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Ryan Wilford

Ryan Wilford’s screenwriting delves into themes of mental health, fostering reflection and healing through immersive narratives.

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My Story

My Story

Born and raised in the vibrant city of Chicago and now rooted in Los Angeles, I’ve been a creative soul for as long as I can remember. My artistic journey started with sketching human figures and storyboarding as a child—dreaming up TV shows and movie scripts on printer paper and in my notebooks. These early passions led me to pursue a BFA in Multimedia Art and an M.A. in Digital Communication and Media Arts. Both degrees gave me a deeper connection to film and storytelling, with my master’s program immersing me in camera work, interviews, and the art of shaping narratives.

In 2021, I made the leap to LA to turn creative ambition into action. A transformative spiritual and mental healing journey in late 2022 shifted my focus inward. That growth became fuel for my first official screenplay, Confidence, which I began writing in January 2023. The story explores themes of self-worth and societal pressure—mirroring my own journey of navigating confidence in a new city.

The first draft of Confidence was completed in July 2024. Since then, I’ve returned to the work with fresh eyes, refining the script through rewrites, editing, and formatting it to industry standards. Now, in July 2025, the script feels complete—ready to stand on its own and make its way into the world.

Today, I’m focused on opening doors, collaborating with like-minded creatives, and crafting stories that resonate, inspire, and challenge perception. For me, storytelling is about more than entertainment—it’s about connection, reflection, and growth.

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Artist Statement
Waves

Artist Statement

From a young age, I found myself building worlds. I’d storyboard TV shows, create fake talk shows, sketch movie scripts using visuals and thought bubbles, even invent fictional musicians and entire entertainment ecosystems. These weren’t just random actions—they were intuitive expressions of a calling I didn’t yet have language for. Looking back, it’s clear that storytelling wasn’t a hobby; it was a way of making sense of the world and of myself.

Today, my storytelling lives through screenwriting—specifically in the realm of psychological thrillers with emotional and spiritual depth. I write stories that reflect the inner work of healing: identifying emotional patterns, facing hidden triggers, and navigating the subconscious mind. I explore how our minds—arguably the most powerful tools known to man—can either trap us in illusion or liberate us into clarity. My narratives often challenge the viewer to go inward, not to escape reality, but to confront it head-on.

Major themes in my work include mental health, spiritual awakening, social programming, and the unseen emotional forces that shape our choices. I aim to reflect the very real pressure today’s society puts on the mind—between social media, trauma cycles, identity formation, and the constant search for validation. We live in a world where people are often unknowingly running on subconscious scripts. My stories seek to interrupt those scripts and raise the collective vibration by offering bold, emotionally charged narratives that entertain while holding up a mirror. I also explore tones of twisted reality and mental state, weaving in eerie and moody atmospheres to deepen the psychological experience.

Stylistically, I lean toward emotionally immersive, psychologically heightened stories. While I’m still refining my visual signature, a recurring device in my work is reflection—characters looping back to moments in the past that shaped them, revealing hidden connections between timelines. In my debut screenplay, Confidence, the central narrative—a man manufacturing a confidence drug—traces back to unresolved childhood bullying. The personal becomes societal. One man’s trauma spills into the world, and everyone feels the consequences. I like to stretch real emotional pain into high-concept, often eerie frameworks that speak to universal wounds.

My writing process always begins with a question—sometimes philosophical, sometimes emotional. I interrogate it from every angle until the story reveals itself. I’m heavily inspired by my own mental health journey, spiritual breakthroughs, and my passion for the mind’s inner workings. Creating stories that heal others has, in turn, helped heal me.

Jordan Peele has become someone I view as a creative force to work toward—someone who masterfully blends genre and social commentary, which inspires how I want to carve out my own path.

 

In a time where mental health is finally entering mainstream conversations, I believe cinema must do more than entertain—it must expand minds and spark inner change. There’s a gap in this space, especially within the thriller genre. I aim to fill that gap.

