Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Richard Scott
An interview with screenwriter Richard Scott regarding the Hellfire's Short Horror Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: "Grandma's Typewriter." Basically about a nerdy guy who inherits his Grandmother's antique typewriter and tries to write a story. After several failed attempts, his frustrations grow, until he suddenly realizes everything he types comes true! He takes full advantage of his newfound "powers" until his greed catches up to him and turns the story into his darkest nightmares!
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?A: I actually wrote this story for a friend who was looking to film a very low budget short starring himself. I even molded the main character after him. When he read it, he flipped for it and loved it, but his schedule was full for at least another 6 months. In the meantime, I discovered Hellfire's Short Horror Screenplay Competition through Moviebytes and figured what the heck. It was my first short and since the contest was specific to horror, I thought I'd have a better chance to succeed then with one open to all genres.
Q: Were you satisfied with the adminstration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?A: To be real honest, since I mostly write feature length screenplays, my focus was on the deadlines of those particular contests. This contest had totally slipped my mind, so I don't remember if they met their deadlines. What I do remember is the day I received the contract to sign for them to produce and film my short. It was the first indication that I had won. It totally blew me away! Since then, I've received a t-shirt and a hat with the film's name and the website is very good in staying current with production updates. As of today, they are still shooting the film. So far so good. But until I see the finished product, I won't believe that I actually won anything.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: I wasn't given any feedback, and since my short went straight into production, I guess any feedback (on this particular screenplay) would be useless! But just knowing that your work was deemed good enough to win a contest is invaluable in building your confidence and letting you know that you're on the right track (or at least in the general area).
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: Again, this script is basically out of my hands. But currently the biggest perk from this win is the opportunity to list myself as a "contest winner" and soon-to-be "produced screenwriter" on my growing resume. These two titles alone add credibility and puts you in a very small and select group of screenwriters.
I am still actively looking for representation.
A: I was hooked with the writing bug in early 2001 and have since written 15 feature length screenplays. I've placed in 16 contests with 8 different screenplays and I currently have a horror film entitled "Freakfest" under a 1-year option.
I've also been a reader for the Texas Film Institute's annual screenplay competition and I'm currently a reader for the Austin Film Festival's 2004 Screenplay Competition.
A: I currently live in San Antonio, Texas drowning in debt. A move to Los Angeles would be financial suicide. But if I get that one big sale...
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I just finished writing another horror film entitled "Unspeakable Things" and I'm outlining a sequel. And besides reading dozens of scripts for AFF, just impatiently waiting on the results of Nicholl, Sundance, and Scriptapalooza like everyone else!
Posted Tuesday, May 11, 2004
