WRITER PROFILE
It’s always great to get together with a large group of writers and investors and keep up to date on what’s new, the screenplay contest, any recent deals, new dealmaker contacts, agents or managers that are looking and simply encouraging everyone to keep going after every dream in this difficult industry. For the hard working writer we want to do as much as we can to continue the exposure and word of mouth in the investment circles of the industry. Another way we do this is with writer interviews that we send far and wide and showcase at all possible meetings and markets.
We want to encourage your writing spirit, motivate you and again give you the accolades you so deserve.
Penthesilea: Rise of an Amazon
Written by Stephanie Neroes
What motivated you to become a writer?
The industry contraction. I work as a film/television editor and when the film industry had undergone its current contraction, I found it difficult to find employment. So, to keep the creativity flowing and maintain connected to my craft, I began writing.
Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?
Honestly, the motivation to be creative, specifically to writing, comes and goes. One minute, I feel like an unstoppable stream. The next, the last thing I want to do is write. Now, if it’s something I’m super excited about, the creativity comes natural, almost channeled.
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?
Absolutely not. I stay in the present. Thinking about everything it would take to get it produced just burns energy. I prefer to channel it into the writing.
What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate?
I actually had the honor of having two projects appear on the top 100. One is a short film, Synchronicity, and the other, Penthesilea: Rise of an Amazon.
Synchronicity at best – maybe a contender for an Oscar short film nominee. Being a short film, I wouldn’t expect it would make much revenue, maybe win a festival or two.
Penthesilea: Rise of an Amazon – this was so fun to write. It took some time start to completion. But, given the appetite for female-led, mythic storytelling is stronger than ever—films like Wonder Woman, Barbie, The Woman King, Furiosa, and The Old Guard have shown there’s a real hunger for emotionally rich, action-driven stories centered on powerful women. My ultimate dream is to see it on screen. To see how it’s embraced by women around the world. In terms of revenue, I expect it would definitely exceed what Gladiator II has done. Maybe even come close to what the original Wonder Woman did. Definitely profitable.
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
It’s done pretty well. It placed as a 2nd rounder in the Austin Film Festival last year. It’s currently a contender in the Emerging Screenwriters – Action/Adventure Competition. In the last year, it’s placed in a handful of other competitions.
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?
If you’re looking for a gritty epic film featuring strong women overcoming a patriarchal society and mindset, especially given the current temperature of the world, this is your film. This is a movie that women will get behind.
At its core, Penthesilea is a story about identity, resilience, and the cost of greatness. It explores what it means to build a legacy—not one given to you, but one earned. It’s emotionally intimate, yet mythically large.
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc. that you would like to share?
www.stephanieneroes.com