Meet our jury members

Merrill began his professional career as a college professor of Speech Communication and Theatre, where he gained valuable experience adapting and compiling literary works for solo and group performances. This foundation in dramatic storytelling and performance inspired him to develop his own original works.

His play Wicked Women and Their Men is a character-driven drama set in rural Mississippi, exploring themes of family dysfunction, grief, identity, manipulation, and personal survival. The work represents his first completed screenplay and one of the first three plays he has written.

Drawing on a lifetime of professional and personal experiences, Merrill brings a thoughtful perspective to stories centered on human relationships and complex family dynamics.

Merrill’s academic background is rooted in Speech Communication and Theatre, disciplines that shaped his understanding of storytelling, performance, and human interaction. As a college professor, he developed expertise in adapting and compiling literary works for performance, skills that later informed his approach to playwriting and screenwriting. His subsequent career in Human Resources Management and consulting further strengthened his insight into interpersonal relationships, communication, and character dynamics, all of which are reflected in his writing.

Anthony’s educational background includes a Certificate in Entertainment Studies & Business and Management of Entertainment from UCLA Extension. Through this program, he gained insights into story analysis, feature film development, pre- and post-production, and the business aspects of entertainment. His studies also covered genre studies and the language of filmmaking, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of the industry.

With his focused education and practical experience in screenwriting, Anthony J. McBride brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for storytelling to our jury, making him an invaluable resource for aspiring screenwriters.

Zoë’s background in manga, visual art, and music infuses her work with vibrant aesthetics and heightened emotional realism. After a year at the prestigious London Film School, she quickly established herself as an emerging talent in the UK independent film scene. She is also a singer-songwriter, collaborating with Grammy-nominated musician Ian Dench (EMF) on a forthcoming album, Lost in London. Zoë regularly lectures on filmmaking and visual storytelling, including serving as opening guest lecturer at the London Screen Academy.

Zoë’s feature screenplay Hanging Gardens of the Sea and Sky has garnered significant acclaim, most notably becoming a Top 10 Finalist in Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope Screenwriting Competition, as well as earning finalist placements at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival and Nantucket Film Festival’s Tony Cox Awards.

Her latest screenplay, The Weather Just Got Sexy, was named Best International Feature Screenplay in Amsterdam, won Best Comedy Screenplay at the Berlin International Screenwriting Competition, and has been praised by industry readers as “a lighter Mamet.”

With a background spanning Japanese manga, British cinema, visual arts, and music, Zoë Greenbaum brings an imaginative, genre-bending approach to screenwriting. Her award-winning films and internationally recognized screenplays make her a dynamic and inspiring addition to our jury, offering clear insight into bold storytelling, emerging talent, and genre innovation.

Throughout his career, Lawrence has received multiple awards for his work across film, theater, and the performing arts. His experience spans both the creative and business sides of the entertainment industry, having worked extensively in project development as well as with talent and literary agencies. In addition to his writing career, he continues to work as a performer and musician.

Lawrence has had four feature screenplays optioned and has established himself as a versatile storyteller with experience across multiple mediums. His award-winning historical screenplay The Last Bombshell explores one of the most enduring mysteries of the twentieth century—the death of Marilyn Monroe. Drawing on extensive research, the script presents a bold and original interpretation of the events surrounding her final days.

Lawrence holds a degree from Brown University and an MFA in Writing from UCLA, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. His professional background combines screenwriting, playwriting, project development, and industry representation, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of storytelling, script development, and the entertainment business. His expertise includes historical research, narrative structure, character development, and writing for both stage and screen.

Over the course of his career, Lawrence has received multiple awards for his work in film, theater, and the performing arts. Four of his feature screenplays have been optioned for development, reflecting the industry’s recognition of his writing. His screenplay The Last Bombshell was recognized as the winner of the Best Historical Screenplay category, further highlighting his strength in research-driven and historically inspired storytelling. He is professionally represented by Innovative Artists.

As a writer, Dru is best known for the short film Morning After (2019), demonstrating a commitment to character-focused narratives and concise visual storytelling. Beyond writing, Dru has contributed to film productions in script and continuity as well as additional crew capacities, gaining valuable experience in maintaining narrative consistency and supporting the filmmaking process.

