What motivated you to become a writer?

I’m not sure any of us really choose to be a writer. I think being a writer chooses us.

I have always been a storyteller. From a very early age, I would write novels — getting bored around chapter 3 and giving up (leaving all of my characters in limbo). When I discovered screenwriting, I marveled at the double spacing and had a hunch this was a writing project I could complete. Soon after, I realized how compelling telling a visual story that begins on the written page is as a medium. There are no limits while we’re writing. We’re literally creating characters, conflicts and whole new worlds — or at the very least, whole new ways to look at our everyday world.

In high school, I began making student films and continued doing so in college. I was lucky enough that two of my college films premiered at “real” movie theaters. I remember sitting in the back of the audience, watching people glued to the screen (in both cases for horror movies) and screaming out or cheering depending what was happening in front of them. It was such a rush. Affecting strangers’ lives even if just for a moment. And maybe even opening them up to a new perspective. (Even in a horror movie a writer can create characters and situations that make audiences think.)

Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?

The blank page is a monstrous beast that I still haven’t tamed. Although I’m often flooded with germs of ideas, to take those ideas and shape them into actual words on a page intimidates me to the core. I’d much rather edit a completed script over and over than type “FADE IN” on page 1.

I think part of the intimidation is knowing that as screenwriters, we are initially writing for the reader. Readers will be our audience. And if a reader doesn’t grasp our vision and experience thrills or emotions while reading, it’s very unlikely the pages will eventually become a product of the screen. Thus, I will always approach blank pages with great reverence (and fear).

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.

Of course, writers need to keep in mind the “rules” of good writing. (These rules change by the way, which is why we should always be reading any script we can get our hands on.) Pacing is important. As are margins. And tabs. There are rules to storytelling as well. Sure, we want to ignore them. But watch any movie and pause it when something “big” happens. Is it 15 minutes into the future? Well, that’s page 15. Is there a catalyst that occurs 30 minutes in? That’s page 30. There’s a reason that “rules” can work.

That being said, it’s our job to surprise readers (and eventually viewing audiences). We’ve all seen the same stories over and over again. People who don’t work in the industry have become very savvy at plotting the predictable twists and turns. How can we, as writers, turn all that on its ear?

I love using the example of romantic comedies in regard to this predicament. Yes, we know this couple, although apparently all wrong for one another at the top of the story, will likely end up together. This is what romantic comedies are all about and, quite frankly, why they work. But what happens in-between the “meet cute” and “happily ever after.” There’s our chance, as writers, to surprise… To titillate… To confuse… And to thrill. We can take what’s old and make it new again.

So I will keep “what works” in mind while writing, but try to never let those edicts limit my characters or storytelling.

What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate?

My latest project, “Revenge Club,” is about what happens when we get what we think we most want — and how it can get twisted around and delivered in a way that literally turns into our worst nightmare. The old adage, “Be careful what you wish for” plays out within the script’s pages.

Please include script title in reply.

“Revenge Club” is about a woman who, after being cheated on by her boyfriend, is lured into joining a secretive organization that offers total destruction of the person who wronged her — but at a perilous price that members of this group might never be able to escape from.

How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?

This project is brand new and hasn’t been in the contest game just yet. But I’ve had great success with past thrillers in contests that I’ve entered. Contests can be a wonderful way to gain exposure for writers of any level. Remember: No one is ever going to read a fantastic script and turn it away. So even if you don’t win a specific contest, you still have the opportunity to “win” the interest of a producer, executive, or someone who wants to help get the script seen by even more people. It’s all about exposure.

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?

As a writer, I’ve made a commitment to myself to never lose touch with the 13-year old kid who used to sit in darkened movie theaters and get goosebumps when viewing an exciting trailer. I know what the thrill of entertainment feels like. And how wonderful it is when the actual movie pays off the trailer.

Filmed entertainment offers the kind of escape that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. I try and infuse this into every word I add to a script (whether dialogue- or story-based). We aren’t just filmmakers. We are thrill-makers. And I believe that my latest project, “Revenge Club” has the potential to thrill audiences and also become a franchise in the grand tradition of past thrillers that we still love (and view over and over again) to this day.

Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share?