Interview with Screenwriter Helen Marsh (THE GREATEST HEIGHT)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Helen Marsh: The Greatest Height is about finding a higher purpose within the struggles and conflict of day to day life. The story follows Nickle, a quirky girl who recently graduated high school and figures it’s about time she tries her hand at love. She sets her eyes on a do-gooder church boy, and through heart-break and betrayal finds something much more genuine and lasting. She finds God.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Family, Romance, Spiritual, Comedy

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

A lot of stories about finding God and discovering faith and spiritually centre around epic journeys and overcoming the impossible. What’s beautiful about The Greatest Height is that the epic journey is simply finding God, and the focus of the story remains on “the average girl” who’s discovering herself and realizing what she’s had in front of her all along. This is a comedic underdog tale (like Juno or Ladybird) that brings people to leave the theatre high on life.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Daringly beautiful

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (by my favourite author and screenwriter Stephen Chbosky)

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

One year

7. How many stories have you written?

I’ve been writing stories since I was able to hold a pencil in my hand; the amount of strange ideas I’ve put to paper are endless. However, when it comes to screenplays I’ve written thirteen (the spookiest of numbers).

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the
most times in your life?)

My favourite song is probably Lost Boy by Ruth B.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I went through a bit of a spiritual journey of my own while writing this. I meticulously searched the bible for inspiration and quotes that helped propel the screenplay. I also researched stories about other people finding faith (no matter the religion, believing in something is nice!)

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about horror movies and watch way too many of them. Of course, I have to see them in theatres to get the full surround sound scare. I’m also a great lover of animals, with two cats, a dog, and a bunny for roommates.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your
experiences working with the submission platform site?

FilmFreeway is awesome! t’s a great tool and can often lead to industry connections.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings
on the initial feedback you received?

WILDsound Festival was an obvious choice for The Greatest Height because it offers feedback as well as a real prize: screenplay reading. For most festivals you receive a laurel if you’re a winner, which is great but doesn’t help your writing in any manner. By having my screenplay read out loud, I am able to hear my characters come to life and get a better understanding of which lines work and which don’t. The written feedback they gave me was also phenomenal, and really helped streamline my script and elevate my writing.

Watch the Screenplay Reading: 

Logline: A rebellious and quirky young woman seeks true love in the form of a do-gooder church boy. However, after heart break and betrayal she finds something much better. She finds God.
CAST LIST :

Narrator: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Church: Hartley O. Gyamfi
Rosa: Lada Darewych
Stephanie: Jennifer Misiorowski
Pastor: Sheldon Graham