MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Helen Castles

An interview with screenwriter Helen Castles regarding the L.A. Comedy Scripts Writing Competition.

A: My script is called "Brother of the Bride" and it's about out-of-work actor John Atwood who finds himself owing his ruthless loan shark, Vince Fuller, forty-seven thousand dollars which he has no way of paying back. To wipe the debt and continue breathing, Vince makes John attend his long-lost sister Mia's wedding, using his acting skills to convince her that he is the estranged brother she hasn't seen since she was four years old. John must also convince her, her new in-laws and the entire wedding that Vince Fuller is a brilliant and noble neurosurgeon. Things all go to plan until Mia's sleazy fiance recognizes John from an adult movie role and John finds himself falling for his "sister", with her still thinking they are long-lost siblings.

A: When I read about the LA Comedy Scripts competition, "Brother of the Bride" just seemed to fit so perfectly. Plus the prizes were fantastic. Who could pass up the chance to meet with Mosaic Media who rep Will Ferrell? The LA Comedy Scripts was the first and only competition I've entered with this script, but since it made the final, I will definitely be entering it elsewhere.

A: The admin was fantastic. They emailed me on the day the semi-finalists were scheduled to be announced to let me know I'd made it. Also when I reached the finals, they emailed right away to congratulate me. I received my prize money about two weeks after the winner was announced. I was surprised as they said it could take up to six weeks to receive the check. Overall, a very professionally run comp.

A: The script took about three months to complete. I always do an outline - bios on my characters, their motivations etc - and I plan the whole story, beginning to end before I actually begin to write. Definitely no working the plot out as I go along! I think I did about 35 drafts which is the usual for me. I love re-writing - it's my favourite part of writing a script. I feel each re-write adds something more to the script. It's hard for me to stop and say, "okay - that's it, finished!" I used to chalk it up to a mild case of OCD but apparently Orson Welles felt the same way about his movies, so that makes me feel a lot better.

A: Final Draft of course! Is there any other? Seriously though when I first started out I used good old (free!) Celtx but when I got a manager she talked me into purchasing Final Draft as it allowed her to make revisions on my scripts. I haven't looked back since purchasing it.

A: You know, I don't. I have a day job (arghhh!) so sometimes I just can't. And I never write when I'm tired - I find it totally unproductive. When I'm working on a script, I could work on it for two days straight and then leave it for six days or whatever. I find it really helps to leave it for a little while and then go back to it with a fresh perspective. Doing things this way, I probably church out about 3-4 scripts a year and I'm happy with that. Quality not quantity is my motto.

A: I don't think I've ever gotten writer's block. For me it can be the exact opposite. For example, I'll wake up at 3 a.m. with this great line and have to write it down or I'll be at the supermarket and get a fantastic idea for a particular scene. Sometimes I think these random, urgent pearls of wisdom can be just as annoying as writer's block!

A: I don't do TV. Love watching it but don't have any aspirations to write it. I was a regular contributor to a popular women's magazine here in Australia, writing their fictional short stories section. I have had three short scripts produced here in Australia and another one of my scripts, "A Wake in Denver" placed in the top 6% of the 2009 Nicholl Fellowship. It was also optioned for 18 months to a producer in L.A. but things didn't work out.

A: As mentioned before, I'm an Aussie and don't live in the States. If my career took off I would love to divide my time between Australia and L.A. (and Hawaii!)That's the dream.

A: I am working on a family comedy at the moment which I'm really excited about. I think the plot is quite unique and the characters are so great and will be really memorable. I'm still in the outline stage and can't wait to start writing!

Posted Saturday, June 11, 2011