We’re thrilled to introduce Hannah Rose Vernot, an amazing screenwriter who is making waves in the industry! Her latest project, “Stocktonian Exchange – Kill Your Spirits,” has earned her a spot as a finalist for the Best Teleplay Award at the Houston Comedy Film Festival. The story revolves around two sisters who, after a fatal accident, must find a way to ascend from the mortal plane before their ghostly presence wreaks havoc on their town.

The Story Behind “Stocktonian Exchange – Kill Your Spirits”
The premise of “Kill Your Spirits” is as intriguing as it is darkly comical. Carolina Ramos wakes up to a rude surprise when her younger sister, Roman, breaks into her apartment with shocking news—they’ve both died while filming themselves exploring a collapsing house. On the advice of a local psychic, the sisters set out to stage their own funerals, hoping that this act will allow their souls to ascend and prevent the black hole created by their lingering presence from consuming the town. Along the way, they encounter the disdainful remarks of their mother and revisit the site of their demise in search of closure.

Vernot’s inspiration for the story comes from her love of dysfunctional family dynamics and larger-than-life characters. She draws a parallel between the chaotic energy of her characters and the cast of “Always Sunny,” noting that while the characters insult and bicker with each other, the humor lies in their oversized personalities rather than in their unlikeability. The sisters, both in their thirties, continue their lifelong dynamic of childish squabbling even in the face of death, making for a darkly humorous and relatable narrative.

Crafting the Narrative
For Vernot, writing “Kill Your Spirits” involved carefully balancing the beginning and middle of the story with the challenge of crafting a satisfying ending. While she could easily envision the hook—one sister nonchalantly informing the other of their ghostly status—and the sisters’ efforts to stage their funerals, finding the right resolution proved more difficult. The climax of the story comes as the sisters realize that their funeral does not solve their problem, leaving them to confront the reality of their situation.

Vernot’s journey as a writer began in childhood, fueled by an imagination that often outpaced her ability to translate ideas into prose. It wasn’t until she graduated with a degree in Creative Writing and began exploring screenwriting that she found her stride. Over the past five years, she has honed her craft, moving away from prose and focusing on writing for the screen.

A Growing Portfolio
Since completing “Kill Your Spirits,” Vernot has written several other thirty-minute teleplays, including two comedic specs and a pilot for a series titled “Wildflower of the Valley.” She is also collaborating on a short animation project with a group of women from Women in Animation (WIA), which has reached the animatic stage and is being prepared for entry into film festivals.

Connecting with Hannah Rose Vernot
Vernot is actively seeking opportunities to collaborate on comedic writing projects, particularly those in the realm of animation. While she is working on expanding her presence on social media, she currently prefers to be contacted via email or LinkedIn for initial collaborations. Vernot is also a member of several organizations that support writers in animation, including WIA, Asians in Animation, and Script Anatomy, where she has been refining her pilot and spec scripts.

As Vernot continues to revise and submit her work to festivals, her goal is to gain the attention of agents and managers who can help her secure a staff writing position on a series with a similar tone to her own work. For now, she is focused on using her portfolio to showcase her talent and make connections within the industry.
Connect with Hannah Rose Vernot:

• Website Portfolio: https://hrvernotab75.myportfolio.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-vernot-aa463429a/
• Email: h.rose.vernot@gmail.com

Vernot’s blend of dark humor and sharp character dynamics in “Stocktonian Exchange – Kill Your Spirits” is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career in screenwriting. Keep an eye out for her work in upcoming festivals and beyond.

From the Film Festival Circuit Founder, Mikal Fair:

Author: Bolanle Media Staff

The movie “Pigs,” featuring the story of Criminal Defense Lawyer Trust Shakur and his brother Ace, has been released and is now available for viewing. The film delves into Trust Shakur’s career as he navigates the complexities of the justice system and highlights a significant day when he takes a break to celebrate his brother Ace’s 18th birthday. This celebration marks Ace’s achievement of securing a scholarship to a prestigious university, a milestone that signifies a turning point for the Shakur family.

Throughout the film, viewers witness the brothers enjoying moments of laughter and reflection on their challenging upbringing. Trust’s dedication to justice serves as a beacon for Ace, inspiring him to pursue academic excellence and a brighter future. However, the narrative takes a dramatic turn when a routine traffic stop escalates into a life-threatening encounter, underscoring the themes of racial profiling and systemic bias.

Award Winning Director Aaron Spells behind the scenes on set with cast and crew

Directed by Aaron Spells, “Pigs” is a compelling drama that combines personal triumph with social commentary, offering audiences a thought-provoking experience. The film is featured at the Black Film Festival of New Orleans and is now accessible for streaming, providing an opportunity for viewers to engage with its powerful message.

