Let the pitches begin.

When I put an inverted cross on this script’s title page, my first thought was, Sister Gail would be so disappointed. She was the principal at my Catholic school. I knew her from 3rd to 8th grade. I never told her this, but I always admired her. She was tall, with short black hair, thin-framed glasses and a closed-mouth smile that said I have a backhanded comment waiting behind these lips, which she often said aloud. She wasn’t always the nicest and I liked that. Even when her comments were directed at me, I thought she was fair. And slightly savage for a nun.

Maybe she’d be proud that I’m still writing. Maybe that pride would allow her to tilt her head so far to the right that if she just squinted, the cross would appear right side up. There, that’s not so bad. That’s what Marli meant to do… That is until she titled her head back and realized it wasn’t. Wherever Sister Gail is, I hope she’s well.

This script is called Have Faith. I had the idea for it — just the title and logline — at the end of June. I remember because I determined that I would take all of July to write the first draft. I finished on time on 7/31, but the script was short. Too short. A little over 70 pages. Not a film. I took a week off, hung out with friends, didn’t touch my computer and didn’t think about the story either. I flew to NY mid-August and I started writing again.

By then, I had a few ideas on how to expand the story, but it was mostly re-reading the script with fresh eyes that helped me see what was wrong. In fixing those things, the script naturally grew. A friend of mine, who’s the best writer I know, read it and gave me notes on how to shape the story and clarify fuzzy areas even more. Now, it’s September and it’s in a good place. I sent it to my manager, whom I love and respect. He’s a horror fan like I’m a horror fan — through and through. A lifer. He’s giving it last looks this weekend so we can go out next week. Just in time for the Spooky season.

3 months a normal timeline for me to go from an idea to a shareable draft. I continue to tweak though. Sometimes, I’ll wake up and think, Ah, she shouldn’t say that. She should say this and I’ll edit a line. Sometimes, I’ll pitch the script in a meeting and the executive will say something that sparks an idea for scarier, more impactful sequence. When writers say a script is never complete, they’re right. Once you’ve written it, I don’t know if you ever stop editing it. Only when the film has been made and the edit is locked and your hands are tied and you can’t go back. I can’t wait to be there. Forced to stop.

Without giving anything away, this is the most contained script I’ve ever written, but it feels big and commercial, yet intimate and personal at the same time. If you agree when you see it, then I’ve really succeeded at something. I’ve had a lot of false starts. Lots of scripts that I’ve written over the past 5 years that I thought would be my debut feature, but this feels right. This feels real. This feels different.

I start pitching next week. Wish me luck.

And Sister Gail, if you’re reading this, Hi. We should catch up. It’s been a while…