Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Alex Sabeti
An interview with screenwriter Alex Sabeti regarding the Acclaim TV Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: Will and Grace - "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
It’s a riff on "The Wizard of Oz." Grace wakes up in a world where she’s a mom, Will and Jack are straight and Karen is a sober, religious fanatic. The story follows her as she tries to get back home…
A: I was a semi-finalist in the contest with another script previously. I only entered two other contests with this script. It didn't advance in either, though I did win one of them with another spec.
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 like Acclaim TV because they don't make you wait a million years to find out how you did and yes, I got everything that was promised.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: The feedback I received was primarily praise for the script, which is always nice to hear in my book.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: There's not much you can do with a TV spec except get representation. Alas, I wasn't contacted by anyone.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I went to film school, worked for an agent and for a producer. Written a few features, a couple shorts and one other TV spec.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: I’ve been in LA for five years now. Obviously my master plan of making it in a year never came to fruition.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I have two sitcom specs and a film short that have won contests but feel I still need a strong feature sample to round out my repertoire. So that’s what I’m working on currently. When the script is finally up to snuff, I’ll focus on trying to get some representation.
Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2003
