What motivated you to become a writer?

The more appropriate question would be…what HASN’T motivated me?! I’ve been writing since I was six. I’ve lived abroad, lived in multiple parts of the US, have dual-identity children, identify as queer, have been married thrice, and my resume includes a hundred waitressing jobs, two terms of service with AmeriCorps, childbirth educator, lactation consultant, state program manager, intimacy coach, and, oh yeah…I was co-owner of a hip-hop lounge where Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller got their start. I’ve endured abuse, trauma, homelessness, and a million hard things that haven’t hardened my heart thanks to having the outlet of putting a pen to paper (or fingers to keys).

Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?

It usually starts as a question and engages me as a learner. I love puzzles, especially human ones. What makes people behave how they do? What would happen in a particular situation under ‘x’ condition? Sometimes it comes from a phrase, or an interaction I witness. Other times, it’s me questioning my own existence and putting myself in different situations. It comes in flashes of inspiration. From there, my wild imagination takes over. My great-mother had dreams that would predict events. Perhaps it’s been handed down, but in a fictional form.

I’m currently recording a podcast with a decades-old friend on all things ‘love’ that was sparked by his recent divorce and text conversations we had about relationships. We laughed a lot, and the humanity of our back and forth inspired me to be like, ‘we should do a podcast’ which is now a running joke between us. It’s like a burning desire to birth new things, which mirrors the career path I have taken. I also LOVE learning new technical skills, and that’s why film and tv production is a never ending fascination for me.

Do you write projects knowing that so many other factors need to happen to get it to screen and does that come into your project creation?

Yes and no. I write what I feel needs to be seen/heard first and foremost, and what begs for a voice. Having taken film production classes, I am always conscious of things like location, cast size, what kind of lighting will be required, etc.  On the flip side, I also don’t tie myself to the work in a way that it would break me if it were changed, because there is a 100% chance it will. Ideally, that happens for the better, and I am absolutely good with that. I love collaboration, and being able to merge good ideas into something fantastic is the best feeling as an artist.

What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate? Please include script title in reply.

I have been working on ‘In Eden’ for four years, and I would love for it to be produced. It is a brutal, honest examination of addiction and love, sex, women, coping, and the blurred lines between, balanced with moments of comedy to give us all a minute to breathe.

Logline: A recovering, bisexual sex addict flees to quirky New Mexico to rebuild her life from the implosion of her marriage and career in Los Angeles.

My dream is that it finds a champion who recognizes the depth and complexity of the material, and helps me to the next level so that it can find a home. It’s a wild ride, but one that I 100% believe people will identify with and follow. I am also open to producing and shooting it myself, as I have the technical skills and organizational savvy to do so, but need financial backing to make it happen. My greatest disadvantage is living outside of NYC and LA, although I live in New Mexico and the industry here is gaining amazing momentum.

How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?

‘In Eden’ has consistently placed as a quarter finalist or semifinalist in several competitions, including We Screenplay, Creative Screenwriting, Table Read, Filmmatic, and Big Break. The material is dark and explicit, so it’s not for everyone, but I am proud that the writing has allowed it to place where it has. I think it depends on who reads it. A woman will feel differently than a hetero-cis male, and I feel that stories that honor the complexity of women are just beginning to take hold, so I still have hope to be finalist in the future. I don’t feel I need to win. I just need to find the right person who will love and identify with the material the way I do.

If you could stand in a room full of investor partners looking at many projects what would you like them to know about you and this project?

‘In Eden’ is a groundbreaking narrative that allows women to be seen at their most vulnerable moments. A journey of learning to live with the demons foisted upon us, healing from the trauma of the past while figuring it out for the future, and learning to live one day, one minute, sometimes only one second at a time. As we, hopefully, shift towards a post pandemic world, people will be looking for stories that facilitate healing and where we can root for people to become whole, or at least a better version of themselves. At its core, In Eden is a story of redemptive love, and who can’t identify with that?

Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share?

My writer persona can be found at www.thehollybeck.com and on instagram @hollywood_nm

My podcast, Shadow of Love: sol412.com

Under Holly Beck, I can be found on LinkedIn, Coverfly, and ISA

I love connection, find me!