April 2019 – Read SCREENWRITER Interviews

24 screenplay writer interviews conducted by Matthew Toffolo:

Interview with Screenwriter Jerry Nield (CATCH!)
Interview with Screenwriter Jerry Nield (CATCH!)

Interview with Screenwriter Mark Thiru (BLACK LIVES MATTER)
Interview with Screenwriter Mark Thiru (BLACK LIVES MATTER)

Interview with Screenwriter Daniel Fishbayn (Adventure Time)
Interview with Screenwriter Daniel Fishbayn (Adventure Time)

Interview with Screenwriter Alex Alvarez (WILL)
Interview with Screenwriter Alex Alvarez (WILL)

Interview with Screenwriter Michael Gavino (The Adorables)
Interview with Screenwriter Michael Gavino (The Adorables)

Interview with Screenwriter Paige Brien (Burden of the Blood Moon)
Interview with Screenwriter Paige Brien (Burden of the Blood Moon)

Interview with Screenwriter Susie Schecter (REAR-ENDED)
Interview with Screenwriter Susie Schecter (REAR-ENDED)

Interview with Screenwriter Thomas Clary (The Switch)
Interview with Screenwriter Thomas Clary (The Switch)

Interview with Screenwriter Stan Barton (Moon Over the Hill)
Interview with Screenwriter Stan Barton (Moon Over the Hill)

Interview with Screenwriter Giselle DaMier (ASHPODEL)
Interview with Screenwriter Giselle DaMier (ASHPODEL)

Interview with Screenwriter Justin Lamar Petty (The Immortal King Jesus)
Interview with Screenwriter Justin Lamar Petty (The Immortal King Jesus)

Interview with Screenwriter Paul Weidknecht (Paying the Night Differential)
Interview with Screenwriter Paul Weidknecht (Paying the Night Differential)

Interview with Screenwriter Renee Rubio (VIVA!!)
Interview with Screenwriter Renee Rubio (VIVA!!)

Interview with Screenwriter Grace Nguyen (MESSS)
Interview with Screenwriter Grace Nguyen (MESSS)

Interview with Screenwriter Nehemiah Russell (ODE)
Interview with Screenwriter Nehemiah Russell (ODE)

Interview with Screenwriter Christopher Santos (The Caregiver)
Interview with Screenwriter Christopher Santos (The Caregiver)

Interview with Screenwriter Alex Theo Giannoulis (STASIS*)
Interview with Screenwriter Alex Theo Giannoulis (STASIS*)

Interview with Screenwriter Haley Isleib (DRONES & DRIVERS)
Interview with Screenwriter Haley Isleib (DRONES & DRIVERS)

Interview with Screenwriter Beth Rehman (Pain in the A–)
Interview with Screenwriter Beth Rehman (Pain in the A–)

Interview with Screenwriter Shelly Paino (UNHOOKED)
Interview with Screenwriter Shelly Paino (UNHOOKED)

Interview with Screenwriter Kathryn L. Scurry (TEXAS SHIELDS)
Interview with Screenwriter Kathryn L. Scurry (TEXAS SHIELDS)

Interview with Screenwriter Randall Talton (DREAM)
Interview with Screenwriter Randall Talton (DREAM)

Interview with Screenwriter Eylem Sayman (THE SEVEN CIRCLES)
Interview with Screenwriter Eylem Sayman (THE SEVEN CIRCLES)

Interview with Screenwriter Ellen Winburn (WORTH WAITING FOR)
Interview with Screenwriter Ellen Winburn (WORTH WAITING FOR)

Interview with Screenwriter Travis Darkow (SERVILE?)
Interview with Screenwriter Travis Darkow (SERVILE?)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Katy Erin (STUCK)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Katy Erin (STUCK)

Interview with Screenwriter Roderick Sloan (HERO FAMILY)
Interview with Screenwriter Roderick Sloan (HERO FAMILY)

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November 2018 – Read the best of Screenwriter Interviews

Interviews by Matthew Toffolo

Touch the link and read 22 different interviews with the best of new screenwriters from around the world.

