About
Storytelling became important to me long before I understood that I wanted to become a screenwriter. Growing up, imagination gave me a way to make sense of a world that often felt confusing and isolating. Later, when I had to rebuild my sense of identity, writing became a way to explore the questions I was asking in my own life: Who are we when others try to define us? Where do we find belonging? And what gives someone the courage to be fully seen?
Those questions continue to shape the characters I create. I’m drawn to people living at society’s edges, navigating identity, faith, trauma, relationships, and found family while trying to hold onto hope in circumstances that tell them not to.
I believe stories can build empathy by giving audiences the opportunity to experience lives beyond their own. I want to create authentic worlds where people who rarely recognize themselves on screen can feel seen, while inviting other audiences to understand experiences different from their own.
I’m Tori Maxwell, a Los Angeles-based screenwriter specializing in character-driven storytelling for film and television. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Writing for Film and Television from The Los Angeles Film School and have experience across more than 80 film and television projects in production and creative environments.
My writing moves across genres and timelines. Some stories unfold in the future, where memory can become a weapon and changing the world begins with changing one person. Others take place in the past, where being who you are can feel as heavy as fresh snowfall and as delicate as a leaf breaking from its vine. And some unfold in the present, where family can mean both the people who love you and those who unite against you.
Across those worlds, I specialize in character development, narrative structure, world-building, and emotionally driven storytelling. Whether I’m creating original features, developing television pilots, or eventually collaborating on established franchises, my goal remains the same: to create compelling stories about people society too often overlooks and worlds where audiences can recognize themselves while gaining a deeper understanding of others.
Helped relaunch The Los Angeles Film School’s LGBTQ+ student organization, fostering community, advocacy, and inclusive programming for students.
Q+mmunity Student Officer
November 2023 - July 2026