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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Maryann Beckman
An interview with screenwriter Maryann Beckman regarding the ScriptVamp/Feature Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: CHROMOSOME 21 is a psychological thriller. It's about a small town paramedic who witnesses a murder by a well respected surgeon. He frames her for the murder and our paramedic ends up falsely imprisoned. But with the help of her unorthodox lawyer, she escapes on the eve of her execution and plans a fitting revenge for the surgeon.
A: ScriptVamp has an impressive website and it's also run by screenwriters. Who better to read your work then someone who knows exactly what it takes to finish a script.
This script has been well received in other contests. Hon. Men in Screenplay Festival, finalists in Writer's Place and others.
One critique, "This screenplay has more twists and turns then a Hitchcock film. Loaded with great characters and a gruesomely fascinating, premise, it has great potential in today's market."
A: ScriptVamp has a schedule they strictly adhere to concerning their contests. We felt the whole experience was in very capable hands.
Q: How long did it take you to write the script? Did you write an outline beforehand? How many drafts did you write?A: We wrote Chromosome 21 in about a year. We do not use an outline. The best part of writing is bouncing ideas off each other and when an idea sounds right, we just run with it and see where it takes us.
After we receive feedback from a contest, we discuss the suggestions, take the best ones and incorporate them into a rewrite.
A: We are Final Draft writers! We've never tried any other.
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: I find the longest I can go without writing is three days. On average five hours.
Q: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you deal with that?A: This is why it's invaluable to have a partner. Whenever I have trouble with a scene, my sister always has the answer and brings my idea up to a whole other level.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I have a degree in English and my sister's degree is in Psychology. We've written a few comedies, but when the idea for Chromosome 21 hit us, we knew it was a script we had to write. It went a long way in stretching and honing our talent as writers.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: We live in the Chicago area. A speaker once said, "The only profession that doesn't require one to live in L. A. in order to succeed is screenwriting.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: Yes, we are busy finishing up our latest script and looking forward to entering it into ScriptVamp this year!
Posted Monday, May 21, 2012
