Hire the Best Screenwriters in North Carolina

I am a multi-produced, multi-award-winning screenwriter of feature films, short films, and television. Dozens of my screenplays and pilots have been optioned, several have been theatrically released worldwide, and even more are currently in various stages of development and production. My most recently completed feature starring Sid Haig (The Devil's Rejects, Kill Bill) and Sara Tomko (Resident Alien) was released nationwide last year and is now available on-demand everywhere. If you'd like a novel adapted for the screen faithfully and beautifully, if you have an amazing idea for a movie or tv show but you're just not sure how to bring it to life, or if you've already got a script but you know it can be leveled up, I will be thrilled to work with you to help you realize your project with a quality you've never dreamed possible. I am listed as a "Top Freelancer" with five-star reviews across the board. Please take a moment to look over my feedback to see just how happy all of my clients have been with my work. I've never left anyone short of thrilled with my product and, not unlike Rick Astley, I will never let you down. Samples of my work in probably any genre are available upon request. Thank you very much for taking the time to look over my profile. I look forward to speaking with you and, hopefully, creating something amazing together.

A native of the Chicagoland suburbs and endowed with a singular imagination, Robert plied his creativity for over a decade in the fantasy realm of Los Angeles, creating and pitching spec screenplays to the studios. It was a master class in exceptional storytelling and applied swagger. His screenplays and prose have garnered over 50 accolades. He holds a 100% success rate on Upwork, including a pair of self-published books on which he’s proudly collaborated. He’s always hunting for another lifelong collaborator or muse-tickling project. See more of his work at robwalcott.net SCREENPLAYS 1. Saturday Morning Siege Fantasy-Comedy When a pair of twelve-year old boys invites a creepy classmate to join their war with action figures, they risk losing their toys, their friendship, and their house. Finalist, Story Pros Awards 2022 Finalist, Emerging Screenwriter Animation Competition 2021 Top 10, Emerging Screenwriters Animation Competition 2023 Top 50, Top Tier Screenplay Competition 2021 Semifinalist, Filmmatic Sci-fi & Fantasy Awards 2023 Semifinalist, Script 2 Comic 2021 Semifinalist, Creative Screenwriting Animation Competition 2021 Quarterfinalist, Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices 2021 Quarterfinalist, Screencraft Sci-fi & Fantasy 2022 Quarterfinalist, Stage 32 New Voices in Animation 2022 Quarterfinalist, Outstanding Screenplays Feature 2022 Quarterfinalist, Titan Awards 2023 2. Self Storage Horror-Thriller On his first shift at a self-storage facility, a new night manager discovers that his workplace harbors some very disturbing business practices. Top 10, Emerging Screenwriters Suspense 2024 Semifinalist, Filmmatic Sci-fi & Fantasy 2024 Semifinalist, SYS’s Six-Figure Screenplay Contest 2024 Semifinalist, TSL Free Screenplay Contest 2024 Semifinalist, Roadmap Writers Greenlight Challenge 2022 Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Horror 2025 Quarterfinalist, Southern California Screenplay Competition 2021 Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards 2021 3. The Ordinary House of Extraordinary Lane Fantasy-Adventure 12-year-old Jessie Cumberland is about to discover that her new house occupies two neighborhoods simultaneously: the ordinary one located on Weeping Willow Lane, and the extraordinary one featuring a cornucopia of alien life-forms located six-hundred thousand light years away. Finalist, Emerging Screenwriters Sci-fi & Fantasy 2022 Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Family & Holiday 2025 Semifinalist, Story Pros Awards 2021 Quarterfinalist, Screencraft Sci-fi & Fantasy Screenplay Competition 2021 Quarterfinalist, Stage 32 New Voices in Animation 2021 Quarterfinalist, Creative Screenwriting Animation Competition 2021 Quarterfinalist, Screencraft Family Screenplay Competition 2021 Quarterfinalist, Stage 32 Sci-fi & Fantasy Contest 2022 4. The Conduit TV Pilot Science-Fiction When five present-day teens stumble upon a top-secret Nazi vessel preparing to invade America in 1942, they’re whisked away on a time-hopping odyssey where they must learn how to cope with the glitchy technology as well as their German spy companion while exploring the danger-laden depths of Dark Matter Space. Finalist, Script Summit TV Pilot Competition 2020 Semifinalist, Script 2 Comics 2022 Semifinalist, Screencraft TV Pilot Competition 2020 Quarterfinalist, WeScreenplay TV Contest 2020 5. Dungeon of Fools Fantasy-Adventure When a professional dungeon guide is hired to lead a party of treasure hunters into mysterious and danger-laden ruins, he discovers that tools of almighty alchemy are no match for creatures of the dark. Winner, WildSound Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival Screenplay Contest 2020 Semifinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Sci-fi & Fantasy 2020 6. Clicker Horror Short A young boy discovers that his new remote control can show him monsters that aren’t on TV. Official Selection, HorrOrigins Film Festival 2022 Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic Horror 2024 Quarterfinalist, Horror 2 Comic 2022 7. A Bedtime Story Family Fantasy On the night of her baby brother’s birth, a young girl and her parents collaborate on a bedtime story to help her cope with her anxiety. Semifinalist, Screencraft Animation Competition 2020 Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Family & Holiday 2022 8. Have Cape, Will Accessorize Romantic Comedy-Action A budding Super Heroine falls for San Francisco’s most eligible Super Villain. Semifinalist, Stage 32 Romantic Comedy Screenwriting Contest 2025 Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic Comedy Screenplay Awards 2021

