KAT BYLSKA
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KAT BYLSKA

How did you discover The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
I did what most desperate, overqualified, under-networked writers do—deep dive Googled my way into a black hole of screenplay contests. SBI caught my attention because it didn’t feel like a scammy money-grab with inflated laurels. The judges have legitimate industry ties, and the contest actually seemed to care about stories with teeth. So, I entered. Simple as that.

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Los Angeles, California. Still stuck in the belly of the beast, trying to slay it from the inside out.

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? What inspires your overall journey into screenwriting?
The story was born from fury. Animal cruelty laws are a joke, and I got tired of screaming into the void. So, I built a world where justice isn’t just poetic—it’s ironic, stylish, and brutal. Screenwriting felt like the right format because film punches people
in the face. It doesn’t ask nicely. That’s the kind of impact I want. As for the journey—honestly? I don’t have a choice. Some people dream of writing. I write to stay sane.

How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
If it haunts me, I write it. I gravitate toward themes that expose societal rot—especially where humans fail the voiceless. Whether it’s through satire, horror, or dark comedy, I’m drawn to narratives that challenge the status quo, make people squirm, and then make them think.

What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive?
I work two jobs. I feed feral cats at dawn. I write at war with the clock. My "Routine" is structured chaos, but I carve out late-night hours and early mornings like sacred ground. When I'm in a groove, I don’t move until something meaningful hits the page—even if that means staring at the wall for 45 minutes in existential despair.

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?
The idea stewed for years, but the first full draft came out in about two months of obsessive writing. I outline viciously—like a murder board. There are index cards, whiteboards, color codes, post-its, and probably DNA samples involved. Then I ignore it
all and start with FADE IN anyway.

How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
I spiral. Then I write anyway. I remind myself that perfection is the enemy and clarity comes from action. And if that doesn’t work, I watch a documentary about something awful until I get mad enough to write again.

What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
Final Draft, Google Docs for dumping chaos, and my phone’s voice memos for when a line hits me in traffic. Also, sticky notes. So many damn sticky notes.

How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests?
I treat every entry like it could change everything—but expect absolutely nothing. Contests have taught me how to sharpen my pitch, toughen my skin, and stay grounded. Winning is great. But losing with grace and still moving forward? That’s the real flex.

Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting and how you overcame it?
Lack of industry access. I’ve had to build everything from scratch—no reps, no family in the business, no secret handshake. The only way out has been through: relentless rewriting, self-producing shorts, hustling festivals, and screaming into the social media void until someone hears me.

Where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter?
Running a creative empire under the Katz-Entertainment banner. Producing my own films. Giving platform to other voices no one wanted to hear. And making the kind of bold, provocative work that gets banned in three states.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To dismantle the narrative that justice is clean or polite. I want to tell stories that make people laugh uncomfortably, then lose sleep. I want to change how we talk about animals, power, and accountability. If someone’s pissed off, I’m doing my job right.

The film and television industry is constantly evolving. How do you see the role of screenwriters changing, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence?
Screenwriters are finally starting to reclaim their worth—about time. Streaming has opened doors, but AI’s knocking with a battering ram. Writers need to evolve by being bolder, sharper, and more original than anything an algorithm could dream up. We have to stay unreplicable.

Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, because she weaponizes vulnerability. Charlie Brooker, for his savagery. Tarantino, for the rhythm and blood. And Guy Ritchie when he’s in peak form—dialogue as foreplay and gunfire.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
"Peaky Blinders" and "The Sopranos" are in a steel cage death match for that title. But "Fight Club" and "Resevoir Dogs" are right behind them, heckling with beer.

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Don’t write for the judges. Write for the person who needs your story and doesn’t even know it yet. Make it bleed. Make it weird. Make it you. And edit like a sociopath with a scalpel.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?)
I'm developing a trilogy, starting with Karma Kat—a dark satirical thriller where a defense attorney gets animal abusers off in court... so she can get them alone. Think Gone Girl meets John Wick, but for every voiceless creature left behind. Also building a multimedia brand that fuses entertainment with advocacy:
www.katzkabaret.com and
www.katzent.com.

Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.)
Instagram: @kat_bylska
Twitter/X: @karmakatfilm
LinkedIn: Kat-Entertainment
Email: [email protected]

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