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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Michael Gibrall
An interview with screenwriter Michael Gibrall regarding the Eerie Horror Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: "Positive Variance"
BLADE RUNNER meets BRAZIL.
An FBI agent investigates a NASA hacker, only to find himself thrown into a new reality. Part futuristic, part ancient, the world has been changed into an almost utopian reality. Yet, unexplainable events, conspiracy, and innocence threaten to dismantle all of existence.
A: I wanted to submit to festivals that were genre specific. Eerie Horror Fest accepts sci-fi (which is what my script primarily was), as well as their main genre of horror (which you could argue there was a hint of horror in the script). I have entered other competitions and have been a finalist or semifinalist, at least at this point. More competitions are pending.
Q: Were you satisfied with the administration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?A: The competition was done just fine. Emails of semifinaists and finalists were done in a timely fashion. I received an award for Best Feature Screenplay and accepted it on stage. Two of the screenplay judges met me after the awards ceremony to discuss the script.
Q: How long did it take you to write the script? Did you write an outline beforehand? How many drafts did you write?A: I had worked on this script on and off for years. It was the first feature screenplay I ever wrote, and did so to teach myself how to write a script, as well as tell a story. I didn't write an outline, as I had the idea in my head for years. I revised the script twice after the original draft.
Q: What kind of software did you use to write the script, if any? What other kinds of writing software do you use?A: Movie Magic Screenwriter.
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: Not daily. I go through phases of writing for a while, take a break, and then write some more when I allow myself to regroup.
Q: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you deal with that?A: I don't know if I'd say that, but I do step away for a bit, maybe sleep on it, then get back to writing.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I've just finished another feature screenplay that I've just begun submitting to competitions and festivals, as well as a teleplay for a children's TV pilot that I have already produced and directed myself. I was also approached by a comedy group in Las Vegas to write a spec script for their award-winning series of shorts. The script is slated to go into production in the Fall of 2011.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: I live in VA. Not against moving.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: Just finished a new script and have begun submitting into festivals/competitions.
Posted Monday, June 20, 2011
