Snuffed

Malichi Greenlee – Third Place

FADE IN:

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

The front door of an apartment swings open as MAX and OLIVIA, two hiply dressed college film students, stride out of their apartment and down the stairs. Max is holding a camera, Olivia has a long object wrapped in a blanket.

Max and Olivia energetically walk to an old sedan in a parking lot and get in.

INT. SEDAN - DAY

Olivia and Max drive through the outskirts of town, taking in the scenery of grimy streets. A flyer for a film festival lies crumpled in the footwell. Miscellaneous film gear occupies the backseat, along with the mysterious bundle.

Olivia itches her face.

EXT. OVERPASS - DAY

Max and Olivia sit on top of the sedan with the camera, just out of sight from a dirty HOMELESS MAN. The Homeless Man has a cardboard sign with only squiggles drawn on it.

Homeless Man neurotically itches himself. Olivia routinely checks her watch. Homeless Man drops his sign and stumbles out of sight. Olivia grabs Max’s attention.

The squiggly cardboard sign absorbs water from a dirty puddle.

EXT. UNDER A BRIDGE - DAY

Homeless Man wanders through trash and overgrown shrubs to a tent at the edge of society. He slides off his belt and stiffly bends to his knees to crawl in the tent.

Moments pass. Max and Olivia emerge from the shrubbery and sneakily approach the tent.

INT. TENT

Homeless Man is passed out in his tent with his belt tightened around his bicep; his arm is covered in track marks.

Max approaches the opening of the tent, casting a menacing shadow across Homeless Man’s unconscious body. The tent doors flap in the wind. Olivia steps closer to him, and then approaches the tent.

Max and Olivia search the tent and place an obscured object into an intricately engraved metal box they find. The engravings are similar to Homeless Man’s squiggle sign. After stashing the box, Max and Olivia look to each other and drag Homeless Man’s body out of the tent.

INT. SEDAN - DAY

Max gazes out the open window. As Olivia drives with purpose, her sleeve slides up her arm as she steers revealing track marks. Max notices and their eyes meet. Annoyed, she rolls her sleeve up and they look in opposite directions. She itches herself reminiscently of Homeless Man.

The mysterious bundle lies in the backseat.

EXT. SAND DUNES - AFTERNOON

Max and Olivia pop the trunk of their sedan to reveal a disoriented and frightened Homeless Man. Max and Olivia’s words fade in and out of his consciousness. They pull Homeless Man out of the trunk.

Homeless Man has fear in his eyes. Olivia shows him the metal box, and Homeless Man calms down. His eyes widen in delight. Max escorts him away from the car.

Olivia removes the mysterious bundle from the car.

Max kneels Homeless Man down in the sand, giving him a chance to take in the beautiful splendor of the dunes.

Max holds the bundle for Olivia as she places a hand on Homeless Man. She bends down and tightens Homeless Man’s belt around his arm. Max looks down on their dirty hostage and kicks sand on him like he’s a thing.

Homeless Man’s eyes flutter in ecstasy, and then seem to lose focus on the wonderful scenery. Olivia drops an empty needle in the sand.

Olivia takes the bundle from Max and unwraps it, revealing the oriental sword. Max backs up further with the camera.

Homeless Man’s shaky hand draws squiggles in the sand.

MAX (O.S.)

Rolling ... and... ACTION!

Homeless Man doesn’t respond to the command. Olivia swiftly swings the sword into Homeless Man’s neck. Homeless Man watches his blood hit the sand for a moment, and then slumps over. Max steadily follows with the camera.

INT. LARGE THEATRE - NIGHT

A large audience begins CLAPPING and CHEERING as they watch Homeless Man bleed to death on a large projector screen.

A well-dressed ANOUNCER excitedly prances on the stage with a microphone, and pulls out a slip of paper and reads,

ANOUNCER

And CLEARLY, the award of ‘Best Picture’ for this year’s Underground Film Festival goes to: “Snuffed!”

As the audience’s excitement increases. The announcer lays the paper onto the podium, revealing it is only a scribble.

FADE TO BLACK.

Writers’ and Artists’ Personal Statements

Eleanor Babbitt

I am an oil painter who loves to transform an image onto a canvas to create a piece of art that will capture that image in an interesting, colorful, vivid and contemporary way.

Phyllis Benson

I am a Computer Science student at Scottsdale Community College. I spend most of my time writing or taking care of my puppy at home. I hope to become a NASA engineer in the future once I graduate from ASU.

Sarah Brett

I am a 24 year old graphic design student native to Arizona. It is my passion to draw and create content for clients that can help build personal brands as well as self confidence in their businesses. The art I am submitting consists of 822 hand drawn layers to portray St. Basil’s Cathedral.

Clinton Chandler

I’m currently studying graphic design here at SCC and I hope to make a career out of it soon. In my free time I like to experiment with photography and digital art so I can create meaningful art.

