Andrea Marion, LISFF 2026, Best International TV Pilot

- Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?

I am a 68- year old yoga teacher/mindfulness teacher and writer living in Burlington, Vermont, USA. I spend parts of each day teaching, writing, cooking, gardening, walking my dog, spending time with family and friends.

- When and how did you get into writing?

I sat in sunny fields and wrote poetry when I was eight years old. I loved writing in school and college. I ended up at Dartmouth College to get an M..L.S, concentration creative writing, in my 60s.

- How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write?

I write 'morning pages" from Julia Cameron's "Artist's Way", everyday. I'm writing flash fiction now, taking inspiration from daily small happenings, from the bugs in my garden to  a distressing political event. I'm submitting my work to film festivals and journals, for production and publication. I've written 720 pages of screenplay and two novellas, and many short stories. I've gotten nine film festival placements and Dartmouth Journal, "Clamantis"  publications.

- How does it feel to have your work recognized?

Recognition feels good. It's a step. Each step, from a 500 word flash fiction completed to getting a screenplay award, is important.

- What's the best and most challenging thing about writing a Screenplay?

The most challenging thing about writing is doing it for myself, not for recognition.

-  How did you develop the idea for your LISA-selected story? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

47 years ago, my now husband, then boyfriend and I would play a storytelling game. He would say- pick a state. I would say Louisiana. He would tell me about his hitchhiking adventures meeting a one-legged tugboat captain and his work cooking Cajun rice and beans for the crew. Or the lonely rancher he met in the Rockies. Or the guy who pulled a knife on him on the L.A. Docks. Or the woman who picked him up and told him she was wearing leather panties. . All in all, he hitched six times across the U.S. in five years  I loved those stories and what they had to say about how to live life. 15 years ago, I sat on my couch and tapped out on a MacBook all those  hitchhiking stories from the 1970s. The screenplays of those stories are now winning film festival awards, Including LISA 2026.

- Can you please give us a few tips about writing?

Do it and love it, no matter what you come up with.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions?

The best thing is the people at film festivals and the inspiring work, passion, storytelling that is happening in the independent film industry today. The most challenging thing believing that my work is important, no matter where it goes.

- Lastly, do you recommend the writers submit to LISA?

Getting a LISA Award means a lot to me. I'm grateful. The organization and communication from the festival staff is wonderful.