Can you please tell us about yourself?
I’ve been passionate about filmmaking from a very early age and was spending most of my time as a child filming little scenes with my dad’s old analog camera. Originally from France, I moved to England eleven years ago and am now living on the English coast. I am always directing my own screenplays and have also written a feature film script waiting to be made.

Another passion of mine is everything that has to do with personal development, the subconscious mind and Energy healing. I set up my own therapy business & Reiki practice two years ago. I find that both the creative path and the therapy path go very well together.

How do you motivate yourself to write?
I like planning ahead a day and time where I’ll focus on writing. Going to coffee shops with my laptop motivates me a lot if I feel I need a motivation boost!

How does it feel to have your work recognized?
It’s definitely one of the best feelings in the world, whatever the degree of recognition. Ultimately, we are making films/ writing scripts for them to be shared with others. And when it resonates with them, it feels very fulfilling.

How did you come up with the idea for your winning project?
The beginning of the story was heavily inspired by something a past therapy client of mine told me she was doing when she was a child. I remember writing that down at the time as I felt it would work well in a film. Then, last month, I felt a creative urge and expanded on that story.

It all happened very intuitively: I went for a walk after jotting down some script notes and ended up next to a military base practicing shooting, which could be heard from the lovely hills around and the residential streets. That gave some needed fuel to my story and the rest naturally unfolded in my head including my intentions behind the project.

Do you recommend to screenwriters submit Golden Draft Awards?
Yes definitely! It’s a great opportunity to have your work recognized, boost your confidence and the feedback you get is very useful (that’s originally why I submitted my script as I wanted more feedback on it).

Did you find the feedback helpful?
Yes, it is helpful.

What are the best thing and most challenging things about screenwriting?
Best thing: The excitement and sense of aliveness that comes up when you create! Working with your imagination and the characters coming to life in your mind.

Challenging thing: Going away from things you’ve seen in films already and trying to keep it as personal and original as possible. Allowing yourself to find your own voice I guess and not fall into cliches. All that without fear of your work being judged or not understood.

Rewriting is also challenging because that means sometimes having to get rid of ideas or scenes that you’re really attached to! Being able to be flexible for the sake of the story.

Can you please give us a few screenwriting tips?
Remind yourself that it’s ok to stumble, to write something you think is great and then the next day realize it’s rubbish. It does not mean anything about your abilities or talent, it’s just the process of creation.

Also, know where you’re going with your story before you start writing it. That’s a mistake I’ve made several times in the past and the story usually ends up unclear or not strong enough.

How often do you write?
This specific script I wrote in 4 days because I felt really inspired. I tend to write only when I actually have a project in mind, however, in between, I would write other things like a fiction novel I’ve started or an article, but I don’t force it, it depends on my mood.

Do you have a writing routine?
I don’t but I love going to a coffee shop to write. I also need to know I have a lot of time ahead of me and nothing else planned in the day to really focus on the writing. But other than that, I don’t have much of a structure!