Riley Duemler

I have been writing and photographing for a few years. I really enjoy both and am majoring in graphic design at Scottsdale Community College. I do a lot of selfphotography and use my friends as models. I enjoy photo manipulation as well, and it is my favorite type of media to create.

Kathryn Dwyer

Since 1971, I have lived in Scottsdale part-time and loved its beautiful public libraries and the Preserve, and have always appreciated the art of writing. Being a volunteer and contributing time and energy to many amazing non-profits has been an important part of my life. As a volunteer, I have been part of the crew on tall ships and historic tugboats for over ten years on the Hudson River; a volunteer coach for NYC Donate Life Marathons and Triathlon teams for eight years; and now I am a steward/volunteer at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, patrolling the over 218 miles of trails and assisting in hikes. I’m thrilled to finally have the time to take creative writing classes. Daily, I am inspired and thankful for our insightful gifted professor Kim Sabin and the gifted students of SCC.

Judith Feldman

During this difficult year, I’ve tried to focus on painting, seeking to recapture some memorable things I’ve seen before the pandemic. Lotus flowers are particularly appealing to me because they represent the potential to grow from a dark place to reach the light and become very beautiful. I still love using strong color to express my emotions.

Joanne Gallery

I create artistic images that bring brightness, joy, and fun into my world. I enjoy experimenting with color, textures, and paint, and I want to surprise my viewers and take them on a visual journey.

Barbara Goldberg

I am an artist who loves color and abstract images. It is truly amazing how a line, shape and/or color triggers the mind into completing the message. I paint with palette knives and large brushes to create multiple layers. I do the same with my digital artwork. I feel grateful to have been able to hone my skills as a student at Scottsdale Community College’s open studios classes. They have been instrumental in my art journey.

Malichi Greenlee

I am a first-year student at SCC’s school of film and theatre. I have been studying screenwriting and other aspects of film production, as well as writing songs on my own time. I love being creative and sharing my work.

Stephen Hoffman

As a student in Scottsdale Community College’s Art Department, for almost 20 years, my exploration into the world of art through classes in sculpture, humanities, drawing, and painting have given me great excitement, pleasure, and joy. I have been able to express that beautiful feeling in my art. My oil painting in this magazine is titled Amani. I met for the first time at my local Safeway, and I introduced myself as an art student at SCC. I showed her some of my paintings, and she agreed to let me take her picture and paint her portrait. Life is good!

Birdie Holloway

I am a college student with big dreams! I took up writing when I was 11 just to copy my big sister, and I stumbled into a life long passion. I’m a busy woman trying to work full time, go to school, and find time to write and have a life, but I’m having a blast! I want my readers to know it’s all right to laugh at themselves and their situations, and that they’re never alone in what they’re feeling or what they’re going through. My writing goals include winning lots and lots of Oscars and Emmys, and having people ask to have lunch with me. But being able to finish a project works too.

Alexia Norton Jones

My name is Alexia Norton Jones. I’m new to writing poetry in any serious way, so I was stunned to have been a Vortex winner in 2018. Since then I have been taking a different kind of risk. I have become a Silence Breaker and part of the national #MeToo Movement to raise awareness about sexual assault and violence against women in America and around the world. Through this movement I have learned the gross disparities between reporting and convictions of rape (it’s the most under reported crime) with less than 2% convictions, and for Native America women it is the most Vortex

serious of all in Arizona. As a biracial woman, being a survivor of a high profile media story has helped me understand better how invisible nearly 100% of all survivors are: Cis, LGBGQT, BIPOC, Non-Binary, and the severity of violence against the Trans community. To be an agent of change has been healing. The poem I have submitted is about the very portal so many survivors describe —how abuse begins. To tell our stories we must begin with telling our truth.

Melissa Kennedy

I am currently a graphic design student at SCC and would like to demonstrate what I have learned here using tools such as the Adobe software.

Martha Klare

The art and culture of China and Japan have long been one of my interests. I am also passionate about the natural environment and spend time hiking and backpacking in Arizona and elsewhere. My artwork is inspired by a combination of feelings and visual cues experienced while immersed in nature, and my interpretation of aesthetic and philosophical principles of China and Japan.

Angela-Marie Luna

I am a 34 year old former foster kid who happens to write. I am a filmmaker, and I believe that no matter how old I am, I can still be somebody. I hope to reach those who are like me and need to feel heard. I want to be known as writer for the rest of my life.

Nolan McDowell

I am currently a music major at SCC and will be transferring to ASU next semester after earning my associate degree. I am very interested in all kinds of music but am mainly inspired by early 80’s synth pop/fusion funk. I believe it is most important to study what came before and to never stop learning.

Kristina Morgan

The best thing I’ve done, other than teach high school, has been to write. I’m primarily a poet who has ventured into short story telling and written a memoir called Mind Without a Home: A Memoir of Schizophrenia published in 2013. Writing doesn’t come easy for me, but that’s okay. I can spend a lot of time considering one word or even one sentence. When all settles into a finished piece, it is magic. A shout out to Sandra Desjardins who pushes me to the edge, challenging me to write better and better. I so appreciate her. I love you, Sandy.

