t wait to start writing future episodes. Please someone buy it so I can do that. ;)
The inspiration behind it were the two times I bumped into Elvis Costello in an elevator in NYC. Even though I’m a pretty cool cat I kind of went to pieces and thoroughly embarrassed myself. I was full on chatty and pretty sure he couldn’t wait for me to get off the elevator. He took it in stride when I started singing “Veronica” at the top of my lungs both times upon my exit.
 
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?
Almost two years. I had a version that I was fond of and entered contests with and it did well but not stupendous. In December 2023 I started from scratch with an outline, new bios for the characters, relationship charts and great commentary from a writer friend and rebuilt it and loved the results. I was so ecstatic when all that hard work paid off and I won Wiki for the month.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
For me it’s important just to write and know I’m doing good work. That feels good and kinda right.
 
Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
It was a full script 30-page script. It was ready to be seen on a whole.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
I lived in Manhattan when Sex and the City was on and it hit all the right chords for me. Every single one of my friends was represented, NY was as much fun as it was for us, it was funny, sad and the storylines were near perfect. I also like every crime drama show I see and at some points have Law & Order (the original) playing in the background for hours after work.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Do it! Such an amazing way to see where you’re really at with a script and sometimes you can find incredible feedback prices, like Wiki has, and you should get the feedback if you don’t have other eyes on your script. It’s not easy if you don’t get selected but clearly knowing that you may have more work to do on your script is important.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
My next film, My Friend, Doubt, just finished post and I couldn’t be more pleased or proud of this short film. I cannot wait for everyone to see it. What’s it about: With a debut bestseller under her belt, author Betty Ray Robinson is laboring to scribe a stellar follow-up when her old friend Doubt shows up at the door. When this negative Nancy tries to cast a shadow over the writer’s confidence, Betty’s on the hook to shine a positive light on her life’s work. 

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