WILDER just hit another milestone: named a Quarterfinalist in Season 10 of the Filmmatic Drama Screenplay Awards.
This script has always felt like a risk. It’s not loud. It’s not high-concept. It’s a grounded character study wrapped in tension and memory—a story about identity, guilt, and the cost of reinvention. And somehow, that risk is starting to pay off.
Filmmatic has a reputation for spotlighting emotionally charged, thematically rich scripts. Stories that don’t just entertain but stay with you. So to land in the top tier of submissions means WILDER is striking the chord it was built for. Quietly. Intentionally.
The story follows Sophie Waters, a sharp-tongued but struggling single mom in 1984 North Carolina. After losing custody of her kids and hitting rock bottom, she takes a last-ditch swing at redemption—impersonating a local journalist to chase down a reclusive stock car legend named Eli Wilder. But what begins as a desperate lie turns into a brutal truth-finding mission—for both of them.
I wrote this script to explore second chances, chosen family, and the long shadow of who we used to be. Sophie isn’t perfect. She’s stubborn, sometimes reckless, and far from soft. But she’s clawing her way toward something real. And Eli? He’s not just a has-been racer—he’s a man burying a lifetime of ghosts beneath a quiet life he never asked for.
The dynamic between these two characters gave me everything I love in a story: tension, tenderness, regret, and the slow rebuild of trust. At its core, WILDER is about two people pretending to be something they’re not—and finding out who they actually are in the process.
Getting this placement from Filmmatic feels like a strong signal that there’s space for stories like this. That nuance matters. That not every lead needs to be slick, or flashy, or conventionally likable. Sometimes grit is enough. Sometimes real is enough.
And truthfully, this script almost didn’t happen. WILDER was born out of frustration—me staring down a bunch of half-finished outlines and wondering what story I hadn’t told yet. The answer came fast: I wanted to write about someone who’s lost everything but still finds the guts to chase something honest. That’s Sophie. That’s her fire.
This recognition is more than a feather in the cap—it’s fuel. It tells me that character-driven, emotionally rooted drama still has a place in a market obsessed with concept. That a story about two damaged people slowly pulling each other out of the dark can still land. Still matter.
WILDER is one of several projects I’ve been pushing forward this year, but this one’s personal. The response so far—from this competition and others—tells me to keep pressing. Between this placement and the traction building for What’s Buried Beneath the Pines, it feels like something’s shifting. The work is being seen. And more importantly, it’s being felt.
What comes next? I’m sending WILDER out to reps, producers, and execs who still believe in story first. I’ve had some great conversations already, and a few more on the calendar. Whether this leads to a door cracking open or just another brick in the road, I’m walking forward. Every step counts.
If you’re someone looking for material that balances emotional grit with quiet power—something character-driven, rooted in place, and ready to grow—WILDER might just be your speed. I’d love to talk.
I’ve still got this script submitted in a few major places. Whether it advances further in Filmmatic or not, I’m proud of this placement. It’s not a win handed out for noise—it’s one earned through depth, character, and a little bit of heartache on the page.
Thanks to Filmmatic for recognizing the story. And thanks to everyone who’s read, responded, or just asked about it. More to come. We’re just getting warmed up.
