MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Raymond Arsenault

An interview with screenwriter Raymond Arsenault regarding the ScriptVamp/Attention Grabber Writing Competition.

A: The script is called "BESRA". It's about a retired super spy's chance encounter with an old Russian adversary, which forces her back on the job to foil his nefarious plot before he can kill her grand-daughter.

A: I had been corresponding with my friend John Wood about writing in general, and he suggested we collaborate on a script. It sounded like a fun and interesting challenge, so I agreed to try it out. The result of our first collaboration is BESRA.

This was my first attempt at scriptwriting. John's a pleasure to work with and provides much expertise to our duo.

A: The entire process was seamless, really.

A: It's taken a few months. Collaborating on BESRA has been an interesting pursuit in that both John and I have to fit our writing around time zone differences and personal schedules.

I had no outline for BESRA; I don't think John did either. We conferred on the general plot line and started writing. Each made suggestions and corrections of the other's work, and we even stopped in mid-course a few times to redirect or tighten the action, or to improve the flow.

A: John and I are using Movie Magic. It's the only type of script software I own.

A: I don't write every day. My writing has evolved into a very satisfying hobby that I have to fit in amongst a fairly busy life. The phrase "writing every day" seems onerous; so much more like a job to me.

Collaborating with John on BESRA has been interesting and motivating in that the two of us were depending upon each other to keep the ball rollling, as it were. That dictates a certain pace, which I don't find a problem at all.

A: Not as such. I can puzzle for a while over what course the story should take next, but once I decide on the plot line, the words seem to flow on their own.

A: I'm a retired career soldier, and I currently work as a commercial airplane pilot. With that sort of background, I've been lucky to travel extensively and pick up plenty of material I can use in my stories.

BESRA was my first experience with scriptwriting.

A: I live in the Washington, DC area and have no plans to move out west.

A: Having tasted early success with BESRA, I'm contemplating a screen adaptation of my novel, "Tempestuous Seas".

There are other exciting ideas floating around in the recesses of my brain, but none are well-developed enough to share just yet.

Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2010