rebecca | SEMIK
I’m just an Arizona girl living in a storytelling world.
I’m a screenwriter, non-profit professional, and professor. I’m also a wife, a Virgo, and a purveyor of dad jokes.
about me
Hello! I’m thrilled you’ve stopped by my corner of the internet. As an alumna of Boston University’s Screenwriting MFA program and Texas Christian University’s Film, TV & Digital Media and English Departments, I’ve dedicated my life to storytelling that resonates deeply and authentically.
I’m a proud film festival award winner and an optioned screenwriter, specializing in the rom-com and dramedy genre. I believe that while life can be serious, it’s important to embrace the lighter moments, and I strive to reflect that balance in my work. With a strong emphasis on LGBTQ+ characters and themes, I’m passionate about enhancing the quality of representation in media, ensuring that every voice has a chance to be heard.
Teaching is a huge part of my journey. At Boston University, I had the joy of guiding undergraduate film students through the art of writing short scripts in a workshop setting—an experience that fueled my love for education. My time at BU also led me to join the Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Alpha, the National Professional Cinema Fraternity, and to participate in the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Scholars Program, where I explored innovative teaching methods.
Since earning my MFA, I have spent over six years working in the LGBTQ+ non-profit sector. In pursuit of creating safer K-12 schools for LGBTQ+ youth, I have had the incredible privilege of working alongside amazing queer youth, serving as a mentor in their journey to advocate for themselves and others.
After an enriching stint in the LGBTQ+ non-profit sector in Phoenix, I returned to the classroom at the Scottsdale School of Film+Theatre. I began my journey there as a script consultant for the 2019 student capstone project and soon transitioned to teaching as an Adjunct Professor. In June 2020, I launched SCC’s first Short Script Incubator Program to nurture emerging talent. Now, I’m excited to be a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University’s Sidney Poitier New American Film School and the English Department’s Film & Media Studies program.
Using the tools of the screenwriting trade, I’m here to inspire, create, and connect through the power of storytelling. Let’s celebrate our diverse experiences and nerd out to story together!
“This story enlightens aspects about the human condition we can all relate to – whatever sexual orientation we identify with – for we have been misunderstood; we have followed a dream that never manifests; we have fallen down and gotten back up to become who we are in spite of everything going on around us. [The Protagonist’s] journey is an inspiration for all of us.”
my career
I’m passionate about storytelling, and my journey in screenwriting has been filled with exciting milestones and achievements.
My first feature screenplay, Baby Steps, made waves when it became a finalist in The Great Gay Screenplay Contest. It received an enhanced staged reading directed by Julia Rufo during Pride Films & Plays Gay Film Weekend in Chicago, showcasing its potential to touch hearts and spark conversations. The accolades didn’t stop there—Baby Steps won "Best Feature Screenplay" at the Hill Country Film Festival and earned the title of Semifinalist at the Austin Revolution Film Festival.
Building on this success, I adapted Baby Steps into a short script titled Time to Forget, which was assigned and optioned by producer Tricia Jenkins and director Greg Beck of Two Tree Productions, LLC.
Recently, I’ve been crafting relationship-driven short scripts that resonate with audiences. One of my recent shorts, Going Back to You, has already gained recognition as a Second Rounder at the Austin Film Festival and made Barnstorm Fest's Short List. It was also a finalist at the Hill Country Film Festival, the Phoenix Film Fest, and the Fleder-Rosenberg Short Script Contest, and it’s now in pre-production with plans to shoot in 2025.
Another exciting short script project, Two Fluid Ounces, began as a creative outlet during the pandemic, using those unique constraints as inspiration. It has since become a semifinalist in two contests, including WeScreenplay's Diverse Voices Lab, and is also in pre-production for a 2025 shoot.
Currently, I’m developing two LGBTQ+ feature projects, including an LGBTQ+ coming-of-age family drama and an LGBTQ+ indie music relationship dramedy.
I’m passionate about creating stories that celebrate LGBTQ+ experiences and contribute to a more inclusive media landscape. But beyond my personal projects, I take great pride in coaching my students and clients to develop their own contest-placing screenplays, including Second Rounders at the Austin Film Festival. I believe in the power of storytelling to inspire and connect, and I’m dedicated to uplifting diverse voices in the industry. Thank you for joining me on this journey!
“Two Fluid Ounces is so, so sweet, but still remains nicely grounded throughout. The stakes are made clear without over-explaining, the circumstances are recognizable without feeling cliché. Rey and Anna have a pitch-perfect dynamic that definitely feels true of a recent breakup, struggling to establish boundaries and avoid old arguments while still remembering the familiar rhythm of banter between them.”
my scripts
-
In a fractured future, a tween discovering her non-binary identity turns to her estranged butch aunt for guidance. Together they navigate family boundaries and chosen family in the face of deep-rooted prejudice and political oppression.
Currently in development.
-
Kat tries to prove everyone - including herself - that she's no longer in love with her best friend Emma who's getting married. An ensemble cast of young adults taking baby steps to move forward.
Drama Category Finalist - Las Vegas Screenplay Competition
Finalist - Pride Films & Plays Great Gay Screenplay Competition
Semifinalist - Austin Revolution Film Festival
Best Feature Screenplay - Hill Country Film Festival
-
On the day of her engagement party, Bobbi must choose between her future happiness and letting go of the love that got away.
Best Short Screenplay Finalist - Austin Revolution Film Festival
Quarter-finalist - The Golden Script Contest
Finalist - Fleder-Rosenberg Short Script Contest
Finalist - Phoenix Film Festival
Finalist - Hill Country Film Festival
Quarterfinalist - Filmmatic Drama Awards
Second Rounder (Quarterfinalist) - Austin Film Festival
The Short List (Semifinalist) - Barnstorm Fest
-
When our Rey drops by her ex's house to drop off the last of her things and pick up the last of her own, she notices two things: 1) her ex might be starting to move on with someone new; and 2) her travel-sized bottle of lube is missing from her things. She's going to get to the bottom of both of these things before the night's through.
Semifinalist - WeScreenplay Spring 2021 Diverse Voices Screenwriting Lab
Semifinalist - The Future of Film is Female Fund
my awards
“The conflict presented throughout “Going Back to You” is compelling and well-crafted; the reader actively wants to continue down the page.... Overall, “Going Back to You” is a strong submission to this festival, giving the reader a well-crafted cautionary tale about love and choosing the right person before it’s too late. The physical writing, action, dialogue, and characterization is superb. It supports a solid foundation from start to finish.”
contact me
Interested in working together? Fill out some info, and I will be in touch shortly. Looking forward to hearing from you!