Posts Written ByMegan Williams

Selected:

• 2021 International Screen Forum/Screenworks Write From Home Mentorship (development lab)

Awarded:

• Semifinalist (top 10%) – Screencraft Fellowship, 2018.
• Top 12 Recommended Scripts – Scriptapalooza Fellowship 2017.
• Top 10 Recommended Scripts – Scriptdoctor Contest of Contest Winners 2017.
• Quarterfinalist (top 6%) – Shore Scripts 2017 (features)

Genre/Format/Status:  Historical Drama (Feature) (script)

Logline:

A Priestess of Avalon struggles to preserve her community’s traditions of healing and unity against the powers of the King and Bishop of the newly emerging Christian Church, who want to destroy the ancient rituals and take the Grail for themselves, with all its magic and power.

Synopsis:

Three archaeologists discover a mysterious grail and jar of papyrus scrolls under the Sphinx in Egypt.   Through reading these scrolls, the lead archaeologist learns of the story of the last priestess of Avalon – VIVIANE, written by her daughter SARAH.

As narrator, Sarah tells of the priestesses’ guardianship of the grail, their ancient bloodline and the philosophy of the Light, which they share with their brothers, the Knights of the Brotherhood of the Light.  We are told of the last days of this society, as the priestesses move to ensure they can prevail in the wider world off Avalon.

Awarded:

• Semifinalist – Shore Scripts 2018 (features)
• Honorable Mention – Truant Screenplay Competition 2019 (an Animal Logic Company)
• Finalist – AACTA ‘Isolation’ Pitch Comp 2020

Genre/Format/Status:

Psychological Thriller, Feature, Script

Logline:

After her corporate husband dies in mysterious circumstances, a struggling widow moves her children to the country for a life of safety and peace, only to find she is challenged to extremes to protect her children, animals and their land by an old bushman, who knows no limits.

Synopsis:

ANNIE WATERS is left betrayed and broke after her highflying corporate husband dies in mysterious circumstances.  Surprising friends and family Annie returns to the bush where she grew up as a young girl, to pursue an ‘honest life’ seeking safety and peace for herself and her children, only to find herself challenged to the use of her property by a violent and dangerous old bush squatter, RONNIE.    Annie has had enough of taking life lying down.  He has challenged the wrong girl!   Underestimated by all, we see Annie ‘cowgirl up’ to give Ronnie the fight of his life.   The locals wonder if she is losing her mind.  We wonder if she has it in her.  And all of this happens only two hours from ‘civilisation’!

Logline:

A runaway teenager’s quest for freedom turns into the fight for her life, after she joins the home of a spiritual leader known as ‘Godmother’.

Genre/Format/Status:

Drama, Psychological Thriller (feature) (script)

Synopsis:

BRIDIE, an overwhelmed, middle-class teenaged girl runs away from home to avoid her life as a student.  She meets a non-binary youth called KNOX, who shares an interest in art and graffiti.  Knox invites Bridie to seek shelter for one night and takes her home to meet ROSE, the ‘Godmother’.

As a pseudo-spiritual teacher, Rose encourages the girls to seek their personal freedom, as they shack up in her home and run the streets for amusement.   All merrily funded by social security, the household fulfills many unspoken deals with each other to keep the roof over their head and their various needs for acceptance and love met.

Bridie finds out very quickly she will need to choose between returning home and surrendering to the task of becoming a social citizen, or stay in this depraved place where she is able to avoid her life, but at what cost?

Bridie finagles her freedom at the cost of some of the hardest lessons for a young woman, until Godmother is killed by her own son, LUCAS.  He then attacks Bridie in a rage of his possessiveness until Knox rescues her.  Bridie then runs for her life.

After Rose dies, the youths are involuntarily freed to pursue their lives.  We see Bridie and Knox develop an unlikely friendship and make a life around their artistic pursuits.  Both are better for their friendship, and find acceptance in the mainstream for the individuals they are.

Godmother is set in western Sydney but could easily be rewritten for a US low socio economic status area or major Australian city.

Themes:

Creative avoidance.  Freedom isn’t free.  Motherhood and what it means to be a good mother and parent.  Various forms of the negative feminine and how it plays out in families and society.  What constitutes ‘normal behaviour’ and is it a choice?

Intended Audience:

15 – 25 year olds.

Tone:

Dark, edgy, leading towards the light, hopeful.

Comparisons:

Bad Boy Bubby, My Private Idaho, Kids.

Tagline:

How far are you prepared to go to get your freedom?

Logline:

Two old mates quest to win their fortune at the racetrack so they can buy a house and live together in comfort, challenged by ailing health, poverty and an inability to declare their love for each other.

Genre/Format/Status:

Drama, Comedic elements, Feature Film (treatment)

Contact Megan for further details.