In Maia Mulcahy's Big Break Winner, Fountain of Youth, retirees have the option to reverse the aging process.

      In Maia Mulcahy’s witty and sharp Fountain of Ruth, which won the Grand Prize in Final Draft’s Big Break 2024 TV competition, a woman enters a retirement community where individuals can reverse the aging process to regain their youthful looks. This high-concept and thought-provoking sitcom pilot, according to Mulcahy, draws inspiration from an unexpected source.

      “I was watching the classic film Twilight: New Moon,” she shares.

      The opening sequence captured her attention, where Bella (Kristen Stewart) mistakes a woman (Christina Jastrzembska) for her grandmother, only to realize the woman is actually her future self, still alongside the ageless vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson).

      “I was struck by the image of this older woman next to Robert Pattinson and thought, ‘What if your long-time partner appeared to be significantly younger than you? How would you react?’” Mulcahy reflects.

      She had always believed a retirement community would make a compelling backdrop for a sitcom but recognized that ageist Hollywood would typically favor a cast filled with younger actors. Fountain of Ruth adeptly confronts this issue while providing substantial acting roles: Ruth, aged 67, opts to revert to her 20s, while her husband, Hank, 68, surprises her by choosing to remain at his current age.

      This setup raises numerous questions: Can their relationship endure the visible age disparity? Will Ruth be attracted to other de-aged residents at the Happy Daze retirement community? Will Hank diminish as Ruth thrives? The premise lends itself to multiple seasons of conflicts and twists, humorously addressing one of Hollywood’s enduring clichés: older male stars coupled with significantly younger female co-stars.

      Furthermore, this scenario allowed Mulcahy, 27, to indulge her passion for writing older characters.

      “I like to think I’ve always had an old soul,” she notes. “Being Jewish, I aimed to portray Ruth as a type of wise, older Jewish grandmother. I felt a connection to the character, and then I sought to explore the irony of her situation while avoiding stereotypes of older individuals.”

      In a classic writer’s fashion, she is still contemplating making a significant alteration to her acclaimed script: If the show is produced, she is considering potentially swapping the genders of her main characters, so the older-looking woman would be paired with a younger-looking man.

      Raised in Maine with no connections in the industry, she humorously remarks, “If I had nepotism, I would use it without hesitation.” However, her experience at the prominent agency UTA, starting in the mailroom, provided her with valuable insights into the workings of Hollywood.

      “If someone asks, ‘How do I get in?’ my advice is to work at an agency. You learn so much about the industry, and it helps you feel less like an outsider, which was a significant concern for me,” she explains. “I had no idea how to navigate this career path—there is no single formula. But it truly teaches you about making it work.”

      She served as an assistant to UTA agent Martin Lesak, whose clients include Will Ferrell, affording her the opportunity to read many high-quality comedy scripts. Lesak supported her by reviewing her work and sharing it with his contacts—“which was incredibly kind of him. He didn’t have to do that.”

      Currently, she assists John Wells, the acclaimed producer behind hits like ER, The West Wing, and Shameless. The move felt almost destined, as she earned her MFA at the John Wells Division of Writing for Film and Television at USC. Wells has been very encouraging of her Final Draft win, even allowing her time off to meet with industry professionals regarding Fountain of Ruth.

      “I consider myself fortunate,” she says. “I’ve had incredibly supportive bosses.”

      Maia Mulcahy on Winning the 2024 Final Draft Big Break Contest

      Final Draft Big Break Grand Prize winner for features Laura Kroeger, left, and Final Draft Big Break Grand Prize winner for TV Maia Mulcahy discuss their winning scripts. Courtesy of Final Draft.

      Final Draft's Big Break competition is one of the most sought-after and respected screenwriting contests, capable of significantly altering the lives of its winners and propelling them into successful careers.

      The Grand Prize entails $10,000, an Apple iPad, a Dell XPS laptop, roundtrip airfare, a three-night hotel stay in Los Angeles, meetings with managers, producers, executives, and enrollment in the New York Film Academy's online Fellowship program. (You can read more about 2024's features Grand Prize winner, Laura Kroeger, here.)

      Mulcahy's achievement highlights the importance of recognizing that competitions, like many in Hollywood, are subjective. She has written other scripts that did not perform as well in contests, and even Fountain of Ruth only progressed to the second round of another major festival before winning one of the most significant awards.

      “Just because one contest tells you your script isn't good doesn't mean another judge won’t