Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Dexter Williams
An interview with screenwriter Dexter Williams regarding the Internet Movie Logline Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: "DESTINATION YESTERDAY" is a psychological thriller about a California businessman who discovers, through information provided by a mysterious woman, that his recurring nightmares of a tragic plane explosion could be repressed memories of a previous life.
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?A: I entered this contest mainly because it was free (smile)! Also, it would be interesting to enter just the script's logline in a contest. I entered "DESTINATION YESTERDAY" in the ScriptShadow Logline/Screenplay Contest, and it wound up as a Top 25 finalist (out of 1000 entries).
Q: Were you satisfied with the administration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?A: I am quite satisfied with the way Mitch Moldofsky runs the contest. He really seems to care about giving writers the opportunity to show off their stuff. I know there will be some good awards coming my way as a result of this unbelievable win for me.
Q: How long did it take you to write the script? Did you write an outline beforehand? How many drafts did you write?A: Believe it or not, it took me just two-and-a-half weeks to complete the script. I was able to do it without writing an outline. I wrote at least three drafts of "DESTINATION YESTERDAY".
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 used Scripped software, and it's proven to be very effective for my writing. I wouldn't dream of using any other software for my writing.
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: As much as I can. If I'm not writing a first draft, I'm certainly rewriting one of my feature scripts. I say I write 1-2 hours per day.
Q: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you deal with that?A: I am very pleased to say that I rarely get Writer's Block these days.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I didn't attend film school because I couldn't afford it, so I became a self-starter by buying and reading books on the art of screenwriting (Syd Field, Robert Kosberg, Linda Palmer). I have written nine feature-length scripts and five short scripts.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: I live in Durham, North Carolina, and my job and family security are there. While I don't have any plans to move to L.A. anytime soon, I would love to have the opportunity to going there for some meetings with major Hollywood executives.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I just finished a dark horror-fantasy script called "MISTRESSES OF SLEEP". That's about a troubled young lady who enlists the unlikely help of a strange trio of female hypnotists to solve the mystery of her recurring nightmares of death and destruction.
Posted Monday, December 2, 2013
