British screenplay writer Ella Valentine has just announced the pre-production of her latest feature film, the psychological thriller, “This Is What You Wanted”. Ella first found inspiration in poetry, followed by discovering The Beat Generation, and Jack Kerouac in particular, who influenced her stream of consciousness craft, before studying Screenwriting and embarking on her filmmaking journey.
Her feature film, “Revolution X” is a mind-bending experience ricocheting between sci-fi and psychological thriller. Prior to the success of “Revolution X”, Ella directed and wrote three short films, “Break The Sky”, “An Ideal World”, and “La Vie Continue”, all of which explore the depth of human relationships in their rawest form. “La Vie Continue” is an entirely French production, having taken inspiration from Jean-Luc Godard, Ella likes to challenge herself. She wrote the script in English, got a friend to translate it into French, took a bus from London to Paris without knowing where she was staying in Paris and showed up on set to direct the film with an all-French cast and crew. This is what she does – she’s all in despite the challenges and she puts art at the center of her life.
Ella is working on three feature films, currently in development. As a woman Ella is an advocate for female talent, and has launched Horror Valentines, the world’s first female magazine dedicated to women in the horror and thriller space. We caught up with Ella to talk life as an important screenwriter and her new upcoming feature film, “This Is What You Wanted.”
WELCOME ELLA. YOU HAVE A VERY CREATIVE BACKGROUND. HOW DID ALL OF THAT COME TOGETHER AND MADE YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO PURSUE A CAREER IN SCREENWRITING?
Thank you for having me! It’s true that I have done a variety of creative things throughout the years, including painting! But since I was little, I was always trying to find my voice and the best storytelling medium for me. I think I can express myself creatively in many ways, but screenwriting feels like an all-rounded space where I can tell a story from beginning to end and that has really helped me with the struggle, I have with finishing projects. It also offers the opportunity to collaborate with other creatives, which can be truly inspiring and serves as a motivation. The way I operate is, the more I do, the more I want to do, and filmmaking is such a dynamic force that can keep me going and productive, which is the ultimate goal. True satisfaction comes from doing what you love.
WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS WHEN PREPARING FOR A NEW SCRIPT?
It’s a combination of intuition and research. Does it feel right? Do I know enough? Those are probably the very first questions I ask myself. Sometimes I am very visual, and I need to see the full picture stream in my head from beginning to end, scene by scene before I know it makes sense, and whether it makes me feel something, even if that’s anger. I want to create something that makes people question things, it’s the only way to learn something new about ourselves and the world.
But the one thing I am always concerned about is the message. Movies are there to be enjoyed and sometimes to take our minds off life and worries but I believe in always leaving a message behind with each piece.
WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES GROWING UP THAT HELPED TO MOLD YOU INTO WHO YOU ARE TODAY?
Professionally, I was influenced by David Lynch and the French New Wave and Jean-Luc Godard when I was little. When I reached my teens, I discovered Charlie Kaufman and later on, Alejandro Iñárritu and Sean Baker. As different as they all are, they complete my creative bubble and to me it makes sense.
In terms of novelists, Jack Kerouac is my soulmate, while Paul Éluard’s poetry has always been very special to me.
And in my personal life, without a doubt my grandparents and especially my late grandfather who always and unfailingly believed in me and who showed me what a truly good and noble heart looks like. He also taught me to be a fighter because life is tough.
WHICH ACTORS / DIRECTORS WOULD YOU LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH IN FUTURE?
Since I grew up with Twin Peaks and have since always admired David Lynch’s body of work, I’d have to go with him first. I have also always felt a connection with Charlie Kaufman, and I’d love to get the chance to collaborate with him one day.
I also admire many female thriller and horror filmmakers today. I’d love to get the opportunity to work with Chloe Domont, Coralie Fargeat or Brit Marling. I am obsessed with their brilliance, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
And I’d love to write a psychological thriller for Penn Badgley and Phoebe Dynevor.
TELL US ABOUT THE NEW MOVIE “THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED”.
The story is about a struggling married couple that decides to ignite the passion by inviting a third into their bedroom. When the wife develops an obsession with the other woman, she is faced with fighting her own demons, or else, the only other choice she’ll have is to become the other woman. It explores the importance of our primal and darkest emotions using metaphysical references. It’s a deep dive into the human psyche and it’s inspired by Being John Malkovich and Behind Her Eyes.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE STORY?
About the same time last year, I was thinking a lot about the dark places our minds go to when we feel emotional, and I wondered how those raw emotions end up impacting on our relationships with others and with ourselves.
It is also an opportunity to do an extensive research on metaphysics and its correlation to my subject matter. In addition, I am conducting research on married couples and their triggers, and I am consulting with a relationship therapist on the matter.
This is a very character-driven project, and my goal is to treat each character as a “separate script” and make sure that all of the lead characters are complete with all of their flaws and bad habits. I want to expose the ugly and find truth in it.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STORY?
I have always been exploring the human psyche, especially within the relationship prism. What makes us passionate about people, and what it takes to transcend that passion into a long lasting relationship or marriage, and equally what can ruin it all. It got me thinking about some of the ugliest emotions we might have at times, such as extreme desperation or intensified obsession, and the role sex plays in all that.
I have always been curious about how people choose each other and the idea of someone tampering with the soul or the psyche of another person made me reflect on what difference that would make and how it would impact the choices made within the relationship.
So earlier this year I started developing the script and I found a US-based film company interested in producing it. It’s currently in a development stage.
HAVE YOU SET ANY 2025 PROFESSIONAL GOALS TO ACHIEVE?
To continue to develop my upcoming projects and hopefully to get one or two completed by the end of next year! I’d love to find new exciting collaborations, stay inspired and inspire others, and essentially create meaningful work that people enjoy. I would also love to expand my film magazine, Horror Valentines and help other female filmmakers get more exposure and jobs in film.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING FILMMAKERS?
I am a dreamer, and my instinct is to always tell people to follow their dreams no matter what. Besides that, what I have learnt is that you should go out and make things for yourself. Don’t wait for things to just happen one day. Most people have smartphones nowadays, go out there and make a movie with your phone! I am truly against waiting, waiting for money, waiting for opportunities, waiting around for a job. Be a doer, read scripts and books for inspiration and ideas, connect with like-minded people, discuss ideas, and make it happen.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO FOLLOW YOU ONLINE?
I can be found on IMDb Instagram, Facebook, Website.
