writing

Screenwriting

VEGAN PLEASE

30-minute comedy pilot script | 2-5 min web series episodes (watch episodes 1 & 2 on YouTube)

A people-pleasing advice blogger works to build her vegan business in the polite land of “Minnesota nice”—but confrontation becomes unavoidable after she falls in love with a butcher.

Table Read at Catalyst Story Institute festival (2023); Web Series Premiere Party hosted with Compassionate Action for Animals in Minneapolis (2024)

View this project on Coverfly or check out the web series at veganpleasetv.com.

You’ve Been Selected

psychological horror short film co-written and co-directed by Lillie Gardner and Megen Musegades

An anxious mom tries to ditch her phone addiction on a family cabin trip -- but unwittingly unleashes a sinister force that refuses to be disconnected.

Currently in post-production.

American Virtuosa

60-minute historical drama pilot script

Based on the true story of Amy Beach, a precocious young prodigy in nineteenth-century Boston must fight gender barriers and her own family to follow her dream of being a world-famous musician.

Official Selection and Winner of Outstanding Drama Pitch at the 2021 Catalyst Story Institute Festival; Big Break Top 3 Finalist; ScreenCraft Drama Finalist; Shore Scripts TV Pilot Contest Finalist (Top 1%); CineStory TV Retreat & Fellowship Contest Semifinalist; Quarterfinalist in The ISA’s Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition

View this project on Coverfly.

Ruth Rising

60-minute historical drama pilot script

In a rebellious new world of sex, drugs and alcohol, three generations of scrappy Minnesota women fight for the American dream by bootlegging alcohol during Prohibition. Inspired by the life of Lillie’s great-grandma Ruth.

Official Selection at the 2022 Catalyst Story Institute Festival; Recommended by WeScreenplay (Top 1%); Finalist in Roadmap Writers’ Pitching Madness Tournament; Second Rounder in Launch Pad Pilot Competition; Second Rounder in Austin Film Festival’s Script Competition; Quarterfinalist in The ISA’s Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition; Semifinalist (Top 25) in Roadmap Writers’ JumpStart TV Pilot Competition; Semifinalist in the CineStory TV Retreat & Fellowship Contest

View this project on Coverfly.

Allegra Sparkle’s Guide to the Great Composers

Animated kids series pilot script

An imaginative ten-year-old composer leads a magical podcast journey throughout history and around the world to meet composers who got left out of the canon.

Winner in Austin Film Festival’s Script Competition; Official Selection at the 2022 Catalyst Story Institute Festival; Finalist in Barnstorm Media’s BOLT Screenplay Competition; Finalist in The ISA’s TV Pilot Pitch Challenge

Visit the Allegra Sparkle website and check out the teaser video produced with FableVision Studios!

The Peanut Butter Detectives

Animated deaf-accessible kids series pilot script | created by Lillie Gardner, co-written by Lillie Gardner and Myles Hunt

In the neighborhood of Pleasant Purr, a caring deaf cat and her feline buddies will stop at nothing to find out where the peanut butter is—and learn lessons about friendship and empathy along the way.

Quarterfinalist in Stage 32’s New Voices in Animation Screenwriting Contest; Table Read at 2023 Catalyst Story Institute festival

View this project on Coverfly.

Creative Writing