'Family Medicine' by alumna Missy Hernandez ’17 a Finalist for Script Pipeline's 2020 TV Writing Competition

Every year, the Script Pipeline TV Writing Competition recognizes new and innovative television pilots and connects a select few television writers with production companies, agencies and managers. This year, the pilot Family Medicine by alumna Missy Hernandez '17 is one of the semifinalists for the 13th Script Pipeline competition, and is now in the running for the $25,000 first prize.

Family Medicine tells the story of a single mom, a fiercely independent “by the books” doctor, who has her life turned upside down when her brujo father moves in and begins to practice his own type of family medicine. The pilot was awarded Faculty Honors in the 2018 Columbia University Film Festival Screenwriting Competition.

In addition to the $25,000 prize, the first place winner of the competition will receive long-term industry circulation and script development. The runner-up will receive $2,500. Announcements for the first place and runner-up will be released on July 26.

Hernandez is also the co-writer of American Thief, which recently premiered at the Maine International Film Festival. American Thief follows teenage hackers Diop and Toncruz who use their skills for different purposes: Diop wants to awaken society to the reality of overreaching government surveillance programs while Toncruz wants to use the technology to avenge his father's murder.

“Wow! What a discovery,” the festival website enthuses about American Thief.  “Four years in the making but fresher than today, this wildly original, truly thrilling film has the immediacy, daring and perspective of only the best cinematic triumphs of recent years—yet it’s a true American indie, shot because it had to be, and introducing us to several great talents...Wow! Did we say that already?”

Hernandez graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Cinema Studies and an MFA in Screenwriting. She is currently an assistant professor in the Cinema and Television Arts Department at Columbia College Chicago. Her most recent film credits include Associate Producer for Terence Nance’s Random Acts of Flyness, and Writer/Co-Producer of American Thief.