Film: USC Screenwriting
Poet was admitted into a prestigious six-week intensive USC School of Cinematic Arts Summer 2025 film program. She participated in two courses, one of which was Writing the First Draft Feature Screenplay, where she developed and presented a screenplay for a blockbuster film. Below is a sample of a scene she wrote as part of the admission process.
INT. INTERROGATION CHAMBER - NIGHT
INTERROGATOR (30) enters holding TABLET device. Stoic TRISTON (16) is seated, appendages bound, ISOLATION CUPS covering his eyes. A purple glow permeates cup edges. A TRUTH DISK hovers over Triston. His confidence prevails through the circumstances.
Interrogator glances at tablet.
Tablet display shows: “Subject captured: Prison SectorB.”
Interrogator turns to Triston.
INTERROGATOR
Why are you here?
Truth Disk spins. Triston remains silent. Puzzled, Interrogator refers to tablet.
On display screen, Interrogator presses “Analyze Subject.” Progress bar initiates, then completes. Display reads: “Name: Triston Caliel.”
Interrogator’s eyes widen. He nervously turns dial. Disk increases speed.
INTERROGATOR (CONT'D)
Tell me!
Triston smirks unbothered, exuding superiority. Surprised, Interrogator turns dial. Disk spins faster.
INTERROGATOR (CONT'D)
Why are you here Triston?!
Triston tenses slightly, but remains silent. Frustrated, Interrogator turns dial. Disk speed increases. Triston doesn’t respond. Interrogator scrolls tablet, eyes settling on a sentence. He smiles.
INTERROGATOR (CONT'D)
We moved her. She’s injured.
Triston’s body goes limp - shifting from nose to mouth breathing. Interrogator quickly turns dial. Disk spins faster, teetering on unstable.
INTERROGATOR (CONT'D)
Why are you here?!
TRISTON
To free her!
INTERROGATOR
Who sent you?
Triston struggles, blood drips from his nostril. Interrogator turns dial. Disk shakes violently. Then Cups DETACH, hitting the ground. Interrogator gasps. Triston raises his head, whips it towards Interrogator and opens his eyes. A deep purple illuminates from them. Interrogator freezes. Triston stands, towering over Interrogator.
TRISTON
Release me.
Keeping eye contact with Triston, Interrogator touches tablet. Appendage cuffs release. Triston continues his stare.
TRISTON (CONT'D)
Sleep.
As Interrogator’s body falls, Triston effortlessly catches tablet. Interrogator is asleep on ground impact. Triston scrolls tablet. His eyes settle on something.
Tablet display shows: “Alexandra Aurora. Sector1 Max Security.”
END SCENE