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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Charles Efron
An interview with screenwriter Charles Efron regarding the ScriptVamp/Attention Grabber Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: The script I submitted is called “Extinction.” It’s a historical epic about a Cro-Magnon hunter’s struggle to prevent his tribesmen from eradicating the local Neanderthal population.
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?A: I first came across ScriptVamp’s Attention Grabber contest on Moviebytes.com. At the time, I’d just completed the tenth page of “Extinction” and was looking for some feedback. Attention Grabber, which asks for your first ten pages, seemed like a natural fit. And the reviews were glowing. It’s the only contest I’ve entered so far.
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: I was beyond satisfied with the administration of the contest. ScriptVamp met their deadlines and provided very thorough feedback for a more than fair entry fee.
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’ve been working on “Extinction” sporadically for the past few months, and hope to have it completed by early 2012. Outlining has been crucial for me. Although I’ve always had a general idea of how the story starts and ends, I had a hard time getting it off the ground until I put together a rigid outline. Drafting, on the other hand, is a very fluid process for me. I’ll vomit out a scene, then go back and work on each line until I’m satisfied, then go back and work on the preceding scenes until I’m convinced that everything works with everything else.
Q: What kind of software did you use to write the script, if any? What other kinds of writing software do you use?A: I use Celtx. It gets the job done. Most of my outlining is done in Word.
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: I write when I can, so it varies from day to day and week to week. I try to put in at least an hour after work on Monday-Friday, and then work while watching football on Sunday. When inspiration strikes, however, I’ll sit down and write for as long as it takes to get my thoughts on paper.
Q: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you deal with that?A: In my opinion, writers block is a symptom of a deeper problem: your story isn’t working. Whenever I lose the ability to produce new scenes, I change the tack of the dialogue or the action until the story (and my words) flows naturally again.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I have zero background in writing for the screen. The ten pages I submitted to Attention Grabber are the first ten pages of script I’ve written.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: No. I’d move there if necessity dictates, but until then I’m happy where I am.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: Finishing “Extinction” is on my immediate to-do list. When I’m 100% satisfied with the script, I’ll throw my weight behind getting it made into a movie. After that, who knows? I have a few other movie ideas that I’ll consider fleshing out, but at this point I’m open to anything.
Posted Tuesday, December 13, 2011