Author: Bolanle Media Staff

As a small business owner without a support network, you can draw inspiration from Olympic athletes’ dedication and apply their strategies to your business. Let’s explore how you can implement crucial elements of training and persistence into your daily routine, backed by compelling data from both the Olympics and the business world.

The Power of Persistence: Going for Gold in Business

Olympic athletes train for years, often overcoming significant challenges, to compete for just a few minutes. This level of persistence is directly applicable to business success. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, and 50% fail within five years. However, those that persist beyond this point have a much higher chance of long-term success.

Daily Habit: Set and Review Goals
Olympic athletes set clear, measurable goals for their training and performance. Apply this to your business by setting and reviewing your goals daily. A study by Dr. Gail Matthews, conducted at Dominican University, found that people who wrote down their goals, shared them with others, and provided weekly progress updates were 33% more likely to achieve them than those who merely thought about their goals.

Action Step: Create a goal journal. Spend 10 minutes each morning writing down your daily objectives and how they align with your larger business goals, just as an Olympian might track their training progress.

Continuous Training: Staying Ahead of the Competition

Olympic athletes never stop training, even after winning gold. In business, continuous learning is equally essential. A survey by Middlesex University for Work Based Learning found that 74% of workers feel they aren’t achieving their full potential due to lack of development opportunities.

Daily Habit: Dedicate Time to Learning**
Allocate at least 30 minutes each day to learning something new related to your business. This could be through online courses, industry publications, or podcasts.

Action Step: Create a learning schedule inspired by Olympic training regimens. For instance, Mondays for financial literacy, Tuesdays for marketing strategies, and so on.

Data-Driven Decision Making: The Olympic Approach

Olympic coaches use data to fine-tune athletes’ performances. Similarly, incorporating data into your daily habits can significantly improve your business outcomes. A study by the MIT Center for Digital Business found that organizations driven most by data-based decision making had 4% higher productivity rates and 6% higher profits.

Daily Habit: Review Key Metrics
Spend 15 minutes each day reviewing your key performance indicators (KPIs), much like an Olympic athlete might review their performance stats.

Action Step: Identify 3-5 crucial metrics for your business (e.g., daily sales, customer acquisition cost, website traffic) and create a simple dashboard to track them.

Building Resilience Through Networking: The Olympic Village Mindset

The Olympic Village fosters connections between athletes from different countries. While you may feel alone as a small business owner, building a network can provide crucial support. A study published in the Journal of Business Venturing found that entrepreneurs with larger and more diverse networks were more likely to persist through challenges and achieve business success.

Daily Habit: Network Virtually
Dedicate 20 minutes daily to online networking. This could be through LinkedIn, industry forums, or virtual meetups.

Action Step: Set a goal to make one new meaningful connection each week, inspired by the international connections made at the Olympics.

The Impact of Consistent Marketing: Your Business Marathon

Olympic marketing campaigns are consistent and far-reaching. For small businesses, consistent marketing efforts are equally crucial. According to a study by Constant Contact 68% of small businesses that engage in consistent marketing efforts see positive returns within 6 months.

Daily Habit: Marketing Outreach
Spend 30 minutes each day on marketing activities, whether it’s social media posting, email marketing, or content creation.

Action Step: Create a content calendar to plan your marketing efforts in advance, much like how Olympic organizers plan their marketing campaigns years in advance.

Financial Literacy and Cash Flow Management: Budgeting for Gold

Olympic committees must manage massive budgets effectively. Similarly, poor financial management is a leading cause of small business failure. A U.S. Bank study found that 82% of businesses fail due to cash flow problems.

Daily Habit: Financial Review
Take 15 minutes each day to review your cash flow and financial position, much like how Olympic organizers might review their budgets daily during the Games.

Action Step: Create a simple spreadsheet to track daily income and expenses.

Conclusion: The Compound Effect of Daily Habits

Remember, success in small business, like Olympic success, is often the result of consistent, small actions compounded over time. A study in the European Journal of Social Psychology found that it takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic.

By incorporating these Olympic-inspired daily habits of persistence and training into your routine, you’re not just working in your business, but on your business. This approach, backed by data and research, can significantly increase your chances of long-term success, even without an extensive support network.

Stay committed to these practices, and you’ll likely find yourself among the 50% of businesses that survive beyond the crucial five-year mark, setting the stage for sustainable growth and success. Just as Olympians train for years for their moment of glory, your daily habits are preparing you for your business’s gold medal moment.

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Author: Bolanle Media Staff