Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Chuck Foster
An interview with screenwriter Chuck Foster regarding the Zed Fest Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: "Hell's Belles" is a horror-comedy about a young woman content with working as a mortician at her family's cemetery, but as business declines due to a local rival, a gateway from hell opens in her graveyard, releasing a demonic horde out to get her soul. With the help of her best friend and some unusual allies, she fights to keep the cemetery while battling an army led by one of the Seven Princes of Hell!
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?A: My co-writer, Christian Ackerman entered the contest. As of right now, no other contests have been entered.
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 pleased with the way the Zed Fest ran. Everything happened on time. Still waiting for my Script Pipeline lifetime subscription...
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 know Christian had this idea in his head for many years, but we finally sat down to write this script around the beginning of the year, so about eight months or so. Of course, a screenplay is an ever-evolving entity, so a couple drafts were composed before submitting to Zed Fest and there have been some changes since.
Q: What kind of software did you use to write the script, if any? What other kinds of writing software do you use?A: The primary writing software was Final Draft, whichever version Christian was running. Considering we live on opposite ends of the country, we also used Skype, which didn't work so well, and Join.me, which worked great in conjunction with speakerphone.
Q: Do you write every day? How many hours per day?A: Well, I also write as a music critic for The Big Takeover, both print and online at Bigtakeover.com, so depending on deadlines, I'm writing at least once a week for 2-3 hours. Otherwise, while writing a screenplay, I'll dedicate 3-6 hours 4-5 days a week to the task. More if necessary.
Q: Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you deal with that?A: While writing a screenplay, no. I have Christian there to bounce ideas around and keep the ideas flowing. While writing music reviews, I have found myself struggling to find a good way to begin, but once I've found it, everything flows quite well. Alcohol helps.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: Like I said, I'm a music critic. I've written for The New York Waste, Under the Volcano, Horror Garage, Fear & Loathing in Long Beach and currently for The Big Takeover. I also do noise and music under various names. Christian Ackerman and I have collaborated on another screenplay called "House of the Unholy," which a lot of people seem to like.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: Actually, I moved out of LA to live in NYC. I love NYC and its eccentricities, so I don't plan to fully move. Bi-coastal would be ideal.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: We're working on Ackerman's next short. Also, I had a fantastic cinematic dream the other night that I'd like to expand into a full screenplay. Right now, though, the focus is on Hell's Belles.
Posted Monday, December 3, 2012
