Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Martin Bartlett
An interview with screenwriter Martin Bartlett regarding the ScriptVamp/Short Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: I entered a short thriller titled "Curtains".
The script is about an aging hitman with an unstable mind. His goal - to visit his daughter on her 16th birthday. To make that happen he has to journey halfway across the country; all the while being hunted down by two rival mobs.
A: This is my first year entering any script in any contest. I only picked out a few, ScriptVamp being one of them. I chose them because they had a solid reputation and offered a separate category for short scripts.
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: Everything went as smooth as buttah.
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 wrote this script quick. From initial concept to fade out took about two weeks. I normally don't write short scripts and wrote this one while taking a break writing a feature length story.
A: Final Draft
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: Absolutely. If I don't, I feel the day is wasted.
Anywhere from 3-10 hours a day.
A: Not yet. I have many scripts in the pipeline, so if I feel my creative juices running low on a particular story, I'll just set it aside for a bit and work on something new.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I graduated film school in 2003 majoring in the production end. After film school I worked as a lowly PA on some commercials and some films.
Then one night, while browsing my local video store for some kung-fu movies, I got frustrated because I had seen them all. So I figured I would go home and write my own.
I did just that - in fact I wrote three of them with the same character - and boy did they suck.
But, I fell in love with the craft of screenwriting and have been writing every day since.
Since then (not including my dreaded Chen Zang, the Kung-fu waiter trilogy) I've written seven feature scripts and two shorts.
A: I lived in LA for a couple years where I interned at some boutique companies. My duties included sitting, standing, snoring and occasionally writing coverage.
I would love to move back to LA and would do it in a heartbeat if I get the opportunity.
A: Although the short story I submitted for this contest is a horror/thriller. I have been focused on low/mid budget comedy for the past few years.
The current script I'm working on is a mid/high budget Christmas movie.
Posted Thursday, September 15, 2011
