Year 2

Our Year 2 films are done. Check out the behind-the-scenes video and then screen all the films below.

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Stream all four Finish the Script Year 2 films. Right here. Right now.
To get the full Dolby experience, stream them on a Safari browser and on iOS devices.



“It has been beautiful to see these filmmakers bring their stories to life over the last 8 months. Each of them was able to capture something entirely unique and wholly original. I am honored to have been able to work with them on this initiative and am pumped to see what they do next.”

— Carlos López Estrada

Pause/Play

In the sci-fi comedy film Pause/Play, a gamer stumbles into an alternate realm and helps her recently deceased idol pass on into the next life.

 

“Through art, I just want to be able to push that theme of exploring the unknown, hitting those tough questions of existence, reality, what happens when you die. Being able to find the humor in really dark moments. That's what I like to explore.”

— Kaitlyn Ali, Director

Pause/Play

In the sci-fi comedy film Pause/Play, a gamer stumbles into an alternate realm and helps her recently deceased idol pass on into the next life.

 

“Through art, I just want to be able to push that theme of exploring the unknown, hitting those tough questions of existence, reality, what happens when you die. Being able to find the humor in really dark moments. That's what I like to explore.”

— Kaitlyn Ali, Director

Fruits of Your Labor

Fruits of Your Labor is the story of a 17-year-old Tik Tok influencer who leaves her glamorous life behind when she switches bodies with local fruit vendor Marisol Aguilar, by the fate of one magical mango.

 

“As a filmmaker, you kind of just have to do what you're passionate about. As someone who doesn't see people like me on screen a lot and doesn't see a lot of Filipino filmmakers or people of color, and specifically women of color in charge, I thought this project was super important. Representation is so important in my films. I want other young Filipino women to watch this and be able to relate and be inspired by this."

— Britney Bautista, Director

Fruits of Your Labor

Fruits of Your Labor is the story of a 17-year-old Tik Tok influencer who leaves her glamorous life behind when she switches bodies with local fruit vendor Marisol Aguilar, by the fate of one magical mango.

 

“As a filmmaker, you kind of just have to do what you're passionate about. As someone who doesn't see people like me on screen a lot and doesn't see a lot of Filipino filmmakers or people of color, and specifically women of color in charge, I thought this project was super important. Representation is so important in my films. I want other young Filipino women to watch this and be able to relate and be inspired by this."

— Britney Bautista, Director

Zora's Last Day on Earth

Zora’s Last Day on Earth is the story of a terminally ill person who decides to take an experimental transfusion pill that allows them to enter their 21-year-old body for just one day. 

 

“South LA means a lot to me. The film is my version of a love letter to Los Angeles, but a Los Angeles that's very particular to me that show areas where I grew up in. It's one that's not very depicted on television or film, and I hope that it showcases the beauty, but also the great people who live there.”

— Miguel Ramirez, Director

Zora's Last Day on Earth

Zora’s Last Day on Earth is the story of a terminally ill person who decides to take an experimental transfusion pill that allows them to enter their 21-year-old body for just one day. 

 

“South LA means a lot to me. The film is my version of a love letter to Los Angeles, but a Los Angeles that's very particular to me that show areas where I grew up in. It's one that's not very depicted on television or film, and I hope that it showcases the beauty, but also the great people who live there.”

— Miguel Ramirez, Director

Sirens

The story of Sirens follows Whitney, an insecure teenager struggling with their identity. Haunted by a mysterious sound and visions of an ornery siren, the teen finds themselves trapped in an alternate world where, in order to escape, they must find the courage to be themselves.

 

“Growing up, I didn't really have communication tools. I had a hard time expressing myself and understanding my emotions. The first experience I had with being able to convey ideas was in photography. I realized that I could show someone an image that I had taken and they could understand something. And over the years of playing with photo and then moving into moving picture, I realized that I love storytelling.”

— Thomas Sawyer, Director

Sirens

The story of Sirens follows Whitney, an insecure teenager struggling with their identity. Haunted by a mysterious sound and visions of an ornery siren, the teen finds themselves trapped in an alternate world where, in order to escape, they must find the courage to be themselves.

 

“Growing up, I didn't really have communication tools. I had a hard time expressing myself and understanding my emotions. The first experience I had with being able to convey ideas was in photography. I realized that I could show someone an image that I had taken and they could understand something. And over the years of playing with photo and then moving into moving picture, I realized that I love storytelling.”

— Thomas Sawyer, Director

Can't wait to see what you do next!

Learn more about our filmmakers and their film processes in these special episodes that recap their entire Finish the Script journeys.
 
Press kits for the program and the individual filmmakers can be found here.

Kaitlyn Ali

“I pushed myself this year to be more creative and challenge myself. I feel like I’m ready to make something that the world can see and put it on stage for everybody and share my ideas and thoughts as a creative person. And it means the world to me, and that Dolby gave me access to the tools really big filmmakers use.”

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Britney Bautista

“I feel like film spreads awareness about certain social and political issues. It has such great power to impact people's thoughts and perceptions of things. You can walk out of a movie theater and just have a completely changed perspective on life, on people. And I just loved that element of film creating shock, creating love, creating anything, and maybe even educating some people about certain things.”

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Miguel Ramirez

“I think that's kind of what I wanted to focus on: the hidden gems that are in LA that sometimes folks who have not grown up here don't see. At the core of every story I like to tell is friendship, but also aspects of family, film, illness — in parts of the city that are typically not showcased.”

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Thomas Sawyer

“I wanted to make a film about a story that was close to my heart, but also so other people would feel less isolated. I think we all can get in these moments where we really put ourselves down and we hide some of our truths. And I wanted to make a story about a character who is doing that and who summons the courage to stop and to just be themselves and be free of that, because that's when we start living too.”

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Ghetto Film School

Ghetto Film School
With locations in New York City, Los Angeles, and London, Ghetto Film School (GFS) is an award-winning nonprofit founded in 2000 to educate, develop, and celebrate the next generation of great storytellers. For complete Finish the Script 2024 entry information and guidelines click here.
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Ghetto Film School
The Dolby Institute

The Dolby Institute
The Dolby Institute was created to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of content creators. Through events, instruction, and awareness, we help creatives think critically and creatively about sound and image, unlocking the power of technology to help tell their stories.
Learn more
The Dolby Institute