Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Paul Pawlowski
An interview with screenwriter Paul Pawlowski regarding the ENDAS Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: "FROZEN FIRE" is an action/thriller in the vein of the Jason Bourne trilogy.
The story follows an Israeli Mossad operative who is blamed for a botched assassination attempt and instead of taking the fall and face professional smearing, he chooses to go AWOL until he can figure out who caused this debacle and how to inflict the necessary revenge. Along the way, he supports himself with freelance work, but gets more than he bargains for when he discovers his initial client's immoral political ideology.
A: I discovered the ENDAS International Screenplay Competition while surfing the internet. The previous year's best script winner, Curtis Burdick, showered ENDAS with so much praise in an interview, I was convinced to enter the contest and am grateful for having done so.
"FROZEN FIRE" was chosen as the 1st place winner in the action/adventure category and I immediately cemented plans to attend the awards ceremony in Genoa, Italy this past November, which was a memory I will never forget.
"FROZEN FIRE" has also done well in several other contests including: CineStory, The Movie Deal!, Bare Bones, The Writer's Place, Yosemite, PAGE International, WriteMovies, American Zoetrope, and Writers on the Storm.
A: The contest director, Silvio Nacucchi, as well as all the members, translators, and volunteers of the ENDAS International Screenplay Competition were very professional and communicative.
Deadlines were all met and I was presented with a beautiful plaque along with a welcoming dinner; two nights accommodations; an interview with media; an introduction to the local U.S. Consul; a walking tour of old Genoa; and an Italian press release. Basically, I was treated like royalty. A truly amazing experience.
Also, each of the category winners received detailed feedback from the ENDAS judges. This feedback was invaluable and the catalyst for my current completed re-write, which I am extremely satisfied with. Thank you to Silvio Nacucchi and all the other individuals involved with the ENDAS competition!
A: The first draft of "FROZEN FIRE" was completed in fourteen days, only because I worked from a comprehensive, eight page outline that I had painstakingly completed prior to typing FADE IN.
Also, I was not working my regular job at that time, so I was able to focus 18+ hours a day on my writing.
To say I was extremely motivated during those two weeks is an understatement. I was truly 'in the zone'.
As of this writing, I've recently completed the fourth draft of "FROZEN FIRE", however, I am always polishing.
A: I am a devoted Final Draft user and have experimented with Movie Outline and Power Structure.
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: Unfortunately, my day job is time consuming, but I try to write every weekday evening for a few hours, however, I am most productive on the weekends when I have 48 hours of uninterrupted, quality writing time.
Q: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you deal with that?A: Believe it or not, I rarely get writer's block.
If I do get stuck on a particular story I'll take a break and watch one of my favorite movies or read a screenplay from one of my favorite screenwriters.
If that doesn't help then I'll work on one of my other projects until a solution to the original problem arises.
If those diversions fail, then I sit and stare out a window. Eventually, the answer will come to fruition. It always does.
A: I received a graduate business degree and worked for Merrill Lynch and Lipper Analytical before I concluded that I didn't fit into the financial services corporate culture. It was at this time that I decided I wasn't going to be one of those guys who always exclaim, "I hate my job", so I took the leap of faith and pursued a career in the film industry, which has always been a passion of mine. Fortunately, I've been able to find employment in film production accounting while pursuing a career in screenwriting.
I've completed six feature length screenplays and have a dozen others at various stages. One of those polished screenplays is an action/adventure entitled "IN THE BEGINNING", which has held its own on the screenplay contest circuit placing 1st in the action/adventure category of The Movie Deal! Screenplay Contest and 4th overall in The American Screenwriting Competition.
I'm also creating a hard 'R' cable series suitable for HBO or Showtime.
A: Yes, I presently live in Los Angeles and believe it helps to be near the epicenter of the film business, however, I fantasize someday owning a tranquil writing retreat nestled deep within the Rocky Mountains far from all the tremors, car alarms, and Harley Davidson's.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: As I mentioned, I have around a dozen other projects at various stages. The one closest to completion is a futuristic sci-fi/horror opus called "ORPHANED", which delves into the following subject matter: incarceration, capital punishment, pregnancy, and genetic engineering.
Posted Thursday, January 28, 2010
