Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Samuel Minier
An interview with screenwriter Samuel Minier regarding the StoryPros Awards Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: The script is named THE LITTLE ROOM ABOVE. It's a creepy mind-bender in the vein of DONNIE DARKO and THE MACHINIST, about a young man with brain cancer who's confronted with an alternate reality linked to his horrific childhood.
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 liked the fact that StoryPros had different categories with 1st - 3rd place winners, so that a surreal thriller/horror script like mine didn't have to directly compete against, say, historical dramas and/or family fare. The script is currently in the quarter-finals of the PAGE International competition, and is also entered in Terror Film Festival screenplay contest.
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: Story Pros were very professional and courteous. They kept all the contestants well-informed of the progress of the contest and were very prompt in the reporting of any adjustments they had to make to their timelines. I received all of my awards within three weeks of notification that I had won.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: Part of my award was a certificate for a script analysis, but I'm opting to use that service on another script I'm developing -- there's no expiration date on the gift certificate, which is very nice.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: I have not been directly approached by anyone yet, though a producer I submitted to independently requested to see the script (I mentioned the StoryPro win in my query letter).
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I've co-developed a television comedy that has been submitted in contests to Fox and FX. If thoses contests don't pan out, the photographer/director I'm working with is hoping to do the series as online webisodes. I'm also a published author with close to sixty stories and poems in markets ranging from all three volumes of the READ BEFORE DAWN anthology and the award-winning Chiaroscuro website to CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE DOG LOVER'S SOUL and an erotic horror poetry magazine called SCARED NAKED. Visit www.samuelminier.com for some free writing samples.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?A: I was born, grew up in, and still live in Ohio. Honestly, I have no plans to move to L.A. If I should be fortunate enough to have writing become my full-time job, I'm hoping to be able to telecommute or take flights as the need arises -- Dave Chappelle lives a half-hour from me, I figure that strategy's worked pretty well for him.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I'm currently writing another horror script and have a feature comedy outlined and waiting in the wings. Beyond that ... at least three more horror scripts, a fully-mapped-out Season 1 of the television comedy, two horror gaming concepts I'm SURE will make millions ... All that stands in my way are eating, sleeping, and my day job. If I could just get rid of those trivialities I'd be SET...
Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2008
