DANBURY, CT, – Back
in 1992, Stephanie C. Lyons was in her second year of grad school studying psychology.
Little did she realise that 26 years later she would be working on what would
be hailed as the “cult classic of all time” (even though virtually no one has
seen it yet) – The History of Everything Circa
1993 to the Present: Formerly Known as Kissy Cousins, Monster Babies and
Morphing Elvis – as co-producer, co-director, and co-writer.
As Robert Frost famously said, “Two roads diverged…” only there were
more than a few twists and turns for Ms. Lyons.
Fast forward from her work as a psychotherapist and later the
director of a women’s work release program, to marriage, four children (and a
divorce), to living for an extended period with her parents. Like J.K. Rowling,
at the time, she utilised one of her best skills – writing -- and became a freelance
journalist and reporter so she could be home to raise her children.
During a chance newspaper assignment, she had the opportunity to meet
her soulmate, lawyer and filmmaker Wayne J. Keeley, who was a bit older than
Stephanie and had a stockpile of scripts that had never been shopped, as well
as a 26-year-old unfinished film – Kissy
Cousins, Monster Babies and Morphing Elvis – that had been collecting dust on
a shelf. The two found they had more in common than just like-minded visions of
life. They began working together almost immediately on multiple entertainment projects.
Their work relationship eventually led to a romantic one – and now they’re touted
as the “Dynamic Duo.”
Since they have been together, Stephanie and Wayne have
written, produced, and directed four Off-Off Broadway plays, produced and
directed an Emmy-nominated public service campaign, co-written two novels,
created the highly popular blog Pillow Talking, which focuses on reviews of theatre
and film, and last, but not least, updated and retooled the 26-year-old film Kissy Cousins, Monster Babies and Morphing
Elvis. In fact, the film has just received its 90th film festival
laurel including THE STRAIGHT JACKET
GUERRILLA FILM FESTIVAL.
But wait. There’s more! Stephanie has now branched off into
independent screenwriting and created a horror script which focuses on female
empowerment titled See Evil. While
the screenplay is in the horror/thriller genre, it also has an LGBTQ focus (she
and her husband are ardent advocates and supporters). It involves married
female protagonists who must fight reapers that threaten their loved ones
including their unborn child. “I believe that See Evil falls squarely within the sweet spot of films like Get Out – which are both horrific and socially
relevant,” says Mr. Keeley, her multiple-award winning filmmaker husband. “I
just hope she hires me in some capacity when it gets rolling!”
At present, See Evil is
hot off the press and just received its first Official Selection laurel in the
Diabolical Horror Film Festival. For certain, this genre-satisfying tale will
be the one to watch!
