SHORT BIO OF THE WRITER:
Sophie is an emerging writer from the South-East, now living in London. After graduating with a first-class degree from the Arts University Bournemouth, she has developed several short stage plays for festivals and scratch nights such as Seven Minutes in Seven Sisters and Him and Her. She is currently writing shorts and feature films, with one of her recent screenplays, Stars and Rockets being selected for the 2022 Bute Street Film Festival. She is motivated by coming-of-age stories that champion the female perspective and leans towards intimate, surreal and quietly ground-breaking storytelling.
- What is the first story you ever wrote?
The Boy who liked Cake when I was about 7. And I did my own drawings.
- Growing up, what movies or stories inspired your creative passion?
Definitely Jacqueline Wilson, Dr. Seuss and all other books I could get my hands on. I read a lot! I was also drawn to stories found in songs like Tracy Chapman or The Lighthouse Family.
- For an unknown writer, what is the best way to get their screenplay seen?
I am definitely still working on this, so am also open to advice! But I’d say keep writing and keep sending to festivals and other competitions available to you. And if you can find peers willing to read your script and give feedback – hold onto them because they are gold dust.
- What experiences from your life influence your characters?
I really think every experience does for me. Even tiny interactions from buying something in a shop or overhearing on the tube have all been great starting points for me to write a story.
- Can you explain your character development process?
I often start with what world the character resides in and go from there.
- Do you write bios before you start writing?
No. I like to have a rough idea in my head about who they are and where they’ve come from, but I leave bios to the actors. I care more about the character’s journey that’s happening to them now and only bits of their past if it’s relevant to the story.
- How emotionally involved are you with the characters you create?
Very, as they always have a piece of me in them.
- What are your thoughts on structure?
That it’s very important! There is a reason why most stories have a recognized structure and that’s because it works.
- Do you outline before you start writing?
It really depends on the project. Sometimes I have a spark of an idea and I just want to write it all out without thinking but other times it takes more strategic planning. So the project dictates.
- What is the most important aspect of building a great character?
Truth.
