SARAH CALDWELL
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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Santa Clarita, CA, right outside of Los Angeles, though I grew up in England.
 
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?
The feature-length script of The Ghost Under My Bed is based on a short animation I made with the same title – at festivals many people commented it would make a good live action story, so I went ahead and created it in that form.
 
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?
Since I had already come up with the concept for the animation, the bones were there. But I had to greatly expand the story and subplots from 13 minutes to a full-length feature. I teach screenwriting (at UCSB), so I spent most of my time on structure, character development and planning before the actual writing… to me, that process is crucial.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
Like most writers, the goal is to express our creative ideas and see them come to fruition. My focus is on genre writing, but with underlying social themes.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Jordan Peele is one of my biggest inspirations these days as he bends the genre in such creative and profound ways.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
It’s almost impossible to pick just one movie, but one of my favorites is The Others (2001) written, directed and scored by Alejandro Amenabar. I love the subtlety of increasing tension, the psychological aspects, and the great twist at the end
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Keep writing to improve your craft as your first script probably won’t do that well in festivals. But in time, you’ll see big improvements in your own writing if you stick with it. Also, read other screenplays, and keep learning.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I’m currently working on two stop-motion films at various stages of production (Farmers Market & Happy Life) and a Victorian era horror screenplay currently titled The Scavenger.