Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter janyce lapore
An interview with screenwriter janyce lapore regarding the Ohio Independent Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: I won the "Best Screenplay" award at the Ohio Independent Film Festival with my script, 10 Minutes From Paradise. This script is unique in that it's a character driven thriller that is the story of Billy, his lover, Sherry, and Billy's life long friend, Jerry, a gay man. All 3 live a desperate existence in New York City, until Billy, their leader, comes up with a plan that will bring them untold wealth and a trip to Jamaica, where Sherry will finally realize her dream of "staying in a motel with a pool in the front yard". Ten Minutes From Paradise is a humorous, touching tale of 3 hapless, petty hustlers, who risk everything to follow a beautiful dream. 10 Minutes From Paradise has been called the "Contemporary "Midnight Cowboy".
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?A: I have won several awards with this script, including being in the Top Ten in the New Century Writer Awards and the Final Draft Competition. Also, 10 Minutes From Paradise was named "Best Screenplay" in the Hollywood Scriptwriting Institute Monthly Awards, and was a finalist in 12 other screenplay competitions. I entered this competition in the Ohio competition, because I am also a playwright and have had shows produced in Cleveland and I know many actors from that area.
Q: Were you satisfied with the adminstration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?A: I was very happy with my experience at the Ohio Independent Film Festival.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: No feedback was given on this script, but I suspect it was because I have done many revisions of 10 Minutes From Paradise, and I think it was pretty complete by the time they received it.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: I have been a playwright for about 8 years now, and have had shows produced Off Broadway. It has only been in the last 3, or 4 years that I turned my attention to screenwriting. Once my scripts seemed close to complete, I turned to Moviebytes to find a place to send them. Because of the great and information on your site, I have entered 2, or 3 of my scripts into competitions and have done very well with all of them. I have been contacted by many agents and producers and have had scripts optioned. So, I'm pretty optomistic right now.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: My background is writing for live theatre. No, no television scripts.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: No, I don't live in Los Angeles and don't have plans to move there.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: Well, I am working on a new play in New York, and a new screenplay, Poppytown, about an American record company and their involvement with the Triads, a Chinese gang that runs the opium smuggling business in Hong Kong. I'm not sure where this script came from, but I've had a ball researching it. Thanks for the great info on your site. I go there usually a couple of times a day!
Posted Saturday, December 13, 2003
