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.
Vampeer Saga
Written by Leonidas Stanescu
What motivated you to become a writer?
As an actor I always wanted to explore other aspects and the first months of the COVID situation, when after the lockdown I was fired from the previous company, I found the time and inspiration to write and produce some short films in my little green room (2020) and in the next two years writing some feature film spec scripts..
Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?
For the Local-ized dramedy I used my own experience trying to adjust to Singapore. The Horror/Comedy Dark Moon Hotel and its core concept paved the first few pages of a fledgling first draft a few years ago, but a lack of experience and script formatting at the time led the story into a long nap. And finally, with Vampeer Saga, a supernatural thriller trilogy, I wanted to pay homage to my Dacian ancestors and Vlad Draculea by incorporating them, as flashbacks, into a modern story set in Singapore, a place I love very much, and Indonesia.
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?
Of course I would love to see one of my stories brought to the big screen, or Netflix (laughs) with me as part of the cast, but I am honest with myself and, despite getting quite satisfactory recognition at some festivals, I know that this It’s not much different from a lottery and I’m okay with that. I loved writing them and I love reading them from time to time.
What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate?
For Dark Moon Hotel I would love to see it produced. For Local-ized and Vampeer Saga to not only see them produced but also be part of the main cast as Prof Gustav and Deceneus respectively. Regarding the supplementary income, well, I could quote some of the coverage received from Golden Scripts Competition:
“– Vampeer has a nice marketability angle. Its supernatural motives, combined with a compelling visual identity, suspense and thriller elements, allow us to anticipate a fruitful turnover for the film. Depending on the budget and conveying to the screen, Vampeer has the potential to take over the box office.
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
I am very happy with several placements, nominations and awards received at film and script festivals such as Diverse Voices (presented by WeScreenplay), Paris Shorts Film Awards, New York Script Awards, Wallachia International Film Festival, New Jersey Film Awards, New Creators Film Awards etc…
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 would like you to know that this project (Vampeer Saga) is a compendium of the things I learned during my childhood there in Romania and the connection it represents with my family and my roots, and it also represents the present, my current situation as an expatriate living in this beautiful country, Singapore, where not only my wife’s family welcomed me with open hearts, but also most people in general. If Romania represents the roots of my ancestors, Singapore is in fact where I was born as an actor and later as a screenwriter.
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc. that you would like to share?
Absolutely. All of my work (acting, writing, film making, music remixes, and artwork) can be found on my website with external links to IMDb, Spotify, festivals, YouTube, social media, etc.