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.
“INTO THE MYSTIC”
Written by Garry Hicks
What motivated you to become a writer?
I started writing sales articles for a national Insurance Magazine and found out I wasn’t too bad. Went on to write my life story because it’s a hard one to believe. After that, I found I may have a talent for writing. I was a locksmith in San Francisco for 15 years so I started writing a story about a locksmith who was a serviceman by day, then burglarized those places at night. A friend who had written extensively convinced me to try screenplays. After writing some very ugly scripts, I took classes and read everything I could. I’ve never looked back.
Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?
I used to take daily walks on a three foot high seawall. I would stop, stare at all the sparkly things in the shallow water. I thought one time, what if there were the top of an ancient bottle exposed and after I took it home a genie came out. I made the genie a witch so there I had my story, ‘WITCHY WOMAN’. I take an idea I have and start writing. I don’t worry about what I write because my creativity comes in the re-write. As I write, I let my characters help guide me. When I’m finished, I usually have a decent story but not one I would submit to anyone or be satisfied with. The real creativity begins with my first re-write. My key question is, ‘what if’. I never seem to be satisfied but I usually end up at around 10 re-writes before I quit.
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?
That’s something I don’t care or worry about, the story is the key. It’s like worrying about rejection, get used to it.
What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate? Please include script title in reply.
I’m currently writing the only authorized screenplay for country music superstar George Jones. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. Aside from that, I would have to use my mermaid fantasy ‘INTO THE MYSTIC’. Whoever eventually picks that up will be quite pleased. I’ve already written a sequel and a book, available on Amazon. It has over 1400 downloads. The dolls sold from this would be amazing.
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
I do very few, most are a waste. My one screenplay I entered in a San Francisco FF came in 7th.
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?
People love mermaid stories. When’s the last time a really great mermaid movie hit the screen? Mine could actually make you believe in mermaids. It was under option by Hollywood producer Mark Koch, LOST IN SPACE, BLACK DOG and more, for two years before he fizzled out. How many screenplays have a sequel and a book already done? I would venture to say not too many. I would also remind them that China’s 2016 box office hit, THE MERMAID, is their 7th highest grossing film bringing in over half a billion dollars. I would also remind them that the documentary on Animal Planet in 2012 called: MERMAIDS, THE BODY FOUND, snagged their largest audience ever up to that point, almost 2 million viewers.
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share?
My website: https://grhicks777.wixsite.com/mystic please see the video under ‘THE LAST SUPPER, a series I co-wrote, However, I wrote that entire scene we filmed.
My short, ‘THE CURE’ I wrote and produced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peD3Zbi7lM4&t=6s
INTO THE MYSTIC, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1520472412