Take a look at the IMDb staff picks for the best movies and series coming in August.

Staff Picks: What to Watch in August

Get a closer look at the most searched stars on IMDb right now.

These Stars Are on the Rise

Cosplayers made a big splash at San Diego Comic-Con! Check out the greatest costumes from the 2025 convention.

Cosplay at San Diego Comic-Con 2025

American Samurai on location in Tel Aviv, Israel

Virginia's Run Writer, Valarie Trapp on location in Nova Scotia with Joanne Whalley

Casino Royale - Actress/Writer Valarie Trapp on Location with Casino Royale director

Publicity Screening for Beyond Borders Archlight Cinemas West Hollywood

Writer/Actress Valarie Trapp at Beyond Borders, NY Film Premiere

Valarie was born in Camden, South Carolina. She studied and worked in New York, then Los Angeles, supporting herself with acting roles, national and international commercials and exercising horses, while pursuing her writing career. Her first original screenplay, Hush, led to working opportunities with Rob Reiner, when it was originally introduced to Castle Rock Entertainment by Bill Badalato and Rick Montgomery. The script, Have Mercy, was introduced to Rob Reiner and Jeffrey Stott, when it was optioned by Barry Spikings at Castle Rock Entertainment with Shirley MacLaine to star, and with Peter Bogdanovich to direct. In 2006, the script Have Mercy (2006), was optioned by Lloyd Phillips and Beau St. Clair at MGM and Sony Pictures with Kathy Bates to direct. Valarie's original screenplay, Virginia's Run (2002), is a story based on her own horse-obsessed youth and titled in honor of her maternal grandmother. The film was shot in Nova Scotia, and is a recipient of the 2002 Crystal Heart Award for Best Dramatic Feature Film. Disney Pictures and Shoelace Productions hired Valarie to adapt two novels by autistic author Donna Williams into a screenplay titled Nobody Nowhere for Julia Roberts. Author Donna Williams participated as a producer through Shoelace during Valarie's employment on the project. Valarie adapted the Joyce Carol Oates play, The Eclipse, into a television screenplay for producers Bela Bajaria at CBS, and Shanna Nussbaum with Cosmic Entertainment; and, was hired by Catch 23 Entertainment to write an original screenplay for Salma Hayek. She continues to write for television and film, but her main focus has been on education. She optioned her latest project, Writer Warriors, through CBS which takes a stern look at government involvement in education in the Deep South.

Valarie lives in California and South Carolina.

Photos

Valarie Trapp

More from this person

More to explore

Recently viewed