She Writes

The She Writes development programme for emerging female screenwriters intended to address the fact that only 12% of British films are written by women. The programme was co-presented by The Script Factory and Birds Eye View, supported by Skillset Film Skills Fund and Scottish Screen.

Find out more on the Script Factory website

Following a UK wide call for applications and the shortlisting of hundreds of applications, the screenwriters selected for She Writes were Laura Anne Anderson, Rosy Barnes, Kate Bingham & Grace Banks, Tracy Brabin, Avril Evans, Sally El Hosaini, Rosanne Flynn, Oonagh Kearney, and Rachel Tunnard.

From March 2010-2011, Laura participated in festivals, masterclasses, residentials, mentoring, actor studios and networking events.

For She Writes, Laura worked on her gothic horror Light Me A Candle. She has been mentored on the scheme by Catherine Johnson

Photo of Laura by DN Anderson Photography.

Light Me a Candle

Logline

In a gothic world of scepticism and dishonesty, a past tragedy threatens the future survival of three very different Victorian women.

Short Synopsis

Nova MacKenzie is renowned in Victorian Edinburgh as a debunker of dishonest mediums. Driven by a passion for honesty and haunted by a tragic event from her past, she lets nothing stand in the way of the truth. When her childhood friend invites her to a private seance in a country house, Nova readily attends, expecting to uncover another hoax.

The seance, however, does not proceed as anticipated. The medium reveals secrets about each attendee, and summons a ghost from Nova's past to appear to the group. While their fear in the spirit world grows and Nova's beliefs are challenged, the party are subjected to several brutal attacks in the night, eventually culminating in murder.

As their numbers fall and the trust they place in each other diminishes, Nova, her friend and the medium are forced to confront terrible events from their past in order to survive.