Local screenwriter Will Donahue recently won first place at the Austin Comedy Film Festival Sept. 27 for his horror-comedy screenplay ‘Frankenstoner’ about a depressed Frankenstein’s monster.

Donahue, an Air Force veteran, husband and father, said storytelling has always been a central part of his life.

“I’m a storyteller at heart. I always have been,” Donahue said. “I love creating characters that feel real, even in outrageous situations. Whether I’m writing horror, comedy or drama, I’m always chasing that spark to make the audience either laugh, cry or scream. More importantly, I like to create stories that help people connect.”

The screenplay follows a depressed Frankenstein’s monster who escapes the lab and develops a taste for life, friendship and marijuana, leading to comedic chaos. As a police officer attempts to track him down, the monster navigates new experiences and relationships.

“It’s outrageous, but at its heart it’s more about identity, connection and being misunderstood,” Donahue said.

He added that while Frankenstein includes cannabis-related elements, the story is not intended to glamorize drug use, but rather to explore how society judges what it doesn’t understand.

“Frankie’s experience allows him to live his life. We all have ugly parts and pretty parts, and sometimes the ugly parts keep us from pursuing our dreams,” Donahue said.

Donahue co-wrote the screenplay with Johnny Amos. He said it took about a month to develop the full script before ongoing edits and festival submissions.

Traveling to Austin for the festival was an exciting and validating experience, Donahue said.

“Austin Comedy Film Fest is known for championing bold, original voices. To have Frankenstein recognized there tells us we’re on the right path,” he said. “It validates my risks with genre mashups and encourages me to keep pushing my work further.”

Winning first place was a milestone for Donahue, who said it fuels the next steps for the project.

“It was amazing. Right now, we’re riding that momentum and trying to move Frankenstein from the page to the screen. The festival helps us bring it to the right people,” he said.

Donahue is seeking funding to produce the screenplay through his own studio, Hollow Page Studios, while continuing to submit it to film festivals.

In addition to Frankenstein, he is working on a biopic called Memory Hall of Fame, which tells the story of his father, country musician Billy Dee Donahue.

For aspiring screenwriters in Kitsap County, Donahue offered this advice:

“Don’t give up. Learn the craft, practice as much as you can, and network. Meet as many people as you can, especially through festivals,” he said.