MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter janyce lapore

An interview with screenwriter janyce lapore regarding the Ohio Independent Writing Competition.

A: I won the "Best Screenplay" award at the Ohio Independent Film Festival with my script, 10 Minutes From Paradise. This script is unique in that it's a character driven thriller that is the story of Billy, his lover, Sherry, and Billy's life long friend, Jerry, a gay man. All 3 live a desperate existence in New York City, until Billy, their leader, comes up with a plan that will bring them untold wealth and a trip to Jamaica, where Sherry will finally realize her dream of "staying in a motel with a pool in the front yard". Ten Minutes From Paradise is a humorous, touching tale of 3 hapless, petty hustlers, who risk everything to follow a beautiful dream. 10 Minutes From Paradise has been called the "Contemporary "Midnight Cowboy".

A: I have won several awards with this script, including being in the Top Ten in the New Century Writer Awards and the Final Draft Competition. Also, 10 Minutes From Paradise was named "Best Screenplay" in the Hollywood Scriptwriting Institute Monthly Awards, and was a finalist in 12 other screenplay competitions. I entered this competition in the Ohio competition, because I am also a playwright and have had shows produced in Cleveland and I know many actors from that area.

A: I was very happy with my experience at the Ohio Independent Film Festival.

A: No feedback was given on this script, but I suspect it was because I have done many revisions of 10 Minutes From Paradise, and I think it was pretty complete by the time they received it.

A: I have been a playwright for about 8 years now, and have had shows produced Off Broadway. It has only been in the last 3, or 4 years that I turned my attention to screenwriting. Once my scripts seemed close to complete, I turned to Moviebytes to find a place to send them. Because of the great and information on your site, I have entered 2, or 3 of my scripts into competitions and have done very well with all of them. I have been contacted by many agents and producers and have had scripts optioned. So, I'm pretty optomistic right now.

A: My background is writing for live theatre. No, no television scripts.

A: No, I don't live in Los Angeles and don't have plans to move there.

A: Well, I am working on a new play in New York, and a new screenplay, Poppytown, about an American record company and their involvement with the Triads, a Chinese gang that runs the opium smuggling business in Hong Kong. I'm not sure where this script came from, but I've had a ball researching it. Thanks for the great info on your site. I go there usually a couple of times a day!

Posted Saturday, December 13, 2003