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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Shane McCabe
An interview with screenwriter Shane McCabe regarding the Gotham Screen Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: My script is titled KOPKILLER and it centers around a New York City Narcotics Detective who is given the unusual opportunity of investigating her own murder.
Basically while looking into a quarter century old cold case murder she discovers she has lived a past life, one in which she was murdered by dirty cop who now is set to become the next Chief of Police, but she cannot tell anyone as she would be laughed out of the department as the only proof she has is the word of a strung out junkie who is on the run from the NYPD.
So she must gather evidence to take down a seemingly untouchable corrupt cop and bring to a close a cold case murder, one in which the murder victim is also the investigating officer.
A: I had entered Gotham in 2010 and my script Next of Kin was shortlisted.
I really liked the vibe from Gotham and their follow up back in 2010 so decided to enter Kopkiller this year.
Yes, I did enter Kopkiller into the PAGE Awards 2012 and it was a quarter-finalist.
A: Gotham were brilliant in everything. I'd recommend them very strongly.
Q: How long did it take you to write the script? Did you write an outline beforehand? How many drafts did you write?A: I had the idea playing around in my head for over three years. I eventually began to put pen to paper last summer and wrote the first draft by Christmas. I spent the early part of this year polishing it. I suppose I'd have entered a fourth draft into Gotham.
Q: What kind of software did you use to write the script, if any? What other kinds of writing software do you use?A: I use Final Draft.
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: No I don't write every day. I often spend months when I don't write. But this can be misleading. I wrote three screenplays last year but none this year but I did spend a lot of this year improving the ones I wrote last year if that makes sense???
Q: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you deal with that?A: I have never, (touch wood) got writer's block. I have experienced times when things are just not working and in that case I take a few days away and do something else...
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I'm an Economics major which is kind of strange, but I have written a number of award winning feature scripts now. In fact all going well I will direct my first feature next April/May 2013
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: I live in Dublin Ireland but am in the process of arranging a move to LA. I travel extensively to Los Angeles and hope to be settled there in the next few years...
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I am in the process of trying to finance my script, Red Tag, (and am very close), an ultra contained psychological thriller which I co-wrote and hope to direct all going well next year. It too is set in New York but we are looking to shoot it in Ireland which about a week's shooting in NYC.
Posted Sunday, October 21, 2012
