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.
“THE LAST INDIAN WAR”
Written by Michael Graf
What motivated you to become a writer?
I fell into writing. I’d been working as a director shooting broadcast commercials and one day I was working out at the gym and a guy comes up and hands me a book and says, “I hear you’re in TV, this book would make a great movie.” I read it, he was right. He introduced me to the author who gave me the option and I wrote a script that won a big award and was produced into a Lifetime movie. It was as easy as that. (Ha!) Mark Twain said the worst luck a young man can have is having great luck the first day at the track. Man, was he right. I’m sucked in. Now that I know I can write, and write fairly well, I love it! But I never would have stuck with it if I didn’t have that early success.
Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?
I don’t write in a linear fashion. I usually get an idea for a story and can see the opening scene and the climax crystal clear. Those pages come easy. I tend to get ideas for scenes when I’m in the shower or taking the dogs for a walk. It rarely flows in a sequential order. I’ll write the scene, see how it fits with the overall story, then re-write as needed.
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 it factors in. First and foremost I will write a story that is of interest to me. Something I can get excited about. But part of the equation is always, do you think this has commercial potential and will others be intrigued/interested enough to read 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’ve got a screenplay titled, THE LAST INDIAN WAR. It’s a true story about a group of Native American children kidnapped by the US Army. It’s a multi-genre script that’s won a ton of awards and my dream is for it to get produced and distributed to a world wide audience. It’s done well at festivals in both Europe and North America. I think the potential for ancillary revenue is huge. From merchandise and clothing, a video game, even the start of a franchise. (It’s the first of a trilogy of stories.)
How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?
Very good. I’ve met some amazing people through screenwriting contests and writing fellowships I’ve been involved with. I don’t live in LA, so the contests have been a great networking tool for me.
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?
When Aaron Sorkin gave the commencement speech at Syracuse University he said, “If you write, write something important.” I have tried to live by those words. This screenplay is the type of project that can shine a spotlight on a disadvantaged group of people and help change the cultural conversation to their benefit, while also telling one hell of an entertaining story, something audiences love.
Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share?
https://writers.coverfly.com/projects/view/3419
https://writers.coverfly.com/projects/view/15178
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0333732/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1