Scriptapalooza Interviews $10,000 Grand Prize Winner Howard Skora

Script: RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

How did you come up with your story idea?

Some Psychiatrists, like most human beings, come from very dysfunctional families. I was fascinated about how such people handled these situations after they became professional doctors. We all can regress when we go home and I became intrigued with the idea of a shrink who had such a crazy and toxic family that all of his work and skills would be completely useless and I wanted to show that even a shrink could mentally unravel under certain family circumstances.

How long did it take you to write it?

I was very lucky in that I developed this screenplay at The Actor's Gym, so I had the privilege of professional actors who read the screenplay out loud. Every week, Bruno Kirby read the character of Ben (the main character) and Bruce Kirby, Bruno's Dad, read the part of Sheldon. All these wonderful actors as well as Bobby Moresco, the artistic director of the Actor's gym, would always give me such great notes and encouragement, it was very easy to stay on track. I'd bring in about 15 pages each week, so I wrote the first draft in about three months. Bruno and Bobby were very supportive and kept telling me I was going to sell this and I am so appreciative for all the help and the support of the Actor's Gym. I love those guys.

Is this your first script that you have written?

This is my sixth screenplay, but it was the easiest because I had actors to write for.

Have you entered other screenwriting competitions? If so, have you been successful?

When I was at UCLA extension, my first screenplay, The Trainer, a romantic comedy about a personal trainer and an overweight trash talk hostess won second place in the Ninth Annual Diane Thomas Screenwriting Awards. The awards are presented in cooperation with DreamWorks SKG and the judges include Steven Spielberg. After the award presentations, Andrea Mccall from Dreamworks came up to me and said "Steven loved your script, he was carrying it around for a couple of days." That kept me going for a very long time.

My third screenplay, Body Fluid Monogamous, a postmodern romantic comedy, was chosen as one of the ten finalists for the 1999 Outfest Screenwriting Competition. Lew Hunter, one of my mentors at UCLA told me “Howie, I’ve read over five thousand screenplays in my lifetime and Body Fluid Monogamous is one of the ten best screenplays I have ever read.” That kept me going for a while as well.

Why did you enter Scriptapalooza?

I read somewhere that it was one of the top five screenwriting contests to enter in that they were very effective in helping writers. I don't have an agent and the whole process of trying to get people to read your screenplay, at least for me, is more frustrating than anything involved with the process of writing. Anyway, I remember sending it out and thinking that I had a chance in that I'm very proud of this screenplay and I feel it's the best piece of writing I've done yet.

Advice to other screenwriters?

Read David Mamet's On Directing Film (the best book on writing I've ever read). Read screenplays by writers you respect and then read crappy screenplays that sell. Just keep writing. Don't listen to advice.

How did you feel when you saw your name as one of the winners?

Total elation. In the past, I was always either second place winner or a finalist, but this is the first time I won first place. It was very validating and exciting, and, in hind sight, I wasn't ready before.

Updated: 09/16/2003

Additional Contest Info: Scriptapalooza Features & Shorts Competition