Cara Hairston
Teaching Instructor
Old Cafeteria Building G312
252-328-6581
hairstonca24@ecu.edu
About
Cara Hairston is a writer with specialties in screenwriting features and shorts as well as stage plays. Her genres of choice are horror/psychological thrillers and comedy. She is also interested in linguistics, film studies, and media communications. Ms. Hairston is the recipient of the Bertie E. Fearing Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020-2021) and the Richard Bland College of William & Mary Faculty Excellence Award (2023-2024). She has also received numerous screenwriting placements including finalist in the New York City International Screenplay Awards (2023) and semifinalist in Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition (2024), Richmond International Film Festival Screenplay Competition (2024), and Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenwriting Season 5 and others.
Education
- B.A. in English, East Carolina University
- M.A. in English (Creative Writing), East Carolina University
- TESOL, East Carolina University
Research Interests
- Generational Trauma in Black Women
- Creative Writing in First-Year Composition
- Film Theory
Courses Taught
- ENGL 1100: First-Year Writing
- ENGL 2000: Interpreting Literature – Siding With Villains
- ENGL 2201: Writing About the Disciplines
Selected Publications and Presentations
- 2019 “When Covering Too Much Results in Not Covering Enough: an Essay on NBC News.” in Film Matters 10 (1), eds. Tim Palmer and Liza Palmer. 144-151.
Awards
- 2026 Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival Short Screenplay Official Selection
- 2026 Cinema Royale: Paris Edition “Royal Screenplay” Short Screenplay Award Winner
- 2025 Sci-Fi Horror & Action Film Festival Screenplay Award Winner
- 2024 Richard Bland College of William & Mary Faculty Excellence Award
- 2024 Richmond International Film Festival Screenplay Competition
- 2023 Scriptation Showcase – Features + Shorts Category
- 2023 New York International Screenplay Awards Finalist
- 2020-2021 Bertie E. Fearing Award for Excellence in Teaching