Credits include Morning After (2019), Lone Star Holy War (2014), and Echoes from the Hill (2023). Working across creative and production departments has provided Dru with a well-rounded perspective on screenplay development, story structure, and cinematic execution.

Dru’s experience in writing, script continuity, and film production has fostered a strong understanding of screenplay structure, narrative development, and on-set storytelling. This multidisciplinary background enables a comprehensive appreciation of both the creative and practical aspects of filmmaking, from concept development through production.

His filmmaking credits include the documentary Methamerica (2012), a distinct look at the rural methamphetamine epidemic, and the narrative film Ghost Town (2020), a winner of multiple awards including a special jury prize from the L.A. International Film Festival’s Shorts Fest.

In the realm of screenwriting, Christopher specializes in historical drama and LGBTQ+ narratives. His recent pilot, The Urning, which dramatizes the life of gay rights pioneer Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, was a finalist for the 2025 ISA Fellowship and won the Platinum Award at the LGBTQ Unbordered Festival. His feature script The Run, a coming-of-age story set in 1990, was recently picked up by Buffalo 8 for their pre-production program.

Christopher holds an MFA in Writing for the Screen from Loyola Marymount University (2023) and an MA in Film Theory from the University of Nebraska (2006). Additionally, he holds a certification from UCLA’s Advanced Professional Program in Screenwriting. Beyond his creative work, he served as an English Professor at Compton College for 14 years, including leadership roles within the Academic Senate.

Christopher’s historical drama pilot The Urning has received widespread industry recognition, securing the Best Screenwriter Award at BISF and a Platinum Award from the LGBTQ Unbordered Festival. The script was also named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 ISA Fellowship and the Wiki Screenplay Contest, where it was featured on their Walk of Fame.

His filmmaking prowess is equally celebrated; his narrative film Ghost Town won a Special Jury Prize at the L.A. International Film Festival’s Shorts Fest along with multiple other IMDb-qualifying awards. Additionally, his coming-of-age feature script The Run was honored as a finalist in the Scriptapalooza competition.

Rooted in a background of growing up closeted in a conservative environment, Christopher M. Halligan has cultivated a unique “counterpoint style” that challenges audiences to find the hero in the monster and the perverse in the normal. With nearly two decades of experience across multiple genres, he brings a deep understanding of the power of film to free the soul and shift perspectives. His ability to navigate the tension between abject normalcy and hidden truths makes him an invaluable asset to our jury, offering a sharp eye for stories that dare to redefine the hero’s journey.

Her portfolio also includes the 2024 co-writing assignment Ruptured, a TV series adaptation.

Marni’s academic path is as compelling as her storytelling. She graduated from USC with degrees in Anthropology and Neuroscience, later earning a graduate fellowship in Neurobiology. This scientific foundation, combined with her in-depth understanding of human behavior, allows her to craft stories with strong psychological, emotional, and thematic resonance.

Committed to mastering her craft, Marni completed the ScreenwritingU Master Screenwriter Program and Pro Series, and is an alumna of both Roadmap Writers’ Top Tier Program and the Stowe Story Labs Writers’ Retreat. Her expertise spans science-based storytelling, genre world-building, and character-driven narratives, particularly in science fiction, futuristic action, and thrillers. She also brings unique experience from her training in multiple martial arts, which enhances her approach to action, choreography, and physical storytelling.

Marni’s work has earned significant international attention. She has been featured on the Women’s List (2025) and has won numerous awards, including the Titan Awards Gold Prize (2023) for CONFIDANT, the Golden Script Fellowship 2nd Place (2023), the Stowe Story Labs Tangerine Fellowship (2022), and the Table Read My Screenplay Grand Prize (2017) for Syvertsen’s Complex. Her scripts have also been acknowledged by Final Draft’s Big Break Competition and the Hot 100 Capital Fund List.

With her rare blend of scientific insight, creative depth, and hands-on industry experience, Marni Sullivan brings a sharp, empathetic, and intellectually rich perspective to our jury. Her passion for exploring the complexities of the human mind and behavior makes her an exceptional asset for evaluating thought-provoking, character-driven screenplays.