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Scriptapalooza Interviews TV Contest Winners

Scriptapalooza interviews TV Script Contest Winners Frank Tumminia, Jeff Oppen, Kevin Caruso and Steve Alten:

Frank Tumminia
1st Place Winner - Pilot Category

How did you come up with your idea?
I have always been fascinated with good vs. evil and the ramifications of the outcome. What if we put that balance of power, the fate of mankind in the hands of a mortal? A man wavering in his own faith and teetering on emotional bankruptcy. Can he stop the impending doom episode after episode? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I thought it would be a wild ride.

How long did it take you to write it?
It took about two weeks to research the story. And about four weeks to write the pilot and 1st episode.

Is this the first script that you have written?
No. I've written feature scripts as well as other television projects, both drama and comedy.

Why did you enter Scriptapalooza TV?
Because of it's stellar reputation as being one of the best contests out there. It's a thrill to be part of the experience.

If you can write for any TV show, which would it be?
Dexter. Because it's edgy. It's out there. It's thoroughly original and in the end, we're rooting for a serial killer. The concept is a brilliant paradox.

Jeff Oppen
1st Place Winner - Sitcom Category

How did you come up with your story idea? I wanted to write this "Two And a Half Men" script with something really tight happening between the two main characters. A bet was my perfect solution. In that, the idea came to me to swap their roles in a sense. Having Alan date a bunch of women, and Charlie see only one woman for an extended period of time would be different for them. This gave way to a great deal of fun comedy writing, and the rest just seemed to flow.

How long did it take you to write it? It took a good week to finish a rough draft, then a little time to polish it.

Is this the first script that you have written? I have written others. I continue to build a diverse portfolio. I am working on a second feature, have a couple specs for currently running sitcoms, a few shorts covering different genres, a number of animated scripts for both children's and prime-time shows, and I am working on an original sitcom. Aside from that, I have dozens of tag lines for future original scripts.

Why did you enter Scriptapalooza TV? I really want to write for television, especially sitcoms. Knowing Scriptapalooza is one of the most popular screenwriting competitions, and has this specific TV category, it made perfect sense for me to enter. I knew my script would be read by industry professionals, and if it placed I would possibly be given the opportunity to further a career in screenwriting.

If you could write for any TV show, which would it be? Wow! That's tough. "Two And a Half Men" is obviously at the top of my list. "The Office" would be a blast. There are other great shows, too. Many of the long running sitcoms that are no longer airing come to mind as well, so it would be great to be writing for up and coming shows that would hopefully be as huge a success as some of those were.

Kevin Caruso
1st Place Winner - 1 Hour Category

How did you come up with your story idea?
As a collector of personal life stories, I had interviewed several police officers over the years. This spec script gave me the opportunity to incorporate many of these stories into one episode. What drew me to SOUTHLAND was how it depended on the marriage of thematic subplots to drive the episode, a simple motif stringing each vignette together into a cohesive storyline. It is the best written cop show since THE WIRE. SOUTHLAND'S procedural cases do not need to be connected for the story to tell itself. Each episode's dominant theme, much as in writing features, was prevalent through the show's writing.

How long did it take you to write it?
About a month.

Is this the first script that you have written?
It was the first television spec script for a series in production. My co-writer Rich Newey and I have written two original pilots. Our first, LADY MANHATTAN, was a semifinalist in the Scriptapalooza TV Original Pilot category last year. Our newest pilot, BRICK CITY, is gathering up heat and making its way around town.

Why did you enter Scriptapalooza TV?
By reputation. I am hoping it's a good way to secure me a seat at some writers' table, any writers' table.

If you could write for any TV show, which would it be?
I'd still love to write for SOUTHLAND (if TBS decides to pony up for new scripted episodes). I think FLASH FORWARD would be a nice challenge. It would be an honor to write for anything on HBO. Being a Jersey boy, I have high hopes for BOARDWALK EMPIRE. That said, I just want to write. There's so much great writing on TV right now, any opportunity would be a golden one.

Steve Alten
1st Place Winner - Reality Category

How did you come up with your story idea?
About twenty minutes, including bathroom breaks. The idea was so high concept, it sort of wrote itself.

How long did it take you to write it?
It evolved over a few writing sessions. Maybe three hours.

Is this the first script that you have written?
No. I've written a few high concept comedies that I'm waiting to take out and three adaptations to my novels.

Why did you enter Scriptapalooza TV?
It's a high profile contest, plus House of Babel was ready to be sent in. It seemed like a good fit.

If you could write for any TV show, which would it be?
24. I actually have a concept for a new novel that would work just as well for an entire 24 season. A plausible threat to the entire east coast that would be incredible to watch.

Updated: 03/10/2010

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