Photo credit: Lavender Hill Photography

Ella Valentine is a prolific screenwriter who fell in love with poetry and storytelling from a very young age. Her debut movie ‘Revolution X’ is an award-winning feature film, released earlier this year and available on Apple TV. 

We caught up with Ella Valentine in London, England to discuss her new screenplay which is set for pre-production early next year. 

Hi Ella! We recently saw ‘Revolution X’, congratulations it’s a great movie! Can you tell us about the new upcoming film ‘Baba Yaga’ 

Hi guys and thank you…! ‘Baba Yaga’, which is a working title, is a horror movie set around a young woman, Mira, who returns home with her international friends to post-socialist Bulgaria in the early 90s after having lived abroad and discovers a dark rumor going around about her true identity. It’s a cannibal story mixed with political and psychological turmoil.

What inspired the story? 

The process started when I got in touch with a producer who was looking for a script based on a mythological creature, and I was immediately drawn to it because I know Slavic folklore quite well and it’s such a great opportunity to tell a new story based on a well-known myth. It has unlocked a lot of ideas I’ve had throughout the years, combined with personal experiences, and the aspiration to work with the amazing team I have behind me is an added bonus I am so grateful for.

From the initial story to the screenplay, can you tell us a bit more about the storyline?

The movie is based on the Slavic mythological creature Baba Yaga and is set in post-socialist Bulgaria in the early 90s. We will see it through an authentic exploration of Bulgaria - its history, myths and legends, and breathtaking nature. ‘Baba Yaga’ will shine light on important social topics like status and upbringing in Bulgaria, feminism, racism, independence, and patriarchal oppression, as well as humanity’s destructive relationship with nature.

I also based the house where most of the story takes place on my grandparents’ countryside house I used to visit every summer as a kid. It is a project that’s very dear to me because growing up in this house, there were many paranormal and strange activities that me, my sister and cousins witnessed, and I’ve always believed that those experiences would lead me to something bigger one day. I also grew up in the 90s myself and I believe there is something very special and nostalgic about this era, especially during post-socialism times.

How long has it taken you to develop the script for the movie?

I came up with the story in 2022 and I’ve since been developing it. This year I found a production company in the US interested in acquiring it and I am in the final stages of wrapping up the script. I am responsible for fully executing the script and I’ll have a final say as a creator together with the producers.

Although the movie is set in Bulgaria, its main spoken language will be English due to the majority of the characters visiting from abroad. Having grown up in Bulgaria I will have a lot more responsibilities such as scouting locations and making sure I am representing the history and the culture of the country in the best and most realistic way.

What are the next steps for the project?

I am currently developing the script, and it should be ready to go by the end of the year so we can enter the production phase in 2025.

What are the pros and cons of pursuing your screenwriting career?

I don’t think of any obstacles or challenges as cons. If anything, they’re only part of the pros because they make us grow and hustle even harder. I have gone through a lot of difficulties in my journey, such as being homeless or hungry for days but doing what you love is worth facing any challenges on the way.

Do you have a positive mantra or saying that you use to motivate yourself?

Probably my favorite writer, Jack Kerouac’s quote: “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.”

How can people follow your journey?

I can be found on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook, and my Website.