A Quality of Mercy

In the unstable social landscape of 1976 Atlanta, an insecure Hank Edwards, takes a supplement intended to unlock strength and virility. It transforms him into a charismatic and uninhibited female alter ego. As Hank struggles with his new identity, he finds himself trapped between systemic misogyny and the liberating freedom of his authentic self. Hank must navigate the fluid lines of gender, love and self identity and the consequences of toxic masculinity in order to discover that true acceptance comes from embracing the whole spectrum of who are.

  • Vanessa Ionta Wright
    Writer
    Rainy Season, The Stain, Permanent Damage, Goldentooth
  • Jenna Kanell
    Writer
    Faceless After Dark, Terrifier, Renfield
  • Project Type:
    Short Script
  • Genres:
    Horror, Drama
  • Number of Pages:
    15
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Writer Biography - Vanessa Ionta Wright, Jenna Kanell

Vanessa Ionta Wright is an award winning filmmaker based in Atlanta. She has written & directed several short films including a fully authorized Stephen King adaptation. She is currently in development on her first feature film. Vanessa graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Video Production & Film. She is a lifelong fan of cinema, and has founded and runs the Renegade Film Festival, an event focused on marginalized voices in genre cinema. Her philosophy of filmmaking is that, “there are no limits to what we can accomplish or create. Find your tribe and tell your story.” She enjoys punctuality, scary movies, a quick wit, sandwiches, the music of Michael Jackson, Halloween & Bacon Jam. She does not enjoy bugs, clowns, perpetual lateness, mean people, oppression, laziness, running more than 3 miles or curved walls.

As an action actor, Jenna Kanell has performed while riding motorcycles, stunt driving cars, airborne in harnesses, underwater, with weapons, and in countless fight scenes.

Jenna delivered a TEDx Talk on the experience of stepping behind the camera for the first time, alongside her neurodivergent brother. She has since written, assistant directed, and produced features, directed and edited fundraising videos, and written and directed numerous award-winning short films with worldwide festival runs.

Jenna also taught her cat how to high five.

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Writer Statement

This story is inspired both by Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde as well as the John Landis segment of Twilight Zone The Movie and is named after the original series episode, "A Quality of Mercy".