Louric Rankine (SQUAD)
Interview with Screenwriter Louric Rankine (SQUAD)

Nicholas Julius (MYTHATANIA)
Interview with Screenwriter Nicholas Julius (MYTHATANIA)

Stephen Witty (WHITTAKER ALGER AND DICK)
Interview with Screenwriter Stephen Witty (Whittaker, Alger, and Dick)

Marc Gatschner (OF THE SEA)
Interview with Screenwriter Marc Gatschner (OF THE SEA)

Michael Preston (INHERIT-LY GAY)
Interview with Screenwriter Michael Preston (Inherit-ly Gay)

Alexander Stathis (HOMEFRONT)
Interview with Screenwriter Alexander Stathis (HOMEFRONT)

Joel Stern (THE WAITING ROOM)
Interview with Screenwriter Joel Stern (THE WAITING ROOM)

Chima Idigo (MEAT)
Interview with Screenwriter Chima Idigo (MEAT)

Anthony Cicchelli (MILE HIGH ROOM)
Interview with Screenwriter Anthony Cicchelli (MILE HIGH ROOM)

Karen Matthews (PANDORA)
Interview with Screenwriter Karen Matthews (PANDORA)

Suzanne Lutas (THE DEAD RINGER: THE GRAND JURY)
Interview with Screenwriter Suzanne Lutas (The Dead Ringer, The Grand Jury)

Brandon Gillum (CADENCE OF THE BATTLE CRY)
Interview with Screenwriter Brandon Gillum (CADENCE OF THE BATTLE CRY)

James Grayford (THE FRANCHISE)
Interview with Screenwriter James Grayford (THE FRANCHISE)

Joshua Ashburn (A BRIEF WORD ON HYPERSLEEP)
Interview with Screenwriter Joshua Ashburn (A Brief Word on Hypersleep Studies: Chiliagon)

Connie Corcoran Wilson (CONFESSIONS OF AN APOTEMNOPHILE: I THINK I AM)
Interview with Writer Connie (Corcoran) Wilson (CONFESSIONS OF AN APOTEMNOPHILE: I THINK I AM)

Michael De Sapio (INCREDIBLE LIFE OF JOEY COLETTA)
Interview with Screenwriter Michael De Sapio (Incredible Life of Joey Coletta)

Paul Watkins (KENOBI: A STAR WARS STORY)
Interview with Screenwriter Paul Watkins (Kenobi: A Star Wars Story)

Rodgers Wilson (ELLA WITNESSING)
Interview with Screenwriter Rodgers Wilson (ELLA, WITNESSING)

John Renney (THE CULTISTS)
Interview with Screenwriter John Renney (THE CULTISTS)

Isaac Sweeney (SHOOTING)
Interview with Screenwriter Isaac Sweeney (SHOOTING)

Peter Lloyd (STREET LAW)
Interview with Screenwriter Peter Lloyd (STREET LAW)

Michael Head (LIGHTKEEPERS)
Interview with Screenwriter Michael Head (LIGHTKEEPERS)

October 2018 – Read the best of Screenwriter Interviews

Interviews by Matthew Toffolo

Touch the link and read 35 different interviews with the best of new screenwriters from around the world.

Interview with Screenwriter Sara Landucci (STRONG ENOUGH)
Interview with Screenwriter Sara Landucci (STRONG ENOUGH)

Interview with Screenwriter 42 Tribes (Nyobaywa)
Interview with Screenwriter 42 Tribes (Nyobaywa)

Interview with Screenwriter Rita Martinos (ON THE VERGE)
Interview with Screenwriter Rita Martinos (ON THE VERGE)

Interview with Screenwriter M.V. Montgomery (DON-JOHN’S DISAPPOINTED MAM)
Interview with Screenwriter M.V. Montgomery (DON-JOHN’S DISAPPOINTED MAM)

Interview with Screenwriter Colleen Asbury (The Dance of the Desert Mermaids)
Interview with Screenwriter Colleen Asbury (The Dance of the Desert Mermaids)

Interview with Screenwriter Chloë J. Hightower (Monochrome)
Interview with Screenwriter Chloë J. Hightower (Monochrome)

Interview with Screenwriter Travis Darkow (HOW DID WE GET HERE?)
Interview with Screenwriter Travis Darkow (HOW DID WE GET HERE?)

Interview with Debasree Banerjee (GERALDINE HALL)
Interview with Debasree Banerjee (GERALDINE HALL)

Interview with Screenwriters Jeff & Julia Heinen (COFFEE IN SOUTHTOWN)
Interview with Screenwriters Jeff & Julia Heinen (COFFEE IN SOUTHTOWN)
Very good. Helps us track submission and awards very easily.

