MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Justin Owensby

An interview with screenwriter Justin Owensby regarding the Action On Film Writing Competition.

A: "Chapman" is essentially about losing love and loved ones. I know that sounds pretty morose, but it's actually a Tragi-Comedy. After losing one of my close friends in an avalanche, I found myself becoming increasingly closed off and mean spirited. Really, just an a-hole that I didn't like. So it really came from a desire to imagine an unlikable protagonist, and try to get the audience to sympathize with him after slowly revealing his back-story. "Chapman" takes place in both 1993 and present day, flip-flopping back and forth until an eventual, and almost literal, plot intersection occurs at Chapman Reservoir- A "set piece," significant for several reasons, in the story. Sorry to be so cloak and dagger, but I don't want to spoil it.

A: This was my fourth year at the AOF, and every year it gets better. Not even a little bit, we're talking giant leaps forward! Last year my screenplay "The Golden Palm," which is a fictional history of the world's first gun, won the award for "Best New Writer" and received a partial live read at the festival. This year they one-upped themselves again by hiring professional actors to read selected scenes from the screenplay division finalists' work, shooting them, and then SCREENING these films with shorts blocks and features at the festival. It's hard to beat that kind of personal attention and genuine effort to recognize the screenwriter. The script has also received "Honorable Mention" at ReelHeART and The Indie Gathering, as well at several rankings in the quarter's, semi's, and final's of other competitions, including Scriptapalooza and Writemovies.com.

A: I really don't have anything but good things to say about the Action On Film Festival. One nice thing about this competition is the division of award categories. Many other competitions simply have a "winner" and tons of great scripts fall by the wayside, simply because they aren't good "competition scripts." It's nice to have divisions that can honor different screenplays based on their unique merits instead of trying to single one out and say- "You make the best art." The AOF has been great to me, year after year, and always go above and beyond my expectations. And yes, the award is very shiny. My mother is super proud.

A: Being nominated for an award at a festival, generally speaking, puts you in a position for positive feedback, at least at that festival, so it was mostly pleasant. For me, that's great, because I HATE notes. Can't stand them. I write exclusively for my own mental and emotional well-being, so feedback typically doesn't help me. I know that's pretty absurd, considering the notes process needed for a screenplay to reach production, but I've had good luck so far(my first project is in production).

A: Short of winning a Nicholl Fellowship, you're not going to have agents calling you after a contest win. That being said, having a consistent track record of winning screenplays absolutely lent credibility to my work. After winning at AOF last year, and with the directorial wins and premiere festival screenings from my shorts, I'm finding myself in meetings with producers and agents that are actually listening and thinking I might make them money. Also, last year's winning screenplay "The Golden Palm" is now being produced as a 150 page graphic novel!

A: Six years ago, I began my journey from college dropout to PA to grip + electrician, then finding a home in the art department. Working primarily on commercials, with a smattering of bad horror features thrown in for good measure, I ascended the ranks all the way to Production Designer. I need a break. Knowing that writer-director was the goal all along, now seemed like a pretty good time to start on at least half of that hyphenate title. At present, I've completed three feature screenplays, two short films, several short scripts, and a pilot currently being shopped by Suzanne Delaurentiis.

A: It's looking more and more like I'll be moving back to LA full time, as I seem to be there every few weeks anyway. For now, I'm nomadic.

A: Two seems to be my magic number. I'm always either developing one script while writing another, or writing two simultaneously. My current projects are under the working titles "Doomsday Afternoon" and "Bookstore Blues." Keep an eye out for them this time next year...

Posted Friday, August 15, 2008