MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Mark Kratter

An interview with screenwriter Mark Kratter regarding the Acclaim Film Writing Competition.

A: WHERE THE DEAD GO is an occult thriller with a hardcore horror edge -- “Serpent And The Rainbow” for the “Saw” generation.

Logline: “A by-the-book bioweapons expert is deployed to the war-torn Congo to investigate a suspicious outbreak of disease only to discover that it may be of supernatural origin.”

A: My script, VIRAL, made it to the top ten last year, so I thought I'd try again. Frank Drouzas does a terrific job of running the contest.

I sent WTDG to a few others. So far, it's come in 3rd in the Terror Film Festival, was a Finalist in PAGE International (out of 3,411 entries), and Semifinaled in Big Bear Lake.

A: Yes and yes.

A: A small amount of feedback, but very helpful.

A: After WTDG's success, I was contacted by a number of managers. However, because I already have one, I've just used the additional accolade in my queries to prodcos.

A: I have a BA and MA in English from Stanford University. Once I determined that no one was looking for the Great American Novel anymore, I turned my attention to screenwriting.

While I worked on my craft, I got involved with the VC business and securities trading. That transitioned into producing feature films. I found that developing other people's material really helped me to grow as a screenwriter.

A: Yes, I've been here for about a year.

A: My next spec, EMBEDDED, is co-written with a very talented screenwriter from Baltimore. It's a high concept conspiracy thriller in the vein of "The Fugitive" and "Enemy Of The State." Our reps hope to take it to market soon.

Posted Sunday, October 28, 2007