Scriptapalooza TV Interviews 1/2 Hour Spec Winner Scott C. Gray
Scott C. Gray
1st Place winner
1/2 hour spec category
Scriptapalooza: How did you come up with your story idea?
Malcolm’s family is very much the blue-collar garage sale type, so that
inspired the A story. The B story of Hal facing his childhood bully was
inspired by my own childhood. Barry Boehmer, if you’re reading this, thanks
for making me eat dirt! And Francis falling for a hippie girl and ditching
the academy just seemed like a natural. I brainstormed a lot of ideas, typed
them all in, categorized them as A, B or C, and then mixed and matched until
the combination seemed right.
Scriptapalooza: How long did it take you to write it?
A few weeks for the first draft, followed by a few months of fine-tuning off
and on. I cut scenes, shortened, reordered, etc. The final version is
Version Number 8.
Scriptapalooza: Is this your first script that you have written?
Nope. My previous spec sitcoms consist of two Seinfelds, two Frasiers, a
Dharma and Greg, and a Friends. Other specs I’ve written include an X-Files,
an Outer Limits, a Tales from the Crypt, a Hey Arnold, a Pinky and the Brain,
a few screenplays, and a horrendously bad musical. I have also written a lot
of produced animation scripts, and am currently the Story Editor for
“Rugrats.”
Scriptapalooza: Have you entered other screenwriting competitions?
Yes.
Scriptapalooza: If so, have you been successful?
No.
Scriptapalooza: Why did you enter Scriptapalooza?
To meet chicks. (but don’t tell my wife) Also, it’s a well-known
competition and I hoped to get some recognition for my work.
Scriptapalooza: Advice to other screenwriters?
Keep plugging away. Taste is a very subjective thing. This script didn’t
seem any different to me than my others. And of course it always helps to
write a spec for a show you actually like and watch. I can’t write a spec
for a show I don’t really like and watch religiously, even if it’s the hot
new show everyone’s writing a spec for.
Scriptapalooza: How did you feel when you saw your name as one of the winners?
I was in the middle of an “industry lunch” when my wife paged me with the
news. I got to look important by actually getting a legitimate page,
(usually it’s a wrong number) and then coming back in and announcing that I
won to the group. I actually “wahoo-ed” when my wife told me, and I’m not
really a “wahoo” type of guy! It was great, very exciting.
Scriptapalooza: If you could write for any TV show, which one would it be?
The Dick Van Dyke Show. But since that doesn’t look to be renewed anytime
soon, I love Malcolm and Friends.
Updated: 03/19/2002
Additional Contest Info: Scriptapalooza TV Writing Competition
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