WRITER PROFILE
It’s always great to get together with a large group of writers and investors and keep up to date on what’s new, the screenplay contest, any recent deals, new dealmaker contacts, agents or managers that are looking and simply encouraging everyone to keep going after every dream in this difficult industry. For the hard working writer 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.
The Call of the Owl
Written by Benjamin Lopez
What motivated you to become a writer?
I didn’t really plan on becoming a writer. I just had stories in my head I felt I had to get out. At first, it was just messing around with ideas, scenes, or characters I found interesting—and suddenly I realized writing was how I made sense of the world around me. That’s when I knew it was more than a hobby. I am what you call a daydreamer, I have always been since I was a kid.
Starting on a blank page is not easy—where does your creativity come from?
From life and my environment and hometown honestly. From weird dreams, ideas, news headlines, things people say, stuff that happens to me or around me. I’m always thinking, “what if?” And usually, that “what if” turns into something deeper and more personal than I expected.
Do you write projects knowing that so many other factors need to happen to get it to screen and does that come into your project creation?
Yes and no. I always want the story to be strong on its own, but I’m also a director and producer with a local box office success—so yeah, I do think about how it could be made. I try to keep the cast small, the locations manageable, and the budget realistic. I want the story to feel big but be doable.
What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate? For The Call of the Owl, my dream is for it to land with a global streamer or distributor and really creep into people’s minds. I’d love to see it adapted into a limited series or even expand the universe into other formats—like a companion podcast, a graphic novel, or a tie-in docuseries about Caribbean folklore and abduction stories. I believe it has that kind of potential.
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
Pretty solid so far. The first contest I have ever entered is the Emerging Screenwriters Horror Screenplay Competition and The Call of The Owl is already a Quarter Finalist, the next announcement will be out on July 9th and I am hoping to move up higher in the ranks. It’s gotten positive notes and a few placements, which is always encouraging. But for me, the goal is less about trophies and more about finding the right people who get what the story is trying to do.
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 this project?
I’d tell them I’m not just a writer—I’m a doer with lots of resources at my disposal, this project just needs a little push. I’ve directed and produced successful films before, and I know how to finish what I start. The Call of the Owl is a smart, scary, marketable story that blends genre with real emotional depth. It’s original, grounded, and built to travel. I’m looking for people who believe in bold stories and want to make something that sticks.
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc. that you would like to share?
Sure! You can check out www.benjilopezdirector.com