STORYTELLER

I'm a

an award-winning screenwriter of an Australian film

5 feature screenplays and 2 TV pilots available for production

Writer of the book ANGELA'S DECISION: A JOURNEY OF ADAPTATION.

My ultimate dream of being a screenwriter came true. Amazingly, of an Australian film with Appalachian roots. I even had jobs on screen. Hobbling to a fake ambulance from my fake car crash with fake blood on my real forehead in Chicago was a favorite. That’s right. CHICAGO FIRE. Those gigs, and more, made my life story richer and provided fodder for creating stories. Gigs! The term career no longer fit my life with a sidelining Army injury and caring for my army family. Daughter grew and left home to create her own Story. Injury residuals stayed. During the surgery and therapy years, I could do little but percolate stories in my mind, tell them to my beagle Iggy Pup and my cat Motor Jane, and ride a trike. That’s right. I became a triker.

01.

My scream was recorded for...

background sound for Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon film. Talk about your background noise!


02.

 I was in Super Bowl XLVII…

Seriously. In the Adidas commercial, Wake Up- The Return of Derrick Rose. What? You thought I played or was a half-time performer? Check out the ad here. 


03.

 I’ve co-produced 2 of my daughter’s films. 

She made a film in my hometown! Ursula Ellis. Remember that name. Learn more about her films here.

04.

I’m Shameless!

I rode on the “El” train in Chicago in a loop for 6 hours for a scene on the show. No motion sickness for me.

ABOUT GENA

I KNEW INSTANTLY

“I wanted to make another drama. It’s really what I want to work in. So I set about finding a story to make; and not being a writer I’m always looking for writers to work with, and stories to tell. I came across a script from an American writer (Gena Ellis), which ultimately became Angela’s Decision, and I knew instantly that I really wanted to make it.”


- Mat King, Director/Producer ANGELA’S DECISION, LipSync magazine

ABOUT ME

A LITTLE 
MORE

I WRITE ADAPTATIONS! 

I began to put words on paper again after the percolation period and found that I have knack for writing adaptations. And I love it! I adapted my own short story to script to film and also adapted Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Black Tulip, which had a Live Read in Toronto with ROSA AND THE BLACK TULIP and won many awards.

I’m co-writing someone’s memoir. Jason McDonald, founder of The Great Mississippi Tea Company, with his partner, Timmy Gipson. I’m writing the script adaptation, too! And studying to be a tea specialist, so I’d say I’m a tea enthusiast. 

I have written two TV pilots and five feature screenplays available for production. 

I'm a co-producer of two of my writer-director daughter’s award-winning films. Ursula Ellis. One filmed in my WV hometown! Ursula is now repped by Circle of Confusion. 

I give talks and workshops about writing, adaptation and film. And even tea. I last spoke about film adaptation at the Lewisburg Literary Festival. And I gave a tea tasting in the lobby of a Holiday Inn in Dallas for friends. Send me a note if you’re interested.

Ariana Marquis as Rosa

A LITTLE 

subscribe

to my newsletter

Connect

Blog

Read the