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ScriptapaloozaTV Interviews Contest Winners

How did I come up with the idea?

I wanted to do a story about God asking Joan to help someone who seemed ridiculously unworthy of such attention when you first meet him, someone who treated the very thought of God with sarcasm and derision. Then I started thinking about why he would be that way.

How long did it take me to write?

This is actually kinda a tough question. I work alot so I did most of the writing in fits and starts, usually on my lunch breaks or on the el. I do remember figuring that the first draft took me about two hours a page. Add on rewrites and typing and it probably totals out to about a hundred hours or so.

Is this the first script I've written?

No, it is not. It is the second.

Have I entered any other contests?

Yes, I also entered the atalentscoutTV contest.

Was I successful?

The first script I wrote was named as a quarter-finalist though they did list my name as Betty.

Why Scriptapalooza?

I did a lot of checking around the Internet and this seemed like a pretty reputable contest. I could only afford to compete in two, so here we are. Yay me!

Advice to other screenwriters?

Hmm. That seems a bit presumptuous of me but I'll try to answer it. First off, I'd have to say to read everything you can. Not just movie books or your particular genre preferences. I consider one of my greatest strengths to be that exact thirst for beautiful voices. To quote Robert Bly, "If you want to be a poet, be a carpenter." Second, I would say to try and remember that the devil is in the details. For example, Flaubert talks about taking a single Parisian cab driver (the horse and buggy variety) from among the thousands and just observing him quietly until he saw the thing that made this cabbie different from every other cab driver. That's when the magic happens, baby!

How did I feel when I saw my name listed among the winners?

Woozy. Very, very woozy.

If I could write for just one TV show, which one would it be?

That's really a tough one but I guess I'd have to say 'Alias.'

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How did you come up with your story idea?

We played off each other and made up a crazy story - then we scaled it back to something more believable. Also, we have dirty minds, and we'd like to see more sex writing on TV (our episode deals with sex issues).

How long did it take you to write it?

We wrote for a few hours once or twice a week in between jobs (we're both freelance producers). It took us about six weeks total to complete.

Is this your first script that you have written?

No, but it's the first one we've finished without feeling like we wanted to change it.

Have you entered other screenwriting competitions?

No. Are there any others?...

Why did you enter scriptapalooza?

We're looking for an agent. We'd like to secure writing jobs and sell our own original show ideas - thus leading to a gradual but effective take over of the world.

Advice to other screenwriters?

Write all the time, and read a lot! It's hard to get words out if you don't get them in... Writing is like creating a painting. A page is only blank until you put something on it (even if you aren't sure where it's going to lead you). Figure out what your process is. Maybe you have to write freeform to warm up, then outline, then write a scene or two, then re-outline (there's no right or wrong way). Let things evolve. Sometimes the best material is unplanned and grows from making changes. Expect criticism, and take advice from people who you respect and admire.

How did you feel when you saw your name as one of the winners?

We thought the website was broken.

If you could write for any tv show, which one would it be?

Arrested Development.

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How did you come up with your story idea?

It grew out of stories that I've written in the past, both fanfiction for other shows and my own original work. I've always enjoyed just watching people interact, and liked the idea of two opposites -- Irene, who is rather cranky and independent, and Alyson, who is more social and empathetic -- having to interact in an an unforced way. I like seeing what makes people tick, undermining stereotypes and finding out which experiences, good and bad, had a hand in forming a person. The story didn't come from any one experience I've had, but from general observation and stories I've heard over the years.

As for the setting, I chose it, in part, because I've never seen a show set in San Francisco that feels like it is set in San Francisco. Most of these shows could be in Any City USA, if not for the postcard view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The houses are always way too big and the sky is always clear, and there are never any San Francisco-centric problems like the homelessness issue. Other cities like New York have had the chance to show themselves off, and I wanted to do that for San Francisco. I grew up in the East Bay suburbs, but I have friends in the city, I visit several times a year, I root for its sports teams, I follow its issues, etc., etc.

How long did it take you to write it?

About three weeks. It was much easier to write than a spec for another show.

Is this your first script that you have written?

This is my first pilot script, but I'd written several spec scripts before then.

Have you entered other screenwriting competitions? If so, have you been successful?

I'd entered Scriptapalooza previously and placed as a quarter-finalist with a "24" script and a finalist with a "Gilmore Girls" script. I've also entered the Disney Fellowship and Warner Brothers Workshop competitions... nothing yet, but I'm hoping. I think I've put in my strongest entries this year.

Why did you enter Scriptapalooza?

A friend of mine has a daughter who is a TV writer, and back before I moved down to Los Angeles, she mentioned that this was a highly-respected competition. I didn't place my first time out, because I was still learning how to write a script, but I kept entering because I'd seen some of the good results that came to other people. And of course, the money wasn't bad.

Advice to other screenwriters?

Find your style, so that when other people have advice on how to fix your script, you will know what would really work for you, rather than try and accommodate everyone else's suggestions. Don't be afraid to edit your work -- 99% of the time, it will be better as a result. And finally, when you're frustrated from working on a spec that you feel will never be good, just put it aside and toy with some of your own ideas. Not only will you be able to come back to the spec with a clear head, but you will have some of your own story ideas that you can use down the road.

How did you feel when you saw your name as one of the winners?

I had forgotten that Sunday the 15th was the day the results were announced, and so I didn't even go to look until that evening. The last time I placed in Scriptapalooza, I had received an e-mail ahead of time, so my first thought was that I wasn't even a quarter-finalist. I was hoping (as always) to find out that I'd won, but I wasn't prepared to actually see it! It took several seconds for it to register, and then I began phoning and e-mailing people like mad. I still don't think I believe it.

If you could write for any TV show, which one would it be?

"Joan of Arcadia," for its mixture of poignancy and messy family situations. Second would be "Nip/Tuck," because I find the level of dysfunction to be fascinating and I admire the writers' willingness to explore it.

Updated: 09/15/2004

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