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.
What We Leave Behind
Written by David Duty
What motivated you to become a writer?
After I was medically retired from the Air Force, I was looking at going back to school and it was my mother who pushed me in the direction of a degree in creative writing. Growing up, I was always a kid with a big imagination and loved writing. I was also obsessed with the magic of cinema. So, when she presented the general idea of pursuing some sort of career path in creative writing, it soon became a foregone conclusion for me, I want and need to become a professional screenwriter.
Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?
The desire to create something that will linger in someone’s memory for many years after they’ve either read the script or luckily seen the film. Because my parents introduced me to movies at around the age of three, the powerful images of film from my childhood specifically, are sort of the story of my life in some strange way. I’m a man of a certain age so I’m talking about E.T. and Empire Strikes Back, Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future and Top Gun, Robocop and Batman 1989. I still remember the first time my parents allowed me to watch Godfather and Good-fellas. Changed the way I saw films completely. Now as a screenwriter myself, I embrace the challenge of creating something original and meaningful for as many people as possible. I consider it a great privilege and source of motivation.
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?
I think you have to. I’m not going to spend six months to a year of my time writing a script if I don’t think that there is a market for it. A writer should take into account the kind of audience the film is geared towards and what kind of revenue the film might generate depending on the film’s budget and how it ends up being distributed. With that said, creativity shouldn’t be restricted by marketability to a point. I just think you want to get all of this stuff ironed out before you start writing your script.
What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate?
My dream for this project is that it gets purchased, produced, and distributed so that as many people can watch this gripping and ultimately, heartwarming tale as possible. It is set during the holidays in Chicago, so I think there are so many avenues and possibilities for this project, especially right now.
What We Leave Behind
After returning home from duty in Iraq, a troubled veteran is visited by the ghost of an Army Staff Sergeant and is tasked with looking after the dead man’s widow and young child.
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
I’ve entered quite a few of them, including the Capital Fund Contest of course. It’s still quite early in the season for there to be any results as of yet I do believe and especially with everything going on. Fingers crossed though.
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?
This script wasn’t just written for entertainment purposes but personal reasons. As a proud veteran myself, I dedicate this script not just to my amazing parents but to those men and women who have served and are currently serving our country every day. I had the distinct pleasure of serving with some of these amazing people over 15 years not to mention both my father and grandfather were veterans as well. To say that didn’t influence the voice and the heart of this story would be a mistake.
It has been an amazing journey so far with this story. I have a feeling that it is only just beginning and that we will have the ability to positively affect a lot of people if they are given the chance to see this script brought to life as a feature film.
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share?