Biography
Fiona was born and raised in Co. Wexford, one of seven children, with parents heavily involved in amateur drama. Lots of her earliest memories are of the unique cold smell of Irish country halls, listening to the words of some of Ireland’s greatest storytellers and it’s where she found her passion for good stories told well. She has always written her own stuff and now, following a successful career as a finance professional in the TV and film industry, she is focusing on screenwriting. Working in production has made her a better, smarter writer, as she has seen first-hand the difficulties and stress in getting something made. Her focus, as a writer, is on original stories that capitalise on Irish humour with international appeal.
In October 2020, Celebrity Stalker, her TV comedy project set in Dublin, was shortlisted for the C21 competition. In January 2021 she was taken on as a client by McFarlane Chard.
Fiona is currently participating in Wexford Screen's collaborative Writers Room course with established and experienced lead writer/series producer and showrunner Paul Walker (Red Rock, Call the Midwife, Eastenders, River City, BBC Writers Academy). At the end, the course will commission four to six of the scripts to enter into development and production of a six part original anthology series based in Co. Wexford.
Her website: www.fionatuohy.co.uk
Project Title: The Mount
-
Genre: Horror Comedy with American leads, that has the potential for international appeal if a well known American was attracted to the project. I wrote the lead with Bill Hader in mind.
Target Audience
Irish humour is going through a surge of popularity at the moment, Young Offenders, Derry Girls etc and having Americans coming to the village widens the international aspect . Age wise it’s aimed at teenagers and above.
Synopsis
Ancient Ireland was full of ancient pricks and none more so than vicious landlord, owner of The Mount and black magic worshipper – Bill Steadman. In 1819 - a simpler time, when you could starve to death without interference and drown the local sadist without reprisal - we meet the residents of Ballytighe village. After tricking Bill into signing a will, where the village gets everything when Bill’s last descendant dies, they drown him in the bog. However, Bill manages to tie his spirit to the land and, not wanting Bill’s ghost to frighten the cattle, the villagers trap his spirit in his gold dagger.
Two hundred years later and Ballytighe is ecstatic at the death of the last Steadman. However, their joy is short lived, when John, the gormless local solicitor, reveals there is another descendant: American Todd Mahony. Todd, his fiancée Stuart and Todd’s adopted Vietnamese daughter, Huyen, are on their way. However, if Todd doesn’t want the Mount, the village gets it. The answer is clear – frighten the Americans away.
When the Americans arrive, they are plunged into a series of equally terrifying and disturbing events, courtesy of the village. Meanwhile, John, wanting to get rid of his domineering mother Delores, a fanatical pioneer who never even let sherry trifle cross her door, releases Bill’s spirit by cutting his hand on the dagger. Now, there is a real homicidal ghost on the loose and he has his own plan - to live again by using an ancient spell to possess the body of a living descendant - enter stage left: American Todd.
To get in touch with Fiona or find out more about The Mount, contact spotlight@screenireland.ie