MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Shawn Judge

An interview with screenwriter Shawn Judge regarding the San Diego Writing Competition.

A: The script is titled BROKEN WINGS. It is a thriller about a police detective who is responsible for the death of his son. During the course of investigating the disappearance of a child, the detective becomes obsessed.

The script contains a substantial action element -- it is a crime drama/thriller -- but it is also a character study dealing with guilt and the gravity of loss. There is an adult sensibility to the story, which means no forced-in car chases.

A: Although this was a new contest, it was held in conjunction with an existing film festival. I thought that it would therefore attract more industry attention than a smaller contest.

I submitted earlier drafts of BROKEN WINGS to other contests and did fairly well, placing twice as a top ten finalist. The later version I submitted to San Diego was much improved, and I've tweaked the script since then.

A: The contest went very well. The contest director personally called me to congratulate me on placing, and they shipped the awards I received. I also attended the film festival. I understand they are going to have much more in the way of programs for screenwriters at the next festival, too, and that the prizes will be even more impressive.

A: Feedback was not part of the contest, although I did speak with the contest director about my script.

A: My placement primarily enabled me to use this script to market other projects. Given its subject matter, BROKEN WINGS is arguably somewhat of a hard sell. It's not a feel-good popcorn movie that's going to pull in the teen crowd looking for spectacle. The script is quite serious in tone and content.

After the contest results were announced, there were a handful of inquiries that resulted mainly in my hearing "We really, really like the writing ... what else do you have?" This helped open the door to other pending submissions.

Where I have seen the most difference is in including the runner-up placement in queries for projects other than BROKEN WINGS. Following the contest, I was not going to wait for Hollywood to come to me, so I've tried to market myself. You have to, because there are so many writers and so many contests out there. I definitely noticed a better response rate after I was able to point to being a runner up. Whether that is solely because of the different projects I was pitching or the contest placement, I cannot say. I suspect that it is a combination of the two. In any case, placing well in a respected contest is certainly never going to hurt you.

A: I have a B.A. in English, an M.A. in English, and a law degree. My legal career pays the bills. I've also taught writing to undergraduates and law students.

I've written several other projects: BLOODHOUNDS, a summer-movie action-adventure flick; FIGHTING CHANCE, a boxing drama; and THE BARRISTER, a lawyer television show that draws upon many of the absolutely unbelievable things you see in the practice of law. I've also written the pilot for another legal drama that I created, which two producers will be shopping for next season.

A: I do not currently live in L.A., but my wife and I have discussed making the move.

A: I have the television pilot I mentioned above, which is going out soon for the next pilot season. Currently, I'm working on a horror script for what would be a modestly budgeted genre picture. And, of course, I'm waiting for an agent, manager, or producer to pick up BROKEN WINGS ...

Posted Thursday, June 2, 2005