MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Robert Heske

An interview with screenwriter Robert Heske regarding the Indie Gathering Writing Competition.

A: The script is called BLOOD RELATIVE and it won the "suspense/thriller" shorts category. It's basically a serial-killer-thriller with a dash of the supernatural and a tangled web of mystery, macabre and murder involving the three main characters.

The logline is: On the anniversary of her twin’s brutal murder, a woman meets a psychic stranger with a deadly intuition. Will terror strike twice?

It's a longer "short" than most I've written - 39 pages. But, the good news is that the bones of the story are there - so it can easily be adapted to a MOW or feature format.

A: I saw The Indie Gathering listed on Without-A-Box. I liked the fact that it had many script categories and that it catered to a wide range of talent: writers, producers, actors, musicians ... even stunt professionals. Plus, it's located in Cleveland - home of the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame and Drew Carey. The fact that it had trophies was pretty cool too.

This is the third contest that BLOOD RELATIVE has done well in. The script was a finalist in The Writers Place Shorts Contest and is currently a semi-finalist in PAGE International Screenwriting Awards (short films category).

A: They missed the deadline by one week - but that was due to the large number of entries. Otherwise, overall the contest was run very, very smoothly. (Not to mention the gentleman who runs The Indie Gathering is a martial arts legend so I would NEVER say anything bad about him!)

A: No verbal/written feedback was provided - or asked for. Winning first place in a highly competitive contest was positive feedback enough.

A: Actually, yes. I sent out an email to several producers who have requested to read my scripts in the past. I've already received 5 requests to read the script and it's only been one day since the script won.

A: I'm currently a freelance financial services writer by day and a closet screenwriter during lunch hour. I try to write at night too - but with the arrival of our new baby daughter (Carly Marie) on Memorial Day ... well, you can imagine!

As for my background, I have a certificate from Emerson College's Graduate Screenwriting Program and was a script reader for Scout Productions for two years. I've written 5 features and 13 shorts. I have optioned 8 scripts and my animation scripts are represented by Story Arts Management.

A: No. I am a die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fan who lives in central Massachusetts.

A: I have just finished three shorts, am producing an animated short with an international creative team, and am writing a comedy feature for Image Icon Entertainment. I am also in negotiation with a few producers to write features for them.

For anyone interested in finding out what scripts I have available, please visit my website at www.bobheske.com.

Posted Sunday, July 16, 2006