MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Christopher Canole

An interview with screenwriter Christopher Canole regarding the Cinema City Writing Competition.

A: "Barack-O'-Lantern.'' Political October surprise for a Right Wing Republican, Barry, wears a Barack Obama mask on Halloween as a political statement with eye opening results. Left winger, Chris, gets coffee on Halloween morning and witnesses an eye opening October Surprise nobody expects. All the regular patrons dressed up as political figures play out the parts of their opposites in this allegory of Barack Obama's dealing with his mixed race heritage. The outcome changes the lives and votes of everyone.

A: Suzzane De Laurentiis runs an unique script competition that paves the way for future screenwriters while the festival also takes great pride in honoring our country's military men and women and their families by allowing all their festival events' proceeds to be donated to charities for severely burned and injured American soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Attending her black tie fundraiser reminds us we are responsible for more than our own writing. This year was particularly fun as one of the Academy Award viewing sites. Barack-O'-Lanter is also one of the two finalists in the International Family Film Festival next weekend. I have had other contest success including the AAA Creative Screenwriting Grand Prize, Script Magazine Grand Prize, Queens International Film Festival, Kids First Film Festival, Screenplay Shootout, and I have placed in the top three or honorable mention of the New York Hip Hop, Indie Producers, Gaffers, Twin Rivers, Indie Gathering, Screenplay Festival, San Diego Film Festival, Acclaim Film, and WriteMovies.com.

A: Suzzane calls you personally to notify your nomination. There were over 3,000 entries in three categories this year. Anyone scoring 25 points or higher out of 40 were nominated. And perfect scores in the final round received awards. All the finalists took home handsome leather bound college diploma like awards and the winners received one of the best looking awards I have ever received. In addition the ''goody'' bag at the dinner was loaded. But remember, this was more about our heroic troops who took home our thanks for their service.

A: No feedback - except the great red carpet treatment and appreciation from the troops attending.

A: The very next morning I sent an email to President Barack Obama notifying him of my win - no call back on becoming Secretary of Scripts. And I do pay my taxes.

A: I am a Cal Arts masters degree graduate, union set photographer and actor who decided it was time to create my own stories. In the past three years I have written eleven screenplays: Bloodgroove (60's college story), Drawn Together (political thriller), DVD Day (science fiction doomsday), Spring Snow (Mishima novel adaptation for my PhD in literature), Runaway Horses (Another Mishima), Z.I.A. (Family Zoo story), Counter-Clockwise (Science fiction romance), Felix the Flyer (sports biography), Pen Dragon (comic book fable), The Last Limo (post 9/11 American Odyssey) and Her Swastika Sword (sports biography).

A: Seems like I do with these weekly film festivals. Perhaps I should get back on my motorcycle and live on the road and be ready to put down my kickstand in Hollywood when one of my stories sells. For now I will continue to live in La Jolla which isn't bad when I see the number of actors, directors and producers who visit my little village.

A: I am blocking my first romantic comedy, Love that Lasts, which takes place in a nursing home and deals with the whacky insights I've gained in the past six months taking care of my 93 year old Aunt Dallas. She looked exactly like Bette Davis which created many funny moments in her life. And as the main "Nail Girl" for Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, she saw things few could imagine. And then I'll write the last of my Olympic Trilogy, a biography of my boyhood hero and distant cousin, Jim Thorpe.

Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2009