Writer Bio
When it comes to my work as a writer, screenwriter, storyteller, author, poet, lyricist and songwriter, often manifestations of my written work result in combined forms of output in a multimedia approach e.g. film, book, poetry collection, song collection, and game framework which I often write and create together which dive into magic realism, fantasy, relationship dynamics and the challenges of life, taking the audience through the written word on a lyrical journey and mapping exploration of unexplored life terrain as well as the fractures and fault lines in our hearts, relationships, communities and world. A special area of focus for me within that sphere is the Forever After Lands which is a multi-verse children's project that I created and have written projects for which I describe as a one stop shop for two- to sixteen-year-olds which focuses on fiction, fictional edutainment and life development skills.
Some parts of my work explore, probe, inspect, cross examine and dissect internal reflections, varying perspectives, concepts of intrigue, the realities and intricacies of our human condition, complexities of our state of existence and observe the world around us from various angles to give a voice to some of those who are voiceless, and ultimately, explore the world through a lens of compassion. Parts of my work incorporate, create and explore emotions, nature, science, technology, folklore and mythological roots which embody culture either from a historical or fictional perspective. Other projects explore the erosion of society, nature and our human state and the cracks within our hearts, world, societies and communities that divide and destroy us as we live in various emotional states then move through a spectrum of emotions as we interact with external occurrences and the entities that impact upon us as we travel and move through the minutes, hours, months and years of our existence and our collective human existence and map out our memories and thoughts. Additionally, parts of my written work map out unexplored terrain in thought, cross the borders of fiction, semi-fiction and nonfiction to explore topics such as problem-solving, emotional management, decision making and life improvement and weave creative threads together in a useful way to encourage and uplift hearts, minds and spirits. Written by Jill Thrussell
My Portfolio: Writer, Screenwriter, Storyteller, Author, Poet & Songwriter
Writer & Songwriter Achievements:
- Oct 2024: Cambridge Script Festival (Screenplay: The Christmas Happiness Wishlist Trail) Finalist
- Jul/Aug 2024: Winner of Essay Work in Progress Competition (CCCG)
- Dec 2024: New York Script Awards (Screenplay: The Christmas Happiness Wishlist Trail) Category Winner & Honorable Mention Award
- Feb 2025: British Animation Film Festival Awards (Screenplay: Time Switch: Stuck in Christmas) Official Selection & Lottie List Selection Award
- Mar 2025: International Songwriting Competition (Song: Time Switch: Savor Every Moment) Semi-Finalist Award
Jun 2025 to Mar 2026:
Project Name: Tiggles, Mummy & Me: Our Journey to Safety (Short Film Script)
- Atlanta Women’s Film Festival Best Social Impact Screenplay Award
- Hong Kong Indie Film Festival Semifinalist
- Palermo International Film Festival Semifinalist
- Tokyo Short Fest Semifinalist
- Manhattan Short Film Festival Semifinalist
- Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills Semifinalist
- Tokyo Women Film Festival Semifinalist
- Cambridge Script Festival Finalist
- Vail Screenplay Contest Quarter Finalist
- Dubai Film Festival Award Winner: Best Unproduced Short Script Category
- Chicago Script Awards Semifinalist
- Prague Film Festival Nominated
- Orion International Film Festival Finalist
- The Macoproject Film Festival Honorable Mention
- Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards Finalist
- Los Angeles Film & Documentary Awards Official Selection
- Hollywood Stage Script Film Competition Official Selection
- The Flight Deck Film Festival Official Selection
- New York Film & Cinematography Official Selection
- Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards Official Selection
- Greece International Film Festival Official Selection
Project Name: Time Switch: Wild Survivors Crew (Feature Screenplay)
- Depth of Field International Film Festival Bronze Award & Official Selection
- Nature Without Borders 2026 Silver Award & Official Selection
- Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards Best Kids & Family Screenplay Award
- Vail Screenplay Contest Quarter Finalist
- The Macoproject Film Festival Honorable Mention
- Los Angeles Animation Festival Official Selection
- The Flight Deck Film Festival Official Selection
Project Name: Wild Witness (Feature Screenplay)
- New York Script Awards Semifinalist
- Nature Without Borders Bronze Award & Official Selection
- Vail Screenplay Contest Quarter Finalist
- The Macoproject Film Festival Honorable Mention
- Los Angeles Film & Documentary Awards Official Selection
- Hollywood International Indie Film & Screenplay Awards Official Selection
UK Songwriting Competition: Can We Still Hear Our Children’s Hearts Cry (Semi Finalist)
To be updated:
For essays from the Fragments of Humanity Dissections & Reflections: Outsourcing Human Functions Essay Collection
I Want Video (Social Issues Campaign Video: Humanity)
I Want (Social Issues Campaign Video: Human Family). This is a short social issues campaign video that was made on a mini budget in 2016.
