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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Dan Leonetti
An interview with screenwriter Dan Leonetti regarding the Words From Here Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: My screenplay is called The Woodpecker Waltz, and based on the true story of Joe Arridy.
The logline is: "Joe has the mind of a five year old and a seat on Death Row.
Joe Arridy has been fingered for the brutal rape and attack on two young girls in Depression-era Colorado. Though all signs point to Joe as incompetent, with an IQ of 46, he's sentenced to Death Row.
Only one man, Gail Ireland, deems Joe's life worthy enough to try and save him from the gas chamber. Ireland takes up the crusade of his life and files a process of appeals for Joe. His beautiful wife, Jewel, is apprehensive about his connection to a notorious ax-murderer, and frets over his political future. His fight for Joe's life strains his friendship with the governor, and in the end turns them into adversaries. But even the Prison Warden is convinced of Joe's innocence and secretly works with Ireland to secure a bid for clemency. The warden gives Joe a toy train for Christmas, and Joe's gleeful voice echoes down Death Row as time ticks down on the clock.
Did Joe commit these terrible crimes? And does it really matter in the end? That is what I hope my screenplay suggests.
A: It was free. And one of last year's top five winners received a three picture deal, so that opened my eyes as well.
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: John Stiles, who runs the wordsfromhere.com site, was wonderful. He recommended my story to a NY director who was looking for a project. She loved the story. However, Woodpecker was beyond her budget. And I received all the prizes in a timely matter.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: No feedback was offered.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: Yes, I received free listings from two screenplay sites. As part of the prize package, they developed a query letter for me, and then a listing in the Hollywood Bugle to shop my screenplay as a contest winner to over 2000 industry contacts. I received over 20 requests from agents and production companies to read the screenplay. I am currently fleshing out a deal with Max Keller Entertainment Group to develop Woodpecker Waltz into a feature film.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I have a degree in English Honors from the University of Denver, and I have worked as a journalist for the last 20 years. I have completed one novel and I four other screenplays.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: No, and I have no plans to move to LA.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I am working on two screenplays. One is: "Confessions of An American Black Widow," which is based on Gregg Olsen's best selling true crime book. It is in the vein of Monster. The other is a low budget road movie.
Posted Friday, November 19, 2004