Ellen Nemetz

Like many artists, I always loved creating. Unlike many artists, I got undergraduate and graduate degrees in science. Although I could do the work, I realized that I could never be genuinely happy unless I was creating on paper or canvas. My realistic acrylic paintings start with reference photos. I draw the design directly on to the canvas before laying in any color. I work in layers of color, glazing some areas multiple times while leaving other areas with unmodified color. This series began with a longing for water in the desert. I feel compelled to paint water with its calming and mesmerizing tranquility. Unlike artists who paint water as part of the overall landscape, I paint water as the star of any landscape. I continue to paint water and specifically in Arizona, where water can be a scarcity.

Kieran Noback

I moved to Arizona from Wyoming in 2015 at the start of my journey into middle school. I consider myself a creative person, and art and reading have been constant companions in my life. I am currently pursuing an associates degree in biology and exploring my interests at SCC; as part of that, I am diving into creative writing. Writing has always interested me which I attribute to the love of writing my parents fostered in me from a young age. My personal essay “Unanswered” is one of my first pieces of writing that I have shared publicly. This essay has been cathartic for me to write as I have had the chance to explore a very difficult time in my life and contemplate my feelings about it: the pain of losing my mother as well as the love we shared.

Nesta Nordskov

When I was seventeen, I wrote and published a short story online to prove to myself that I could write, and eighty-thousand people read it and liked it. That story is one of the reasons why I still write and why I’m pursuing a degree in creative writing. It’s also the story that allowed me to express myself freely for the first time without judgment and why I don’t hide who I am in my writing now. I feel that every story, poem, and scrap of writing I’ve put together say more about who I am than any personal statement I could make.

Seneca Peters

I am a returning student here at SCC, and I decided to take creative writing because of my love for the medium and because I needed the challenge to get me back into the habit of writing again. I am not here for grades as much as I am for the interaction and feedback on my writing.

Steffan Quinn Ponsolle

In a grim world, I believe one’s greatest defense is introspection. As a young college student, this world truly scares me. My family has braced against so much, so while I am terrified of the responsibility my generation has, Spencer and my mother give me all the strength I need. That’s why I can’t let my past drag on; the future needs my full attention. I’ve noticed a great many of us let memories fester and eat away at our psyches. So when I wrote my narrative, I tried to face myself and ask: what have I let sit inside me for far too long? I believe we can all stand to ask ourselves the same question, in the name of healing and progress. Let my work serve as proof of such sentiment. Thank you for reading, and thank you Sandra for pushing me even further than I thought possible.

Karina Reginato

I am a citizen of the world, with deep roots in Italy, my heart in Venezuela and Brazil, and my love for Arizona.

Aida Sanienejad

I’m currently a full-time Interior Design student. Besides going to school, I spend time painting and making jewelry sets. In addition, I enjoy gardening, hiking, and exploring different places in the wild. I’ve lived in Arizona for about five years, and I would like to explore and see more places in this beautiful state.

Krystal Simmons

I came from California to Arizona looking for personal freedom, and I found a piece of that here. When I’m not at work doing non-emergency medical transports, I’m helping other drug addicts and alcoholics find their personal freedom. When I’m not doing that I am writing, sewing, gardening, cooking, or talking to my cats. We all have many gifts, and I plan on exploring mine!

Steven Soekrasno

I am taking a photography class at SCC, and I entered my work in the Vortex competition because I like to pursue a variety of challenges that are available. My goal is to complete my AAS degree this semester while picking up any other fun stuff on the way. When I am not studying, I like hiking, biking, dancing, wood work, and playing the drum. Thank you for the opportunity to share my art!

Kylie Thesz

I have a strong passion for writing, especially as a therapeutic release. Writing has been my friend, companion, and the most reliable outlet for most of my life. When I’m not buried in my journal, I can usually be found reading a book, behind the lens of a camera, watching an excessive amount of Law and Order: SVU, or spending quality time with my family, friends, and dogs.

Marie Tomisato

I am a screenwriter at SCC. I write what I see in the hopes that my ideas will be heard. My piece, The Last Asian, is about racial isolation and building one’s own representation. The weight I feel every day as a person of color with a mixed racial background is backbreaking, so this script is mostly wishful thinking. I know that it is not one person’s responsibility to represent her/his race--or in my case, multiple races-but in my script, there is hope that the work I do means something to others.

Adrian Villarreal

I’m currently working on an Academic Certificate in Creative Writing at SCC and intend to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing in the future. When not reading, writing, or doom scrolling, I like to pass the time in the outdoors.

Autumn Whitehorse

Hi! I am a 25 year old student studying nursing at SCC. I am a member of the Navajo tribe in Northern Arizona. I recently lost my dad to COVID in January, and he is the one who inspired my personal essay for this contest. I had so many mental health problems going on since he passed, and writing this essay and getting all my feelings out, really helped a lot. I am now happier and have begun to see life a better way. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy my essay!