MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Lily Amirpour

An interview with screenwriter Lily Amirpour regarding the BlueCat Contest Writing Competition.

A: THE STONES, is a relentless drama set in modern day Tehran. A working class girl falls in love with a wealthy boy and when she pursues this forbidden relationship, she finds out the hard way what happens when rules are broken in a merciless society.

It's a tragic love story but it's set inside the larger kaleidescope of modern day Iran and the current realities of youth culture.

A: I saw Love Liza, an incredible film written by Gordy Hoffman and I just knew he had a mind that was wide open.

The list of contests I entered was very short, just 4, the ones I respect and feel are legit; Nicholl, Austin Film Festival, Zoetrope and Bluecat.

Had to drop out of Zoetrope early, and didn't place in the other two, but I won Bluecat, which is beyond amazing.

A: It was a fantastic experience through and through. Spot on.

When I made it to top 5 - I was really shitting, then I remember Gordy called me, I felt like I was hallucinating, it was awesome.

My only complaint is I spent my 10K too quickly.

A: Yes, everyone who enters Bluecat gets feedback, one of the things that sets it apart from the rest and clues you into the mindset of Heather and Gordy. They care. The feedback is a way to make sure everyone wins. That sounds very after-school special, but it's true! My feedback was great, encouraging and thoughtful.

A: I'm directing my script this summer! So yes!!

All because of Bluecat I am working with two fantastic producers and we're slated to shoot this summer 2008, with me directing! Pretty much a hole in one as far as, what's the best thing that can happen. This is it.

A: A poo poo platter of this and that. I went to art school, to study painting and sculpture, I played bass and sang in a rock band, I was even a teacher for a minute. But I've always been reading and writing. I loved Stephen King when I was a kid, and Choose your Own Adventure books, I just love a good story, hearing and telling them. That's why writing screenplays is perfect for me. I just feel like no art has as much kinetic and visual energy as film, it's a type of magic.

A: Yes. I came down here for grad school and the day Gordy called me to tell me I'd won I was sleeping in an empty apartment on the floor in a sleeping bag. Everything was in boxes. This was in San Francisco, a great town, but if you want to make movies, LA is the place to be-it just is. And contrary to many preconceived notions, it's great down here.

A: Still a long road ahead with THE STONES, a lot of work, arduous and extremely satisfying.

But as a matter of fact, I have just finished another script, a thriller about a coat check girl in San Francisco called FACTORY. And I've got a half dozen ideas incubating, I'll probably write another one this spring; a comedy, horror or maybe a supernatural adventure, hmm...

Posted Thursday, March 6, 2008