As the top writers on this year’s Hot 100 List we want to do as much as we can to continue the exposure and word of mouth in the investment circles of the industry. Another way we do this is with writer interviews that we send far and wide and showcase at all possible meetings and markets.
We want to encourage your writing spirit, motivate you and again give you the accolades you so deserve.
NEON ROSE
Written by Brian Estel , Peter Howland Hermansader
1. What motivated you to write this project?
BE – Society today sees some powerful billionaire, political figure, or icon being exposed for some of the most heinous crimes we can think of as human beings. Peter and I wanted to introduce some of society’s underbelly, but wrap it around a beautiful story about parenthood and redemption that many will respond to.
PHH – Brian and I worked together on multiple film projects but never as co-writers on a screenplay. I loved the idea of writing a gritty, inner city drama, outside of my normal wheelhouse, horror. This was the first script I’ve written since leaving film school that hasn’t gone into production. A great freedom came with knowing I didn’t have to figure out how to make it, instead focus on creating a story.
2. Neon Rose has a detailed world – where does your creativity come from.
PHH – My creativity is rooted in a primal need to connect with other people in the hopes of leaving a lasting legacy. I have a strong desire to exercise demons (pun intended). Movies saved my life growing up; it’s time to pay it forward.
BE – Perspective, life experience, and two twisted minds. Top that with the fact that we are both film enthusiasts, passionate about writing and there you have it. Most people walk through life in fear, only seeing what they want to see. But being truly conscious means you acknowledge everything. Because Pete and I live like that, we have tons of material to pull from.
3. Do you write projects knowing so many other factors need to happen to get it to screen and does that come into your project creation?
BE – In my writing process I first find passion. I do my homework a bit till I have an outline. Here comes the first draft (from the heart) leaving nothing off the table. After that, I shift to my conscious and start editing with my head, becoming aware of those other factors. Anyone that says they don’t write knowingly and purely off of passion, are not being true to themselves. When money does not exist in society, I’ll stop thinking of those other factors. Until then, you have to think ahead, unless you plan on sticking your script in that drawer for the next twenty years.
PHH – As an indie filmmaker it’s hard not to write knowing so many factors have to line up to make a finished film. I’m always thinking about how many actors, locations, and any other factors that will affect the actual making of the film.
4. What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary (support) revenue do you think it could generate?
We would love to see the right investor, producer, or artist fall in love with our script and proceed with an option or buy out. Ultimately we’d love to see someone bring NEON ROSE to the big screen. The dream would be to continue working on the script, as it’s made three-dimensional. We believe due to the timeliness of the content that the project can generate substantial revenue.
5. How has your experience been with screenwriting competitions for this project so far?
We entered an earlier draft in several competitions in 2018, but the story was very different and it wasn’t quite ready. After time off and a lot of revamping, we now feel we have an interesting and relevant product. We are happy to say Capitol Fund Screenplay Competition is the first competition to have NEON ROSE in ideal form.
6. If you could stand in a room full of investor partners looking at many projects what would you like them to know about you and your project?
PHH – I am a horror movie director, screenwriter, producer, and editor with two features to my name, and a third in pre-production. I run camera for an international reality television show as my day job and spend my waking hours working on my movies. I studied directing under Gary Sherman (Dead and Buried). I’m proud to say making movies is my life.
BE – I am a father, writer, actor, and entrepreneur. I have been screenwriting for ten years and acting for fifteen. I studied the Ivana Chubbuck Technique for three years under Maureen Cashin Bolog and it really helps me get into the mind of my characters. Whether writing is my career or aggressive hobby, I will continue to do so, ‘Till death do us part’.
NEON ROSE is a scary but relevant look at society today. Peter supplies the Horror, Brian supplies suspenseful Drama. Mix that together and you get a perfect storm of Chaos wrapped in Beauty. In its simplicity, it is a story of a father yearning for the lost love of his child. But the fun was taking a simple, relatable theme and twisting it to create a Labyrinth of darkness that our Hero needs to suffer through to find his light.
7. Do you have website links for your writing, credits, background, that you can share.
You can find Brian Estel and Peter Howland Hermansader’s professional credits on IMDB.
For more information or personal resumes, please reach out directly.
