Kandace James, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2022, Carnegie Mellon University, Screenwriting Award

Project Type: Feature 

Genre: Rom-Com

Length: 98 pages 

Field of Science: Astronomy

Stage: Development 

Synopsis: 

A rom-com that follows SAIA, a 20-something grieving astraphobe plagued by the loss of her father, wants nothing more than to find love, but she can’t find the courage to leave her house at night under all those stars that look a little too much like eyes. She once lived her life through a strict, daily routine, but longs for the basics: love and a job.

After an utter failure of an interview, she gives up hope. Running late to her usual schedule, she rushes to the grocery store, and then home. Racing to beat the stars, and peddling to get home, she is abruptly interrupted by a stranger. A cute stranger. Her name is RIVER. They instantly connect. It’s perfect! The only downside is, to date River means she has to face her fear of leaving the house – fuck!

To rid herself of her fear, SAIA decides to do exposure therapy and go to a planetarium, they are only just fake stars, right? She ends up running into RIVER, who works there, because she’s in school to become an astronomer- fuck x 2.

Under those fake stares, they share a kiss. That kiss turns into a relationship and a job at the planetarium. This is everything she ever wanted, except, she’s still hiding the fact that she’s afraid of the stars and that her father is a renowned astronomer.

When truth catches up with her, SAIA finds herself back at home, jobless, loveless and with new anxieties. She must now uncover her dad’s love for the stars to go forward with her love for RIVER, to overcome her fear, and look up at the galaxies that lay ahead.