Kimberly Champion
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​Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
San Francisco, California.
 
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’m inspired by people who, though stunted by uncontrollable circumstances, determine who they were truly meant to be, and find the courage to go after it. I love getting immersed in a good movie or series. Writing screenplays is a very similar kind of immersion in a story that I play out scene by scene internally.
 
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?
This one took a little over a year while employed full-time elsewhere.  I begin with jotting down thoughts in long hand for a while, carrying a journal with me everywhere.  Then I start outlining and making index cards in screenwriting software.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To entertain with stories that inspire thought and emotion.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
There are so many.  But I’ll name one of the first who made me start thinking about writing, and that was Luc Besson with his 1990 film “La Femme Nikita”.  This story of a young female who undergoes a metamorphosis while dealing with the numerous shocking situations she’s placed in, was a revelation for me years ago.  And I realize that many of my scripts have a similar theme – in short, a young woman who’s trapped in some way and struggles her way free.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
There are so many favorites, but since it’s on my mind from the previous question, I’ll cite the series “La Femme Nikita” (1997 – 2001).  The perplexing domination of the organization where she’s forced to work, the constantly morphing relationships, and the creative and surprising episodes and plot twists are what I find so entertaining.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Keep at it until you have only the necessary ingredients and every word clicks into place.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I have three scripts of a similar genre which I will be sending to Santa Barbara for analysis and competition very soon.

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