Greetings Stage32 community,
I’d like to reintroduce myself. I joined the platform in 2024 as I was just starting to write my first feature-length screenplay, SHADOW IN HAWTHORN BAY. Over the past twelve months, it’s gone on to garner awards in ten competitions, including the Austin and Atlanta Film Festivals. I’m looking forward to seeing how it performs in the Stage32 third annual PERIOD PIECE Screenwriting Contest.
In short, I have been an unscripted television Series Producer for some 20 years and a Lead Editor in scripted and unscripted for 20 years before that. I have dual Canadian/British citizenship and I’m particularly attracted to adapting novels and delving into historical stories.
Amazingly, I’m midway through writing my second feature based on the John Calvin Batchelor novel, THE BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANTARCTICA and researching/writing an original true story about the Toronto clown riots of 1855. Yes, I have negotiated the rights with the appropriate parties. :)
Writing is a wonderful way to enjoy semi-retirement. Wishing you all much success!
Steven
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Steven Mitchell Re-welcome to the community! I'm blown away by your trajectory to be honest, and the stories, the themes, really strike a chord with me. What is "Shadow in Hawthorn Bay" about? I love, love period pieces. I'm an actor, and a screenwriter, and my voice changes in both these mediums, super fascinating how that works. I dream of acting in period pieces of the Spanish golden era, of the Cristobal Colon times, and then, on the other side, working my passion for accents, playing a lowly servant in a French speaking or Portuguese speaking country, that makes her way to the top. Dreaming out loud : ) It's very nice to meet you, and I wish you all the success you can get, and more, and a fantastic 2026!
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Fantastic IY post and congratulations on ALL your success. SHADOW IN HAWTHORN BAY sounds fantastic and that's one great poster. The laurels certainly don't hurt either.
Hope you will bring more of your expertise to the community by being active in the Lounges. You clearly have much to offer. Cheers.
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Juliana Philippi so nice of you to drop your note. Ah, the Spanish Golden Age, the rise of Comedia and Spanish exploration... and a little bit of expansionism. Feels very relevant today. ;) Please write something that works metaphorically.
I hope my logline best expresses what Shadow is about:
"In the early 1800s, a young Scottish woman, burdened with the strange gifts of "an da shelladh" (second sight) and healing hands, embarks on a perilous journey to find her missing sweetheart in the wilderness of Upper Canada. Confronted by a dark truth upon her arrival, Mary must choose between a second chance at life and love in a community wary of her gifts, or succumb to the dark, life-threatening shadows of her past."
It's lovely to meet you and I wish you all the success in the world for 2026!
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Thank you Richard "RB" Botto I appreciate your vote of confidence.
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Richly earned, my friend.
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Steven Mitchell Love, love the story, the logline definitely works, I could see it in my mind as I read. I have a period piece in me...it's all coming back, full circle, our evolution, it's all here... definitely something rich in metaphors.Thank you for your tip!
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Hello Steven Mitchell I love that you love period pieces. Historical fiction is one my favorite genres to read. I really wish there were more movies or TV series adapted from these kinds of novels. I can't wait to see this film. Do you have a favorite author?
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Hi Suzanne Bronson, thanks for dropping by.
I find there is a bit of resistance to funding period pieces in the U.S. unless they are very “American” or western. Fair enough or maybe I haven't looked hard enough. Maybe it's just the cost of period films regardless. The Brits have it right, and the BBC seems to consistently produce high-quality period pieces. In Canada (where I am from), it’s a challenge to get any production off the ground as we have so few producers with or connected to deep pockets.
Fave authors? Edward Rutherfurd (Sarum), Michael Ondaatje (In the Skin of the Lion), Leon Uris (Trinity), James A. Michener (Hawaii, Centennial), and a guilty pleasure of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series — I had the nerve to invite her and her husband to dinner at a Highland Games book reading before the TV series exploded on the scene. I knew she was hiding a secret and enjoyed a wonderful evening with her. And of course, Janet Lunn who wrote a wonderful YA Hawthorn Bay trilogy.
All the best for 2026!
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Thank you, ill take every wish
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Great to meet you and wishing you all the very best with 'Shadow in Hawthorne Bay'. Wow - it's certainly racking up some momentum! Well done!
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And you, Lauren Hackney. Thank you and I feel very fortunate to have stumbled on the novel as I did.
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great to meet you Steven Mitchell - loved the promo video for SHADOW IN HAWTHORN BAY. And instantly intrigued by the paradox of the decision of one with her 'gift' but also one burdened by her past. looking forward to interacting in the lounges! cheers
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I really like the poster
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Hi, Steven Mitchell. Great to see you at Introduce Yourself Weekend. "researching/writing an original true story about the Toronto clown riots of 1855." I can't wait to watch that!
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Very cool story, Steven Mitchell. Best of luck with the second script!
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Nice to meet you Sebastian Tudores. Thank you for the kind words. I'm not on the lounges a lot, I should do better, but always up for a one on one chat.
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Michael David. I actually start my writing process by creating a poster to keep the tone and atmosphere clear in my head. As the script takes shape, I do make tweaks. Here is my starting point the current film I'm writing. I'm a bit crazy because I do think epic! Lol.
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Maurice Vaughan it is a little known and brilliant story. Plays into the current Canada/U.S. affairs in an absurd way.
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Michael Dzurak, I appreciate the support!
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stSteven Mitchell , welcome
Am Aaron
great connecting
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Aaron Cottrell nice of you to join the conversation. Thank you!