MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Philip Sedgwick

An interview with screenwriter Philip Sedgwick regarding the StoryPros Awards Writing Competition.

A: The script is called A Nuclear Option and it took first place in the Action-Adventure-Thriller genre.

The story follows a geologist, hired by the previous administration to conjure data to support exploitation of natural resources without concern for the environment. Following the last Presidential election, our hero goes to DC for a debriefing. At a party he gets drunk and tells a politician that Global Warming - which doesn't exist, of course, can be stopped by detonating nuclear device under volcanoes. The politician loves it, and uses his extensive resources to put the plan in play. Now, the geologist must stop the ridiculous plan, and when all is said and done, hopefully win back his environmentally active girlfriend. It's a fun, off beat journey.

A: I had entered Story Pros International and done well (finalist). I figured it would be worth a shot to enter this Story Pros contest given the genre categories.

A Nuclear Option has placed in many other contests, including taking second place in the Woods Hole Film Festival in the mystery-thriller genre, and top ten in Going Green Film Festival.

A: These guys run a tight ship. They answer any and all questions promptly.

On announcement night, they deliver the notification on the site on time. A writer in contention turns into Jesse Eisenberg in the final scene of Social Network... the one where he keeps hitting refresh.

All awards were delivered as promised.

It's a smooth ride with this contest. Entirely refreshing.

I like these guys and I would highly recommend the contest. Part of the prize package was a set of guaranteed reads. Fingers crossed!

A: I did outline the script using a beat outline that I got years ago... I think from a Michael Hague workshop I took.

This particular version that won was essentially a second draft. I decided to combine two characters and make a few other small revisions. That took maybe a couple of days to sort out.

The original script I wrote in a huge hurry to make a deadline for the Going Green Film Festival (took top ten there with first draft). By hurry, I think I wrote it in three to four weeks.

A: Oh Movie Magic Screenwriter!! I have both MMS and Final Draft. I find MMS a heap easier to use and more writer friendly. If someone insists on Final Draft, I can flip the script and check formatting in a short time.

A: Every day. Every dang day. It's like air. Sometimes it might only be an hour, but when I'm pounding it out, I can write ten hours a day. Typically, I write five hours a day, then maybe do a little editing later.

A: My file drawer if full of ideas, so traditional WB not so much. What I like to do is feel what project or idea is calling me. I find if I feed what wants to be written, even if on a deadline with something else, writing what demands attention first, opens creative floodgates.

Sometimes I may sit with an idea for a few days to sort out how to increase peril, pay off details I thought were important early on... that kind of thing.

I like quirky characters and stories. If I have any block it's probably about going high concept, four quadrant, tent pole.

Petting the cat is always good when writing stalls.

A: Over the years I've written more than forty feature scripts. I have a co-written script waiting for funding to proceed into production. It might happen if they wouldn't raise the budget every month.

My background in writing is actually quite extensive. A lot of non-fiction, short stories and online blogging, including a gig before the last Presidential election for the Huffington Post.

A: I'm a desert rat, now in Tucson in the house where M. Scott Momaday wrote Pulitzer Winning material. Good writer mojo here.

With the Internet and airplanes, I'm not planning on LA, though I love it there.

The new studios in New Mexico and tax credits seem to be whispering in the wind.

A: I have several scripts being revised and I'm working out a concept for a four quadrant comedy, yet untitled.

As well, I have a script dealing with discrimination and immigration issues set in Arizona. Go figure.

Posted Tuesday, August 30, 2011