RHONDA YATES
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RHONDA YATES

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Indianapolis, Indiana, 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?
FED was first written as a short story called “Glow.” I wanted to explore a supernatural encounter that would occur as a result of a character defect - something internal manifesting externally and drawing danger near. I later reconfigured it into a script because I believe certain concepts are far more powerful when experienced visually. Here is a short synopsis of the film:
FED
She feeds on what consumes you. A troubled paranormal content creator chasing internet fame returns to the woods where his brother mysteriously drowned, but when he captures proof of a supernatural lake entity, his search for truth reveals something far more sinister.
ACT I – The Obsession Begins
• Rusty Winters, failed vlogger, hunts the truth about his brother's death.
• A cursed lake and viral disappearance ignite his obsession.
ACT II – The Monster Revealed
• The legend emerges: 'She feeds on what consumes you.'
• Rusty spirals into guilt, fame, and supernatural terror.
ACT III – The Feeding
Livestream climax: Rusty faces the creature and meets his final fate.

I tend to write what I would want to see on screen, and horror especially benefits from that immersive, visual delivery. I prefer short stories in general because they allow me to be concise and intentional. As a poet, I think in fragments, and that mindset carries over into my storytelling
- I focus on distilling ideas into contained, impactful narratives.

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?
My creative process takes many forms depending on the project. With FED, I had to rework the concept into a prequel to better serve the larger story arc, which added another layer of complexity. I’ve also been developing it as part of a sequel concept for 2 years. I’m drawn to horror because it allows me to externalize psychological and emotional truths, but I’m equally invested in complex human relationships. That’s why my work often lives at the intersection of horror and drama. I don’t strictly rely on one method like outlining or index cards - I tend to follow instinct and let the structure reveal itself, then refine it once I understand the emotional core of the story.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To start, I would love to find a producer who ca. help me make FED. It’s a great story, it’s multilayered with family dynamics, and it will gift audiences with the delightful downward spiral before knowing Rusty’s final fate. Long term, my ambition as a writer is to establish ongoing collaborations with other writers, filmmakers and technical creatives, and to create films full-time. I want to be part of a process where ideas evolve through collaboration and are brought to life through strong performances and visual storytelling. I want to be part of a team that develops a pipeline of quality work.

Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
I submitted the entire script because I felt the ending was essential to understanding how the story opens. The protagonist’s fate is deeply tied to who he is from the start, and that full arc is necessary to feel the weight of the story.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
My all-time favorite films are Glengarry Glen Ross and Mommy Dearest. I’m drawn to films that feel like stage plays - where the weight rests almost entirely on the performances and dialogue. I also deeply admire films like Notes on a Scandal and The Talented Mr. Ripley. They’re quiet, psychological, and haunting in a way that lingers. I tend to gravitate toward that Hitchcock-esque tension - stories that don’t rely on spectacle but instead build unease through character and atmosphere. Stories that require you to use your imagination.

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
The most important advice is to never give up - keep writing, keep submitting, and take feedback seriously when it’s useful. Growth comes from being willing to adjust. At the same time, it’s crucial to balance humility. During the creative process, humility allows the work to flow through you without forcing it. But when it comes to presenting your work, you have to shift that mindset and speak confidently about your voice and your abilities. That balance between openness and self-assurance is essential for both artistic development and professional success.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I currently have six film projects in planning/development. I am networking and establishing a strategy for how to launch these projects. I filmed LEGION in March and am looking forward to the rough cut. I plan to submit all of the films to festivals and showcase events.
FED (feature length creature/found footage/body horror) is the award-winning project that explores identity, internal conflict, and transformation through a haunting and symbolic lens.
LEGION (short psychological horror/existential horror) explores the line between external threat and internal psychological unraveling.
PROTOCOL (short psychological thriller) is a tense, character-driven story centered around control, hierarchy, and the cost of obedience.
It Finds You (short horror) is a single character film that leans further into psychological horror, focusing on inevitability and unseen forces that close in on the protagonist.
MITTENS (short drama) is a more intimate and unsettling narrative that blends innocence with underlying dread. It is set fully on a videoconference call with two characters. Version Control (short psychological thriller) explores themes of time, consequence, and the
fragmentation of self under pressure. I’m also preparing to publish my fourth poetry collection in 2026. My previous three collections
(Peril in Black & White, Ashes to Ice, Smoke over Satin) are available on Amazon, and they continue to inform my voice as a storyteller across both page and screen.

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