Interview with Screenwriter Daniel Cook (HELL ON EARTH)
Interview with Screenwriter Daniel Cook (HELL ON EARTH)

Interview with Screenwriter Sheila Warren (MOVING ON)
Interview with Screenwriter Sheila Warren (MOVING ON)

Interview with Screenwriter Frank Baruch (WHERE KOMAINU CRY)
Interview with Screenwriter Frank Baruch (WHERE KOMAINU CRY)

Interview with Screenwriter Richard Geiwitz (WIGGLE ROOM)
Interview with Screenwriter Richard Geiwitz (WIGGLE ROOM)

Interview with Screenwriter Iannis Aliferis (Samantha Rutledge PI, A Killer Case)
Interview with Screenwriter Iannis Aliferis (Samantha Rutledge PI, A Killer Case)

Interview with Screenwriter Ricardo Fleshman (KILLING MOSES)
Interview with Screenwriter Ricardo Fleshman (KILLING MOSES)

Interview with Screenwriter Hank Biro (SPACE FISH)
Interview with Screenwriter Hank Biro (SPACE FISH)

Interview with Screenwriter Toni Nagy (The Masses)
Interview with Screenwriter Toni Nagy (The Masses)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Agnese Pagliarani (TO HELL AND BACK)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Agnese Pagliarani (TO HELL AND BACK)

Interview with Screenplay Writer Adam Lapallo (WOLFPACK FENCERS)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Adam Lapallo (WOLFPACK FENCERS)

Interview with Screenplay Writer Terry Connell (PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Terry Connell (PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS)

Interview with Screenplay Writer Todd Bird (LITTLE EARTHQUAKES)
Interview with Screenplay Writer Todd Bird (LITTLE EARTHQUAKES)

Interview with Screenplay Writers Charzette Torrence & Danielle Johnson (JILLIAN’S PEAK)
Interview with Screenplay Writers Charzette Torrence & Danielle Johnson (JILLIAN’S PEAK)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Waide Riddle (Dear Tom Hardy: I love you)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Waide Riddle (Dear Tom Hardy: I love you)

Interview with Winning Screenwriters Nicholas Downs, Susan Mac Nicol (SIGHT UNSEEN)
Interview with Winning Screenwriters Nicholas Downs, Susan Mac Nicol (SIGHT UNSEEN)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Dallas Rico (MARRED)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Dallas Rico (MARRED)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter S.W. Andersen (SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOVE AND JUSTICE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter S.W. Andersen (SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOVE AND JUSTICE)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Robert David Simpson (THE HUNT FOR CHUCK BERRY)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Robert David Simpson (THE HUNT FOR CHUCK BERRY)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Fritz Mueller (ANAHNA)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Fritz Mueller (ANAHNA)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Christianne Charles (CAKE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Christianne Charles (CAKE)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Leah Pollack (MARKED)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Leah Pollack (MARKED)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Andrew Ward (BROWN DOG)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Andrew Ward (BROWN DOG)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Michael Zielinski (CHRISTMAS PAST AND PRESENT)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Michael Zielinski (CHRISTMAS PAST AND PRESENT)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Julian Blondell (Xightfall)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Julian Blondell (Xightfall)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Nate Yacos (Tugnutt: A Love Supreme)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Nate Yacos (Tugnutt: A Love Supreme)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Cicely Wynne (REMEMBER KENT STATE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Cicely Wynne (REMEMBER KENT STATE)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Mirka Kettunen (MAJOR TOM AND THE ALIEN GIRL)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Mirka Kettunen (MAJOR TOM AND THE ALIEN GIRL)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Rodrigo Juatco (HERO OF HEROES)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Rodrigo Juatco (HERO OF HEROES)

February 2018: FilmFreeway Testimonials from Filmmakers & Screenwriters

Read 18 testimonials this month given by award winning filmmakers and screenwriters. How this submission platform has helped out their career and work:

11 Filmmaker Testimonials:

Interview with directors Natalie Neagle & Sally Samad (TOO SOON?)
Interview with directors Natalie Neagle & Sally Samad (TOO SOON?)

It’s a fast and easy way to enter international film festivals and we only have positive feedback for, and experiences with, FilmFreeway.

Interview with director Gonzalo Cotelo (MAMMA)
Interview with director Gonzalo Cotelo (MAMMA)

It is indeed very useful, particularly now with the number of films being made and film festivals being held everywhere across the world. The structure and layout of the website simplifies the whole process.

Interview with director Jelle Bleyenbergh (THE FLOW)
https://matthewtoffolo.com/2018/02/04/interview-with-director-jelle-bleyenbergh-the-flow/

It’s such a handy platform, with an easy search function and a clear overview of your film details. I can’t think of a better nor faster way to spread your work across the globe.

Interview with director Imelda O’Reilly (EGGS & SOLDIERS)
Interview with director Imelda O’Reilly (EGGS & SOLDIERS)

Film freeway makes it easy to submit your films to many festivals. Frankly it makes it easier for me to upload all the information on one site and submit the film. It’s convenient and saves time.

