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Contact: Mark Andrushko, President and CEO
MovieBytes Interview: Mark Andrushko
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We actively push the Semifinalists, Finalists, Runners-Up and Winners for a full year with the intention of creating opportunities for the writers. We are a hands on competition because we feel it is important to continue supporting the top scripts beyond the cash and prizes.
We are proud to present the competition with Write Brothers, a company that not only provides the necessary tools for writing but is an advocate and true supporter of emerging writers.
Also, we are supported by the Writers Guild of America west and the Writers Guild of Canada.
Notification: August 15
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Scriptapalooza: How did you come up with your story idea?
A few years ago I realized that there weren't very many movies that dealt
with a child losing a parent. MRS. DOUBTFIRE had dealt with divorce and how
that affects a family, but I wanted to explore the idea of what a child would
do if they could never see that parent again. How would they deal with that
grief? What fears would they have? How would they face those fears? And
how would that affect the family dynamic? When I think back about what
frightened me as a child, I thought of the Bogey Man. That's how BOGEY SIZE
IT was born.
Scriptapalooza: How long did it take you to write it?
I have a tendency to let stories cook before I write them. They will float
around in my subconscious for awhile. Characters appear first, then scenes
begin to play in my mind. The story will slowly fall into place. Once I
actually sit down to write, it usually goes very fast. For this story, I
worked on act one last spring then set the story aside until since it didn't
"feel right" yet. I picked it back up this last December. Then I cranked it
out and completed the script in a few months. So over all? The script took
about 4 months from first draft to polish, but the story took two years to
develop! Yipes! It's amazing that the story has been a part of me for so
long.
Scriptapalooza: Is this your first script that you have written?
No, I have seven features and several shorts. I wrote and directed two
shorts several years ago, but found my true passion was in features.
Scriptapalooza: Have you entered other screenwriting competitions?
If so, have you been successful?
Yes, I've entered several over the last three years. This was my first year
entering Scriptapalooza. I'm a two-time Nicholl Quarterfinalist, a
Scriptwriters Network Producers Outreach Winner, Project Greenlight Top 250,
and a two time America's Best Finalist. Over all I think there were 11 times
that I've advance in a competition. I've been very fortunate. This is the
first award for BOGEY SIZE IT--Thank you Scriptapalooza!
Scriptapalooza: Why did you enter Scriptapalooza?
To be honest, the first thing that caught my attention was the prize. The
competition had been around for a couple of years and it had a good
reputation. So I checked out the website and saw all the great things that
had happened for the previous winners. No other competition I know of can
guarantee twenty reads from prominent companies. No other competition I know
of promotes its top 13 finalists. That was amazing. I was sold. I had no
idea that I would actually place. What a great surprise.
Scriptapalooza: Advice to other screenwriters?
Oh, dear. All my friends at the Dallas Screenwriters Association will laugh
at this response. I'm known for being a cheerleader to other writers. So I
might as well throw my two cents in:
So let me give everyone "Patti's Perky Peptalk" (I'll try to be brief, but
those who know me, know that is almost impossible!):
First, I recommend that all beginning writers learn everything they can about
the craft. Attend every conference and read every book you can on the
subject of screenwriting...then throw them out. I meet a lot of new writers
that have no clue how to structure a script, what format to use, or how to
present their work. You have to take those steps in the beginning. Learn
what readers want. Learn what is taboo. Learn about those darn brads!
Learn, learn, learn. Once you've done your homework and you know how to
present yourself, then you can set all those books aside and write.
Second, build a support system. Join a writers group. Join a screenwriting
organization. Writing is a lonely business and it helps to have others in
the same boat, especially when that boat feels like the Titanic. Use the MMC
system: Find a mentor, a muse and a critic. You need a mentor, someone who
you can look up to, ask questions of, or someone who has walked this walk.
You need a muse, someone that inspires you to write. Someone who tells you
to write, even when you don't feel like it. And you need a critic. Someone
who can give you honest constructive criticism. You need that support system
around you, for the good times, and mostly for the bad times.
Last piece of advice: Write. Just sit your butt down in the seat and write.
No excuses. Just do it. You can go to all the conferences in the world,
read all the books, yap at everyone you know about how you're going to make
it, but if you don't have the product, you can't sell it. Write from the
heart and re-write from the head. So stop reading my advice and go write.
Scriptapalooza: Are you excited to use your new software from Screenplay Systems?
Very. There are some programs I've never used. I can't wait to get my
grubby little hands on them.
Scriptapalooza: How did you feel when you saw your name as one of the winners?
Amazed, happy, ecstatic. I think I screamed. As did my husband, my parents,
my in-laws, my friends...maybe even my cats. It was such a cool feeling.
Scriptapalooza: What are you going to do with the cash prize?
Since I live in Texas, I have to fly to L.A. several times a year to meet
with production companies, attend seminars, etc. I'll be using the money to
continue those trips. It's wonderful not to worry about where the money will
come for the next trip to sunny California. Thank you again, Scriptapalooza!
An interview with Mark Andrushko regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Teddy Adams regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Mike B Jones regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Brien Kelly regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Heather Regnier regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Matt Billingsly regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Paul Chepikian regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Brian Price regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Patrick Andrew O'Connor regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
An interview with screenwriter Sean McElhiney regarding the Scriptapalooza Writing Competition.
