Best in Fest

From Rock Bands to Rom-Coms: Paula Tiberius on Writing, Reinvention & Hollywood Grit

Leslie LaPage

In this inspiring Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage sits down with award-winning writer, director, and musician Paula Tiberius — one of the very first La Femme Film Festival winners — to explore her incredible evolution from indie rocker and filmmaker to in-demand screenwriter for Hallmark, Lifetime, and Netflix.

Paula opens up about her early days making the cult rock-and-roll movie Goldie Rocks, her journey breaking into Hollywood, and how she found creative freedom writing beloved TV romances like Hearts Around the Table, Crossroads Springs, and Santa’s Got Style.

🎥 In This Episode:

  • How Goldie Rocks launched a fearless filmmaking career.
  • Writing heartfelt stories for Hallmark and Lifetime — without losing artistic integrity.
  • The rise of “vertical” short-form storytelling and how it’s reshaping the industry.
  • Why perseverance and process are the secret weapons of every successful writer.
  • How her new company, Death or Story, is teaching writers to structure screenplays that actually sell.

💡 Key Takeaway:
Paula proves that discipline, reinvention, and a love for story are what turn a rock-and-roll dreamer into a Hollywood powerhouse.