I have written shorts and features for many years. I am on IMDB as Richard F. Russell. I currently have several shorts in production and I continue to write. I write in many disciplines and genres, including mystery, romance, YA, and thriller. I am a very creative fiction writer. I have completed ghost projects for scripts, stories, and novellas.

I write cinematic screenplays—lean action lines, purposeful scenes, dialogue with subtext, and pacing that plays on screen. Hire me as your creative partner from start to finish or for a focused engagement (script only, script doctoring, notes/coverage, or plot surgery). What I do Features (80–120 pages) — concept → beat sheet → outline → first draft → rewrite/polish Short Films (5–20 pages) — festival-ready, contained, emotionally resonant Script Doctoring — structure, character arc, dialogue, and pacing fixes without losing voice Consulting/Notes — coverage, page-by-page notes, rewrite strategy, plot adjustments Add-Ons (as needed) Vision Boards & Mood Guides (tone, palette, visual language) Character Buildouts (backstory, want/need, contradictions, relationship web) Story Bibles (world rules, tone, comps, themes, set-piece inventory) Beat Sheets & Scene Maps (causality, act turns, escalations) Storyboards / Shot Ideas (rough visual beats to help pre-viz and communication) Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller, Drama Tools: Final Draft, (deliverables in .fdx + PDF) How It Works (Choose Your Path) A) Full Creative Partner (Concept → Production-Ready Script) Discovery — goals, comps, constraints (cast, locations, budget, timeline) Vision & World — mood/vision board + one-page creative compass Beats & Map — beat sheet + scene list (alignment milestone) Drafting — fast, visual pages with clear act turns and set-piece rhythm Targeted Revisions — notes → surgical fixes by act/character/scene Wrap Pack — PDF + .fdx, logline/synopsis, next-steps plan (coverage/contests/festivals) B) Script-Only Build You bring the premise or outline → I deliver the draft + one revision pass. C) Script Doctor / Rewrite Strategy Diagnostic memo → prioritized fixes → targeted rewrite or page-level notes. D) Notes & Coverage Industry-style coverage + development notes; optional consult to translate notes into beats. Deliverables Menu (mix & match) Logline & synopsis Beat sheet (1–3 pages) + scene list Outline (3–6 pages) Feature/short screenplay (PDF + .fdx) Notes pack (coverage + page-by-page comments) Story bible (tone, world rules, character sheets, themes, set pieces) Vision board / mood guide (for creative alignment) Light storyboards / shot ideas (select sequences) Skills Feature Screenplays • Short Film Scripts • Screenwriting • Story Structure • Character Development • Dialogue • Beat Sheets • Outlines • Treatments • Script Doctoring • Rewriting & Polishing • Script Coverage • Story Bibles • Vision Boards • Final Draft

Erika is a critically acclaimed writer, director, cinematographer and co-founder of the award-winning production company, Honey Head Films. Her work spans genres while maintaining a character-driven approach to grounded storytelling. A constant receptor to lighting bolts of inspiration, Erika is the author of 10 narrative short films, 4 feature films, a TV pilot, and has written multiple commission screenplays. ​ Her debut feature film, A Song For Imogene, won multiple awards on the festival circuit before going on to secure a distribution deal with Buffalo 8. The film is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime and Fandango. In addition to her multi-hyphenate work behind the camera, Erika has held an adjunct professorship at The University of North Carolina - Wilmington in the Film Studies Department and leads an intensive screenwriting program through Honey Head Labs.

Many films produced, many films financed, hired often to develop and write top professional scripts, polishes, treatments, serve as casting director for name talent, served as producer on multiple films, in various stages of production as a writer and producer with name talent, Emmy and Oscar Winning associations on multiple produced films. Currently have 2 top films with name actors in post production. In pre-production on two films shooting soon, multi-million dollar budgets with name actors. I am often hired to write scripts as well as polish, and re-write. I have been hired for novel adaptations, as well as work on trailers. I have 24 scripts under my belt, many of them were produced.Happy to serve as a writer for any project needs you may have as it is my craft for over 15 years.