What motivated you to become a writer?

After gaining valuable production experience on several Hollywood and indie films, I was inspired by the screenwriters of “Made in Heaven.” The academy award-winning team dared me to write. I guess they saw the potential in me while working with them on the film. Their encouragement along with a two-hour dinner meeting with playwright Alfred Uhry of “Driving Miss Daisy” fame sealed the deal. I accepted the challenge and begin drafting the stories that I wanted to see on the screen, compelling and compassionate stories of my own experiences and others close to me.

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

My creative ideas come from the many stories that I heard as a child growing up in the deep south. My family, which included close relatives, would gather around the dining room table every Sunday afternoon. They imbedded in my memory rich, textured tales of brothers, sisters and friends who experienced life through the lens of war, prejudice, and struggle for basic human dignity. Later in college, as I studied southern literature, I realized that these tales could be screenplays that would potentially inspire and uplift an audience through viewing the struggles that others have endured.

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?

My production background in studio and independent films prepared me to deal with all kinds of situations. My CPA background married with my writing experience makes me feel confident in meetings with investors as well as producers and other creatives. Pitching to major studios and listening to their concerns over demographics and marketing has made me savvy in the commercial aspects of filmmaking while not sacrificing the essential components of the dramatic and compelling story that you are presenting to them. In drafting grant proposals for my short film projects, I’ve worked with an academy-award nominated producer. He showed me how to trim scripts to fit a particular budget and to do the necessary rewrites to fit the parameters of the project. He has been and continues to be a great resource and inspiration to me.

What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate? Please include script title in reply.

The latest project I’m developing is “The Carolina Storyteller,” a murder mystery set in the Deep South about my father’s childhood. It is inspired by his true-life friendship with his African-American friend. it is a tale of community, deep friendship, and racism during a time of great turmoil and upheaval. Themes that resonate with us today just as they did during the years of the Great Depression. This story possesses uniqueness and universality, elements that not only appeal to a domestic audience, but worldwide as well. As new revenue streams develop daily, there is huge potential for this project to make a lasting impact. “The Carolina Storyteller” has received excellent feedback from industry professionals like Tom Berenger and Bill Butler. I have been fortunate to work with some great people over the years and use their feedback to hopefully transform this project into a salable and producible film.

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

I knew I had a special story when it was an Austin Film Festival award winner. The characters really struck a chord with the judges. The awards luncheon was a treat, being recognized with the likes of James L. Brooks. Wow! “The Carolina Storyteller” has gone on to be a finalist in the Sundance Writing Labs, been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowships in screenwriting, plus winning countless other festivals and competitions. This success has spurred me to write and co-write other scripts based on true events that have happened in my own life and others, ranging from comedy to grounded sci-fi to action. One of my favorites, “The Geriatric Tour,” a follow-up to “The Carolina Storyteller,” believe it or not, is a comedy about the events surrounding my father’s death.

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?

“The Carolina Storyteller” strikes a chord with everyone who reads it. The story is so close to production…now is the time to produce the movie and market it to as many platforms as possible. It is not only a movie, but its themes can be used as a training tool around the world for race relations. The organizations that would get behind the movie would be numerous. In fact, PBS wanted to produce a docudrama, but I’ve always envisioned the story as a feature that dramatizes keys events in my father’s early life that shaped his views on social justice, but PBS was thinking outside the box! If ever there was a time in history for a project like “The Carolina Storyteller,” it is now when the world needs to come together and share our common experiences as human beings…follow paths to find something greater than ourselves. Industry professionals have said that this story stays with them long after the initial read is over. Think how powerful the story would be to see it on the big screen!

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

I can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter and my website www.chandlerrhea.com.