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.
“Everything But Love”
written by Lisa Johnson Mitchell
What motivated you to become a writer?
When you have trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder that’s a form of OCD, and your father’s a hairdresser in Dallas, how can I NOT write about this? Seriously, I’ve been writing about my Texas Gothic family members for decades. However, only one of my screenplays features these kinds of characters. But circling back, the script I’ve worked on most is a romantic comedy set in NYC in the ’80s that involves two ad execs who suffer from OCD, but hide it from each other.
Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?
After years of finding myself in outrageous situations, both funny and painful, I dip into my well of experiences and write. Of course, it’s terribly hard and wildly painful, but I just push on.
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?
Absolutely. However, I put on my blinders and dive in. This is how my documentary film, “His Name is Bob,” that’s now on Amazon came to fruition. Perhaps I’m just a naive optimist, but I figure someone has to have their script bought. Why not mine?
What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate? Please include script title in reply.
My dream is to see my script, “Everything But Love,” come to life, and expose the humor and pain involved in having OCD. With millions of sufferers worldwide, I think it would generate a lot of interest and in turn, revenue.
LOGLINE: Two Madison Avenue ad creatives with crippling OCD try to hide their pathology from each as they claw their way to the top, ultimately finding the courage to open their hearts to each other and true love.
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
I haven’t entered my script into contests recently because I spent two years earning my MFA at Bennington College in Vermont, which informed my craft immensely. I felt I needed to learn the basics of narrative structure.
However, here’s the contest history of my script, “Everything But Love”:
- Quarter-Finalist in the 2015 ScreenCraft Comedy Competition.
- Semi-Finalist in the 2014 Screenplay Festival in Los Angeles.
- Official Selection in the 2014 Beverly Hills Film Festival.
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?
Given the ambient anxiety of our world (COVID 19), the balm of comedy might be just what humanity needs right about now. And while my script showcases a certain pathology, it’s an affliction that a lot of people might well relate to.
As for me, I’ve been a writer for decades and live to make people laugh, especially at all the tragicomedic things that I’ve endured. Humor fills my soul like nothing else.
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share?
Thanks for asking! Yes! Here are a few relevant tidbits:
I co-wrote/directed a piece in Jill Soloway’s (Transparent) underground comedy venue, Sit ‘N Spin at the HBO Workspace in Los Angeles. Melanie Hutsell (SNL, Bridesmaids, Transparent), and I worked together to create it and Melanie performed the piece. Sarah Silverman was on the show that night.
I have written numerous plays. One of them received a staged reading at the Tamarind Theater in Los Angeles. I also made the Top 3 in the 1-Minute Monologue Contest in Clay Banks Studio in LA, where excerpts from my plays are used in classes.
Here are a few links, where you can learn more about me:
www.stage32.com/LisaJohnsonMitchell (includes my loglines, scripts and my documentary film’s festival list)
www.lisajohnsonmitchell.com (my writing site)
https://www.amazon.com/His-Name-Bob-Crawford/dp/B0763TGZHL (documentary film on Amazon)