MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Allen Wolf

An interview with screenwriter Allen Wolf regarding the Cinequest Writing Competition.

A: The title of my script is Hooked. It's about a man who is desperate to find his soulmate but when he finally meets his dream girl, his autism keeps him from understanding she's actually a prostitute.

A: I have always heard terrific things about Cinequest and knew it was known as one of the top discovery film festivals.

The script for Hooked has been previously honored with these accolades:

3rd Place at the Las Vegas Film Festival Top 5 Finalist for the Kairos Screenplay Competition Semi-finalist in the Final Draft Big Break Screenplay Contest Quarterfinalist in the BlueCat Screenplay Competition Quarterfinalist in Scriptapalooza Semi-Finalist for Table Read My Screenplay Rated Top 3% of Screenplays at Script Shark Honorable Mention at the Colorado Film Festival

A: I was very satisfied with how the contest was run and they met their deadlines. I received all the promised awards.

A: I started with a treatment and used that process to work out all the story beats and define the characters. I then completed the first draft quickly because I believe the magic happens in the rewriting. I wrote the first draft in seven weeks and then spent the better part of a year rewriting and polishing the story.

A: I use Final Draft to write my screenplays.

A: I typically write in large blocks of time with a goal of writing between 10 and 15 hours a week. I wrote Hooked at Disneyland. Every week, I trekked down to the park from Santa Monica and wrote in different places around the park. Whenever I got tired, I rode a ride to get the creative juices flowing again. I found it inspiring to write at Disneyland because everything there is built around a story concept. Plus the fireworks were a celebratory way of ending my writing day.

A: If I reach a point when I'm unsure of the direction I'm going to go, that's a great opportunity for me to put the script aside for a week or so and work on writing something else. That gives my mind time to rest and think of something new. I also find it important to visit museums, travel and embark on adventures to keep myself artistically recharged and inspired.

A: I graduated from New York University’s film school where my senior thesis film, Harlem Grace, received various festival honors and was a top five finalist for the Student Academy Awards.

I have won multiple awards for my storytelling as a feature film writer, director and producer. My first feature film, In My Sleep, was released theatrically in the U.S. and sold to over 70 countries. It was honored at nine film festivals and is available on Amazon and iTunes.

I'm also an award-winning board game creator. My games – You’re Pulling My Leg!, Slap Wacky, JabberJot, You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior and Pet Detectives – have brought smiles to hundreds of thousands of people around the world and are available on Amazon.

Currently, I am working on developing several screenplays and film projects, including Hooked, through my production company, Morning Star Pictures.

A: I recently adapted my screenplay for Hooked into a novel which is now available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Kirkus Reviews writes this about my novel for Hooked: "The high-concept narrative is entertaining, well-paced, and highly visual … it’s a charming, humorous, and hopeful tale. A quirky, touching love story that offers insights into autism, religion, and personal tragedy.”

I'll be traveling around the US for book signings to promote Hooked. People can track what's happening with the project at http://www.HookeNovel.com or follow what's happening with the movie at http://www.TheMovieHooked.

Meanwhile, I'm also developing other film projects and screenplays and working on a novel that is a sequel to Hooked.

Posted Wednesday, March 11, 2015