MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Diane Hanks

An interview with screenwriter Diane Hanks regarding the Red Inkworks Writing Competition.

A: The Shroud of Turin has been proven to be a fake.  An important discovery, if it was the original.  But what if a clandestine clerical sect protected the original shroud for centuries, waiting for the day when technology would provide an answer to their prayers and a way to bring back the Messiah?  "A State of Separation" is the story of JOHN KELLY -- the man who was cloned from the blood of the Shroud of Turin.  Is he really Jesus Christ, or just an ordinary man conceived under extraordinary circumstances?  Manipulated through the sect by a seemingly well-intentioned philanthropist and an F.B.I. agent, with her own agenda, John risks everything, including is family, to find out. 

A: Actually, I entered this contest because it received fairly high marks across the board by Moviebyte readers, including high marks for professionalism and feedback. Feedback is something that most contests do not offer, either due to volume, time, expense, or all three.

This script was originally titled "The Offering" and earned first place in the RIIFF competition in 2000. Because I loved the characters and wanted to make the script even better, I worked on a revision and this year entered the revised script into the American Zoetrope screenwriting competition, where it was a quarterfinalist among 2,186 entries.

A: Red Inkworks met all of their deadlines. As far as awards, Red Inkworks posts my logline on their site, which has been done. They also offer the top three finalists a chance to post their material on The Writer's Script Network for one term at their expense. This is in process, and will be a great opportunity to showcase my work.

A: Yes, I was given feedback. For the most part it was high praise, and this was much appreciated because it helps keep the inspirational fires burning. But Larry also pointed out a few stylistic elements I need to be mindful of , and I'm sure those comments will help me to improve my writing.

A: I'm hopeful that this contest will help me market the script because of the exposure it provides on The Writer's Script Network , as well as the Red Inkworks site. I'll let you know.

A: I've always wanted to write screenplays, so I earned my BFA in Creative Writing and then my MA in Professional Writing from Emerson College. (The professional writing also helped me get my day job as a medical writer.) I wrote my first screenplay in grad school and have written two, sometimes three, every year since then -- nearly 20 in all, and with each one I believe my "writer's" voice is more confident, my technique more proficient, and the story structure and elements more in sync. Several of my screenplays have done well in competition, but I think my proudest moment came when my screenplay, "Deadly Glow" made the quarterfinals in the Nicholl Fellowship last year. Another very proud moment was getting extremely positive feedback from Linda Seger, a renown script consultant, who just analysed my lastest script. She also asked if she could recommend me for writing jobs. The answer to that was a resounding YES!

A: I live near Boston, where I work as a medical writer. I don't have any plans to move to LA, but I wouldn't hesitate if the right offer came along. However, I do love New England and consider this my home.

A: Using Linda's insightful script analysis, I'm working to get my next script ready for this year's Nicholl, and there's not much time left with the May 1 deadline fast approaching. But the topic is an important one because it focuses on Gulf War Ilness, and I'm afraid that this is something a whole new generation of veterans will be dealing with.

Posted Thursday, April 22, 2004