Interview with director CJ Colando (JAKE & JULIA)
Interview with director CJ Colando (JAKE & JULIA)

Love it. FilmFreeway not only makes submissions easy and intuitive, they do a great job at how they present the individual festival pages.

Interview with director Hank Isaac (LILAC)
Interview with director Hank Isaac (LILAC)

FilmFreeway is fabulous. As well, their staff is responsive and open to suggestions.

Interview with director Dinh Thai (MONDAY)
Interview with director Dinh Thai (MONDAY)

FF is simply the best. Their website is far superior to the rest. They properly catalog your submissions with all the right details and provide reviews and ratings for many of the best festivals. I highly recommend FilmFreeway. Sometimes I won’t submit to a festival if it’s not on FF. I just don’t want to deal with the other sites’ lack of detail and usability.

Interview with director Emma Jackson (CONVERSATIONS)
Interview with director Emma Jackson (CONVERSATIONS)

FilmFreeway is absolutely fantastic. The platform offers so much – a list of all your submissions, it is constantly promoting new festivals and gives stats on how your film is doing. It’s so slick and fast too!

Interview with director Lisa Baron & Writer/Actor Malin Barr (HEDDA NEEDS HELP)
Interview with director Lisa Baron & Writer/Actor Malin Barr (HEDDA NEEDS HELP)

We liked FilmFreeway a lot, as new filmmakers, we felt it was easy, tracked our submissions well and you can upload everything you’d send to any festival right there. We’d use it again.

Interview with director Jon Glassberg (FREEDOM OF THE WHEELS)
Interview with director Jon Glassberg (FREEDOM OF THE WHEELS)

It’s amazing and easy.

Interview with documentary filmmaker Jenna Gartlan (MISSING PEACE)
Interview with documentary filmmaker Jenna Gartlan (MISSING PEACE)

I think Filmfreeway helps a lot of emerging artists by simplifying the submission process and clearly explaining what needs to be done.

—-
7 Screenwriter Testimonials:

Interview with Winning Feature Screenplay Writer Brooke Elowe (BLACK WIDOW: FUGTIVE)
Interview with Winning Feature Screenplay Writer Brooke Elowe (BLACK WIDOW: FUGTIVE)

It was a very seamless process. I had no trouble submitting my script or payment.

Interview with Winning Screenwriters Kristy Leigh Lussier & Lee Vander Boegh (THE WRECKERS)
Interview with Winning Screenwriters Kristy Leigh Lussier & Lee Vander Boegh (THE WRECKERS)

WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE Film Freeway! I find it very user friendly, really well organized and easy to search out different festivals and contests specific for what you want. I’ve had nothing but great experience with Film Freeway. 🙂

Interview with Winning Screenwriter A.K.A. SMITH (ZOMBIE CRUIZE)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter A.K.A. SMITH (ZOMBIE CRUIZE)

So far I’ve found the submission platform very smooth and user-friendly, and I’ll be using it a good deal more in the future.

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Dempsey Tillman and Ted Dewberry (RED LIGHT)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Dempsey Tillman and Ted Dewberry (RED LIGHT)

We enter all of our projects through FilmFreeway. They have streamlined the process and it makes it easy for us to find festivals that work for us.

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Ricardo M. Fleshman (KILLING MOSES)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Ricardo M. Fleshman (KILLING MOSES)

FilmFreeway has been such a wonderful platform to work with and I am glad that it exists. I will use it for many of my future submissions.

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Katie L. Marshall (FALLING STAR)

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Katie L. Marshall (FALLING STAR)

I find the interface of FilmFreeway so easy to use and navigation is quick and easy. I regularly receive email updates on similar festivals to my niche which is super useful  and it allows me to remember upcoming deadlines. I’d recommend the site to anyone who wishes to get their work out there. There’s nothing quite like an ‘award winning’ script.

Interview with Winning Screenwriter Richard M. Kjeldgaard (PREY FOR THE DAY)
Interview with Winning Screenwriter Richard M. Kjeldgaard (PREY FOR THE DAY)

Great. In October 2017 a Spec I’d written (Nowhere-Ville) won the Action/Adventure feature script and got a table reading on YouTube which was really a kick. My first experience in the rewrite and “Production” phase of screenwriting. Truly exciting to see actors performing your written material.

Happy Birthday: Diablo Cody

diablocodyHappy Birthday writer Diablo Cody

Born: June 14, 1978 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Married to: Daniel Maurio (2009 – present) (2 children)

QUOTES:

Stripping toughened my hide, but exposing myself as a writer has been a lot more brutal.

I have never been an ambitious person, and my participation in this industry is a fluke, but only male writers can afford to be coy and self-deprecating.

