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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Dave Vaughan
An interview with screenwriter Dave Vaughan regarding the Screenplay Festival Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: The complete title is A TASK OF DRACULIAN PROPORTIONS: THE QUEST FOR KERMIT THE VAMPIRE but Screenplay Festival and others did not have enough bytes for all of it. Mostly, the first half was allowed. I was advised more than once that the title was too long. How long was the complete title of BORAT or DR. STRANGELOVE. A few bytes longer than Kermit, my pet name for the screenplay.
It is about Amanda, a bubbly vampire who falls in love with a clueless "civilian", Jason, who she persuads to convert to her way of life. Unfortunately (?) his low threshold for pain and extreme ticklishness prevents her from administering the 13 bites required for his transformation. The only alternative left is to slay the vampire who turned Amanda (I believe that is the same method needed by hookers to leave the trade)
Their perilous pursuit of Kermit takes them from Los Angeles to brief jaunts in Pennsylvania and Murmansk until the final confrontation in LA. Along the way they encounter zombies, Frankenstein's monster, Renfro, jumping elephants, an enchanted frog, James Cagney, Twiggie, and Wolfman Jacque.
They, in turn, are pursued by the klutzy illegitimate off-spring of the German branch of the vonHelsing (not vanHelsing) family who plays the coyote to Amanda's road runner, failing miserably in his attempts to kill her.
If you are a producer contact me and I'll tell you how it all works out. The rest of you will have to wait for the movie.
A: The first contest I entered after writing my first screenplay, The Avon Man, was this same contsest, Screenplay Festival and I received an Honorable Mention (2nd - 5th place). I realized immediately that they had superior abily to recognize greatness, so I gave them another chance to prove that they know what they are doing, even when I didn't.
I have written four other screeplays, one of which as a winner. I will not discuss them at this time.
Extreme Screenplay: The idea alone will sell the story. Lead character roles and dialogue will attract A-list actors. Plot canbe summed up in one visual image. Majority of scenes could be used in a movie trailer.
Script Savvy: This is a funny script with marketing potential. It is funnier than SCARY MOVIE. Great fun with Holywood's horror classics.
A Feeding Frenzy: Best closing scene. Fun fun fun. Funny funny funny.
21st Century - Funnier than LOVE AT FIRST BITE.
A: Almost all deadlines were meet until the winners were announced. Prizes were completely delivered in a little over a month but I wasn't bothered.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: Feedbak was marginal. But I won. Who neede feedback? I do. Everybody does. I don't know how much other entrants received, hopefully it was something helpful. It's how we improve unless, of course, you get some reader who is a frustrated screenwriter and wants to discourage any possible competition.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: One of the prizes was a package from SO YOU WANT TO SELL A SCRIPT and they just sent out emails to their list and they will have my win announced in The Hollywood Bugle. I have invitations from 2 agents so far to submit for representation. And a few requests for my log line. I am satisfied that they have an excellent prize package no matter the outcome.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I self-published a novel in 1999 and was unable to get it into the distribution list. The book distributers here in Hawaii are tighter than my first wife's knees. Is that PI? Sorry, disregard if you think so.
My other screenplays are: THE AVON MAN, THE DRAGON'S LAIR (a contest winner under the title GOOD WAR BAD WAR), RIDE TO VENGEANCE, and A PLACE LIKE THIS.
Although they are completed I am still tweaking them as I plan to do with KERMIT. I am a writer and that's what we do.
A: The answer to the first question is that I live in Hawaii. The second answer should be obvious.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: To repeat a previous remark. I am a writer and that's what we do.
Now I've got a question. Does anybody besides my immediate family and friends whose arms I have twisted read these.
If you do/did you might let me know at:
avonman@hawaii.rr.com
Posted Friday, June 15, 2007