What Do You See When You Look at Me (Social Issues Campaign Video: Disability)
What Do You See When You Look at Me (Social Issues Campaign Video: Disability) Status: Almost complete pending a few final scene credits and song mastering. This was written and created from a poetry collection that I wrote called 'Chunks of Goodness' which includes a poem called 'What Do You See When You Look at Me' and this video stems from that piece which was utilised to create a social issues campaign video about disability.
What Do You See When You Look at Me (Social Issues Campaign Video: Homelessness)
What Do You See When You Look at Me (Social Issues Campaign Video: Homelessness) Status: Work in Progress. This was written and created from a poetry collection that I wrote called 'Chunks of Goodness' which includes a poem called 'What Do You See When You Look at Me' and this video stems from that piece which was utilised to create a social issues campaign video about homelessness.
Forever After Land Multiverse Project:
Each project in the children's multiverse has a main series, some have other connected series and crossover projects and each one has a series of films planned as well as books (backpacks, storybooks/activity books/toolkit books), song collections planned and games.
Heartland Multimedia Project
Heartland: this is a presentation for a multimedia project that I have been writing, creating and working on called Heartland which is also a part of the Forever After Lands children's multiverse project that I have been writing and creating for the past few years. Age range: 3 years to 7 years. I write the stories (poems, backpack guides, storybooks, activity books etc.), write any film scripts and pilots that relate to the project, create the characters, create basic graphic pages and outline images, write the songs (lyricist and songwriter) and also create any games outlines that relate to the projects in the Forever After Land Series. The song featured 'If You Can Find Your Dreams' is a children's song that I wrote and made the music for and although this song is actually part of the Time Switch song collection, it was put into this video just for illustration purposes because this is a quite new project compared to the other two children's project and so none of the songs from this song collection have been made yet. For the children's projects I write these under the pen name of Zaylee Knowles.
Connected Outputs: (to be updated) Current Completion Status List
Films:
Series projects: The Happy Hearts Heroes Series
Books:
Backpack Guide (publication in July)
Song Collection: Heartland Song Collection
Island of Wonders Multimedia Project
Island of Wonders: this is a presentation for a multimedia project that I have been writing, creating and working on called the Island of Wonders which is also a part of the Forever After Lands children's multiverse project that I have been writing and creating for the past few years. Age range: 4 years to 8 years. For this project, I write the stories (poems, backpack guides, storybooks, activity books etc.), write any film scripts and pilots that relate to the project, create the characters, create basic graphic pages and outline images, write the songs (lyricist and songwriter) and also create any games outlines that relate to the projects in the Forever After Land Series. The song featured ‘The Hero You Can Be’ is a children's song that I wrote and made the music for and although this song is actually part of the Time Switch song collection, it was put into this video just for illustration purposes. For the children's projects I write these under the pen name of Zaylee Knowles. I separate the two because I don't want any children reading any of my adult work that may not be suitable for their age group.
Connected Projects: (to be updated) Current Completion Status List
Films:
Series projects:
General Island of Wonders Series
Wild Wonders Heroes Tribe Series
Extinct or on the Brink Series
Books:
Backpack Guide (published)
Song Collection: Island of Wonders Song Collection
Time Switch Project:
Time Switch: this is a presentation for a multimedia project that I have been writing and working on called Time Switch which is centres upon the Realm of Time which is also a part of the Forever After Lands children's multiverse project that I have been writing and creating for the past few years. Age range: 6 years to 10 years. For this project, I write the stories (poems, backpack guides, storybooks, activity books etc.), write any film scripts and pilots that relate to the project, create the characters, create basic graphic pages and outline images, write the songs (lyricist and songwriter) and also create any games outlines that relate to the projects in the Forever After Land Series. The song featured ‘Savour Every Moment’ is a children's song that I wrote and this song forms part of the Time Switch song collection. Eight years ago, I wrote a script for this project and several other children’s projects. For the children's projects I write these under the pen name of Zaylee Knowles.
Connected Projects: (to be updated) Current Completion Status List
Films:
Series Projects:
Time Switch: The Heroes of Time
Extinct or on the Brink Series
Books:
Backpack Guide (publication in July)
Song Collection: Time Switch Song Collection
Short Film/Book Promo:
Other Clips and Bits: