MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter R.D. Wright

An interview with screenwriter R.D. Wright regarding the Worldfest - Houston Writing Competition.

A: ZOM is a manic tale about mind control. It won the Gold Remi Award (Second Place) in the Horror/Thriller/Mystery category:

In the computer age, there have been significant advances in the field of brainwave entrainment. This branch of neuro-science uses sound waves through headphones to regulate the human brain.

Professor John Lanfield has selected college students to further his studies in this field, but something has gone terribly wrong: Three students from the previous semester have vanished. When the new semester begins, we meet three gifted undergrads: Paige, who hopes to help learning disabled children; her boyfriend, Raymond, who is an aspiring doctor; and Elroy, a math genius who has a weight problem. When one more student disappears, these three resolve to uncover what is really going on.

In the mix, FBI Agent Durkin is also investigating the case. Although he cannot prove it, he suspects that Professor Lanfield is involved in a corporate conspiracy of mind control. Paige, Raymond and Elroy suspect this as well, and they even muster enough courage to steal some of Lanfield's data. But these three have also been hooked up to the sound machines, so things might not be as they appear. Meanwhile, another student is removed from the group -- in pieces.

The trail leads to a tall building on campus, where the real culprit (name withheld) has assembled the twelve subjects on the rooftop for a ritual of suicide. Paige is one of those twelve, as Raymond struggles to free himself from his captors. Raymond is not affected by the sound waves, so it's up to him to stop his girl from plunging to her death. But first he must overcome the others -- and they are totally zommed!

Let's stop this conspiracy of mind control and deception!

A: WorldFest is one of the oldest and most respected film festivals around, having launched the careers of many notable filmmakers. There's that, plus the fact that I live in Texas and felt as though I could attend if I won. I'm glad that I did. I met many talented people from all over the world.

An early draft of ZOM had been entered in the 2006 PAGE Awards, where it made the quarterfinals.

A: Yes, everything was right on time. The award promised was simply that I was in the top 4 in my category. I didn't know that I had placed second until I actually attended. Since this is my first win, I think that's not too shabby.

A: WorldFest does not offer feedback.

A: Some people that I actually met at the festival are now in possession of the script. In addition to that, I have had a request from one manager, and my InkTip hits are way up. We'll see what happens next, but yes, it has certainly helped.

A: My background is in other fields like graphic design, publishing and printing. I have also had experience in the nightclub business. But my roots are in the theater and in movies, a lifestyle that I gave up long ago in pursuit of more "practical" things. I have since learned that the only practical thing is to do something you love, and I am right at home with writing movies. I've been at it for four years, and I have no intention of quitting.

A: No, but I am free to go there anytime. I have lived in L.A. before, and I know that a move wouldn't be wise until I have something solid to bank on.

A: Oh, yes. I've just completed a horror/western, and I am about to embark on yet another tale with a very high concept. Always working on new material.

Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2008