I completed my first feature-length screenplay, Confidence, in July 2025 and am now developing my next psychological thriller. I'm focused on deepening my network, aligning with like-minded creatives, and stepping further into visibility—pursuing management and collaborative opportunities that allow my voice to grow.

My work is for anyone awakening to their mental health and inner lives—anyone ready to go inward and reclaim their sovereignty over their mind and mental well-being.

 

Stories that heal minds.

Film Reels

Screenplays

Each story explores reflection, growth, and the human mind. 

Screenplays

When a brilliant but broken scientist unleashes a drug that mimics confidence, his obsession spirals into a citywide crisis—forcing his estranged son and a former employee’s daughter to stop him before his creation destroys them all.

CONFIDENCE  
Psychological Thriller  
2025

BTS Journal
Fountain Pen

BTS Journal...

Every page tells a story — click the images to open it.

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Entry 1: The Spark + Formative Years
Circa: 1996–2021
Published: 08/26/2025

"I remember being around 6 years old at my granny’s house, completely locked in on a pile of colorful construction paper and a couple of pencils."

Tags: inspiration, creativity, childhood, storytelling, journey, education, skill-building, ambition, creativity, multimedia

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Entry 4: What’s in C?  
Circa: 2023  
Published: 08/26/2025

"What is “C”? “C” — short for Confidence — is the drug Victor develops. The more of it you consume, the more control you gain over others"

Tags: psychological thriller, sci-fi, experimental drug, mind control, confidence, addiction, morality, dystopia, neuroscience, biochemistry, Anti-C, stabilization

Entry 7: My First Networking Events and Red Carpets  
Circa: 2025  
Published: 08/26/2025

"Walking the red carpet and getting my photo taken wasn’t just a fun experience—it was a tangible reminder that I belong here as a screenwriter."

Tags: milestones, inspiration, networking, industry, affirmation, red carpet

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Entry 2: Leap to LA, Healing and Discovery  
Circa: 2021–2022  
Published:  08/26/2025

"Arriving in LA was both thrilling and challenging. I left behind a vibrant social life and community in Chicago."

Tags: transition, courage, independence, ambition, growth, healing, mental health, spirituality, self-discovery, transformation

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Entry 5: Character Profiles
Circa: 2023
Published:
08/26/2025

"Victor becomes consumed by his obsession after the drug backfires, causing death and societal chaos."

Tags: antagonist, pharmaceutical thriller psychological drama, science and obsession, family conflict, tragic genius, moral corruption

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Entry 3: The Birth of Confidence  
Circa: 2023–2024  
Published: 08/26/2025

"This process was transformative. It wasn’t just about completing a script; it was about developing discipline, patience, and confidence in my voice as a screenwriter."

Tags: screenwriting, creation, process, inspiration, perseverance, character development, storytelling, formatting, industry standards

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Entry 6: Joining Stage 32, Networking, and Learning the Industry  
Circa: 2024–2025  
Published:  08/26/2025

"It was about more than just mastering the technical side of screenwriting—it was discovering where I fit in the creative landscape..."

Tags: networking, growth, craft, community, industry

More Behind-the-Scenes:

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Entry 8: Today’s Chapter
Circa: 2025
Published: 08/26/2025

"Momentum is building slowly but surely; I see people following my Instagram and engaging with my work."

Tags: growth, momentum, creativity, portfolio, screenwriting, goals, industry

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Pyramids

Accolades

This page is currently in development—check back soon, trophies are on the way

Digital Network

All works listed in this portfolio are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Full scripts available upon request. 

Let’s Connect!


Have a question, collaboration idea, or script inquiry?

📧 Email Me
📸 Instagram: @writtenbywilford
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▶️ YouTube: @mindfulthreads_
🎵 TikTok: @mindfulthreads_

Please note:
For script-related inquiries, please be sure to include the screenplay title and a brief note about the nature of your request so I can respond efficiently.

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© 2025 by Ryan Wilford. Powered and secured by Wix

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