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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Ruth Campbell
An interview with screenwriter Ruth Campbell regarding the Find the Funny Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: BACHELOR OF THE YEAR. It's about a world famous heartbreaker who marries an ordinary, heartbroken woman, in order to keep the tabloids from discovering that he's resuming an affair with the now-married co-star of his next film. What the newlyweds don't expect is that they will wind up falling in love with each other...only to be torn apart by the tabloids. It won second place.
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 love writing comedies, and funny stories rarely win other contests. Since this contest is ONLY for comedies, the odds of a comedy winning were obviously much better! I entered BACHELOR OF THE YEAR in three other contests. It didn't even place in two of the contests, and the third hasn't announced results yet.
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: I'm pretty sure all deadlines were kept. I never pay attention to that sort of thing. What's amazing about this contest is that the people who run it are so accessible. Since winning, I've had a long phone chat with the woman who created the competition, and we've also exchanged several e-mails. You really feel like they're cheering for you. Also, there was a big award ceremony, where the promised-awards were handed out. (Awards included a special trophy, money, computer software, and a generous goodie bag.) It was pretty amazing.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: "Feedback" is not part of this contest.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: Yes. Days after my win, a couple of loyal friends forwarded my script to a production company. We got called in for a meeting and, if I do a rewrite, they might be interested in it. We shall see. Also, the Find the Funny group sent out press kits with loglines to a bunch of companies, and I know that at least 9 companies received copies of my script.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I've got a master's degree in scriptwriting and spent about 13 years as a secretary "in the industry." I've also done script coverage. I've written many other scripts, and -- since quitting my secretarial job in 1999 -- I've done well in scriptwriting contests 22 times. Now, if only something would sell!
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: I grew up in Orange County, California, and now live in Glendale. I love it here.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I'm working on another romantic comedy and am also going to try to do the rewrite of BACHELOR OF THE YEAR that was requested by the one production company (unless somebody else buys it first -- hint hint).
Posted Tuesday, May 24, 2005
