Origin Story Collective

Founded by Stephani Ouzts, Origin Story creates psychological thriller and horror films that give underrepresented stories the depth and complexity they deserve. We tackle real-world issues through a dark and thrilling lens—bringing thought-provoking perspectives to the forefront. We don’t just entertain — we challenge, inspire, and push boundaries with avant-garde visual storytelling. And yeah, we like to have a little fun while doing it.

Stephani Ouzts

Founder/CEO

Stephani Ouzts is an artist and activist who lives at the intersection of storytelling and social truth. Trained at The Barrow Group in New York and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Theatre), Stephani spent years on stage in New York before moving to Atlanta to dive into the world of film. But after standing in front of the camera, she felt the pull to create what she loved — stories that dig deeper, stories that unsettle.

So she pivoted. She studied writing at UCLA in Film and Television and then launched Origin Story Collective — a home for stories that challenge perception, celebrate diverse voices, and leave audiences questioning, feeling, and evolving. Stephani’s work is unapologetically gritty, messy, and uncomfortable — because that’s what being human is. Her activism lives in every frame of her work, pushing the boundaries of horror and thriller to give voice to those too often left in the shadows.