I’ve been told that I’m incompetent, socially retarded, maladjusted. I still know that I couldn’t function in reality. Los Angeles is a good place for me.

If this whole writing thing doesn’t work out, I’ll be getting right back on the pole.

[on screenplay-writing for actresses] The attitude toward women in this industry is nauseating. There are all sorts of porcine executives who are uncomfortable with a woman doing anything subversive. They want the movie about the beautiful girl who trips and falls, the adorable klutz.
When you’re in a competitive environment, always give out the impression that you don’t care. It makes people want you more. If you act desperate, it’s over. I think a passive attitude is helpful.

The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are.

Having your film made is the award. That alone is the miracle.
To enjoy being famous, you need to have a screw loose.

Happy Birthday: Jane Goldman

janegoldmanHappy Birthday writer Jane Goldman

Born: June 11, 1970 in England, UK

Married to: Jonathan Ross (August 1988 – present) (3 children)

She is a producer and writer, known for Kick-Ass (2010), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and X-Men: First Class (2011). She has been married to Jonathan Ross since August 1988. They have three children.

Met her future husband Jonathan Ross when she was 16 while working as a pop columnist for the Daily Star newspaper in the UK.

Gave birth to her 3rd child at age 26, a daughter Honey Kinny Ross in February 1997. Child’s father is her husband, Jonathan Ross.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 23, a son Harvey Kirby Ross in March 1994. Child’s father is her husband, Jonathan Ross.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 21, a daughter Betty Kitten Ross in July 1991. Child’s father is her husband, Jonathan Ross.

Frequent collaborator of director Matthew Vaughn.

Happy Birthday: Aaron Sorkin

aaronsorkin.jpgHappy Birthday writer Aaron Sorkin

Born: Aaron Benjamin Sorkin
June 9, 1961 in New York City, New York, USA

Read reviews of the best of the writer:

TV POSTERBEST of THE WEST WING
Over 100 pages of BIOS and PICS

TV POSTERTHE WEST WING season 1
Created by Aaron Sorkin

TV POSTERTHE WEST WING season 2
Created by Aaron Sorkin

TV POSTERTHE WEST WING season 3
Created by Aaron Sorkin

TV POSTERTHE WEST WING season 4
Created by Aaron Sorkin

THE SOCIAL NETWORKTHE SOCIAL NETWORK
dir. Fincher
Stars:
Jesse Eisenberg
Andrew Garfield

MOVIE POSTERMONEYBALL
dir. Bennett Miller
Stars:
Brad Pitt
Robin Wright

Happy Birthday writer Melissa Mathison (1950–2015)

melissamathison.jpgHappy Birthday screenwriter Melissa Mathison (1950–2015)

Born: Melissa Marie Mathison
June 3, 1950 in Los Angeles, California, USA

Died: November 4, 2015 (age 65) in Los Angeles, California, USA

Married to: Harrison Ford (14 March 1983 – 6 January 2004) (divorced) (2 children)

She is known for her work as the screenwriter for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Kundun (1997) and Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).

Was babysitter for Francis Ford Coppola and Eleanor Coppola’s children.

Watch POLITICAL Stories from the Writing and Film Festival

Watch the best of POLITCAL Stories
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/political_stories.html

POLITICAL Films, Screenplays, Novels, Stories:

See the best of POLITICAL Stories:

1ST SCENE SCRIPT – UNDERCOVER
July 2014 Reading
Written by Maria Hammarblad
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/undercover.html

1ST SCENE SCRIPT – THE COLD WAR
March 2014 Reading
Written by Bill Clark
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/the_cold_war.html

THE WHEEL OF TIME
WATCH Audience FEEDBACK Video
12min, Turkey, Thriller/Future
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/the_wheel_of_time.html

TV PILOT – NO LOVE DOVES
March 2015 Reading
Written by Alexandre Kounde
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/no_love_doves.html

FEATURE SCRIPT – TO DIE IN TENNESSEE
February 2015 Reading
Written by Verlynn Kneifl & Laurie Larsen
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/feature_script_to_die_in_tennessee.html

TV SPEC – VEEP
February 2015 Reading
Written by Emily Cirillo
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/veep.html

TV PILOT: REDEEMING GRACE
May 2015 Reading
Written by WL Gorman
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/redeeming_grace.html

Chapter 7 Novel: SURVIVAL YEAR
June 2015 Reading
Written by Jennifer Shearer French
http://wildsoundfestivalreview.com/2015/06/11/survival-year-chapter-seven-novel-reading-by-jennifer-french/

Detroit – Poetry Reading by George Romaine