Devi Snively’s script, Love in the Time of Zombies has won top honors at the Park City Utah’s Table Read My Screenplay competition. Not only did she win in the Best Horror category, but won the grand jury prize as well. She will be flown to attend a table read of her script happening concurrently with the Sundance film festival (held Jan 19 -29), while professional actors table read her script in front of a live audience.

Love in the Time of Zombies focuses on a love-wary teenage girl, whose doubts about her boyfriend grow when an undead apocalypse causes both her and his true colors to come out. “It’s actually an allegory for my first year in LA,” writes Devi, “during which I found myself surrounded by a bunch of zombies—not nearly as fun as they make it seem in the movies, alas. Fortunately, it made for great screenplay fodder, and I’ve learned that life post-zombie-apocalypse rocks.”

Devi Snively has been gobbling up all kinds of film awards for her recent batch of films and her latest feature Trippin’ is being released by Camp Motion Pictures on a limited-edition two-DVD this April. The DVD also includes her short hits Death in Charge, Last Seen on Delores Street, and I Spit on Eli Roth among others. Trippin’ is a black-humored homage to “cabin in the woods” fright flicks, centering on the sole survivor of a vacation massacre, who, a year later, meets up with Snively and offers the movie rights to his story in exchange for a part in the film—and a case of beer.

I caught up with the busy filmmaker who was gracious enough to answer a few questions regarding her recent Sundance win.

How do feel about the Horror genre nabbing top honors?

Naturally, I’m thrilled when the horror genre gets a nod outside the horror community. I think horror has this stigma attached to it because, quite frankly, there’s a lot of bad recycled horror ideas out there. Producers and distributors will crank out so many horror clichés simply because they make money – even when they aren’t very original or compelling. A lot of folks are losing patience with the genre and I don’t really blame them.

Still, we seasoned horror fans know that there are endless wonderful stories in the genre forging ever new territory, but you have to know where to find them. Those who are not as familiar with the genre may be discouraged by much of what they see, thinking it’s all just half-naked, screaming girls and a gratuitous body counts (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it’s hardly original.) To them, I suggest they look at films that transcend the genre and have something to say.

I am always pleased to see a horror film (or screenplay) get recognition for being a compelling story and not merely a “compelling horror story.” Ideally, one should be both. I am honored that Table Read MY Screenplay believes my script is worthy of that distinction.

Much like I believe Let the Right One In is not so much a vampire flick as it is a movie about an unusual relationship, I’d like to think Love in the Time of Zombies is not so much a zombie film, but more of a coming-of-age tale that happens to take place during a zombie apocalypse. There are few things more horrific than adolescence after all (Carrie White taught us all about that!)

Will you be narrating your screenplay during the table read?

Mercifully, I will NOT be narrating my screenplay. It’s all to be performed by professional actors, which shall be a real treat.

Any plans to go from page to screen?

An early draft, I haven’t really shopped this one around yet. I had entered this competition along with three others primarily for the outside feedback (and shot at a free Sundance trip – though I honestly never expected the latter.) Much to my amazement it placed in all four (including the highly competitive PAGE Awards). I guess it’s further along than I realized.

As a result, some producers have already expressed interest and one highly encouraged me to knock it out as a YA novel first, but it’s still in the early stages yet and as I’m so caught up in other projects, I’m not sure will this one will find a home just yet. But I do hope either I and/or somebody else makes it soon. It’s my first story that’s begging to be shot in 3-D and it’s a fun world — teen romance, zombies, steampunk. I’ll keep you posted.

http://devisnively.com
http://deviantpictures.com
http://trippinthemovie.com