Past Winners & Finalists

3rd ANNUAL SCREENPLAY SHOOTOUT! COMPETITION WINNERS 

1st Place – JACK AND MOLLY by Lucas Wall 
2nd Place – NURSERY CRIMES: WHEN GOOD STORIES GO BAD by Greg Klein 
3rd Place – THE THIRD GRAIN by Keith Alexander 

3rd SCREENPLAY SHOOTOUT! - 1st PLACE
Interview with Lucas Wall

Congratulations on taking the Grand Prize in the 3rd Annual Screenplay Shootout! Tell us about how you felt when you saw the news.

First of all I was shocked.  It was very unexpected.  I guess I just kept thinking that it was nice to be a finalist, but I really didn't think that my script would win.  This is easily the most validating experience of my writing career to date.
 
What motivated you to write this particular story?

This screenplay manifested itself from a short story I had written for a creative writing class.  Funnily enough, not a single bit of that short story has survived the editing and rewriting process.  Somewhere along the way the characters took over and I was helpless to stand in their way.
 
How long have you been a writer? How many scripts have you written?

I first knew that I wanted to write movies when I was a senior in high school.  I had no real interest in the industry until then.  After that decision was made I took the long road of teaching myself to be a screenwriter.  I have only completed a couple of scripts, but many have been started and abandoned for better projects.  Eventually I plan to go back and finish every single one that I started. 
 
Tell us about your writing habits. Any advice or lessons you'd like to share with other aspiring writers?

My big rule when writing is to get out of the house.  I don't seem to be able to write at home.  I guess it's like working out.  When you get to the gym you know what you are there to do.  When I get to the coffee shop I am there for only one reason.  It makes it easy to focus on the task at hand.  I certainly don't think I am in any position to hand out advice at this point, but I will say that you should never stop learning.  You should never think that you know everything there is to know.  Also, I believe 100% in the power of rewrites.  Rewrites are what separates the writers from the dreamers. 

What are some of your influences? Favorite films? Writers/Directors?

The writing team of Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson, along with Noah Baumbach are very big influences in my writing.  I think "Bottle Rocket" is comic genius as well as John Hamburg's "Safe Men".  I would say that "It's a Wonderful Life" is probably my favorite film, but it changes from day to day.  Sometimes it's "Ghostbusters" and other times it's "Fight Club".  Another writer that I love to read scripts from is James Cameron.  The man can flat out write. 

What are your immediate and long-term writing goals?

I would say that my immediate writing goal is to try to get "Jack and Molly" into the right hands.  I would love to see it on screen, if only for myself.  To hear actors read the lines that I wrote and conjure up the emotion that I intended would be be just about the neatest thing in the world.  As far as long term goes, I just want to keep on writing stories that are important to me and things that I care deeply about.  It wouldn't hurt to sell a script either, I will be honest.  Basically, I just want to get paid to do what I love to do.  There are so few people in the world who get to say that they love their jobs.  I want to be one of those people. 
 
Any final thoughts? 
 
I guess this is the acceptance speech time.  I just want to take this opportunity to thank my parents for being the most supportive people in the world.  They have never once asked me how long I am going to try to be writer before I get a real job.  It's so important to be surrounded by positive people who support me.  They are the ones who tell me that my script is great.  They are the ones who encourage me to enter contests.  They are the ones who share in the victories.  They are the ones I do this for.

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3rd SCREENPLAY SHOOTOUT! – 2nd PLACE
Interview with Greg Klein

Congratulations on taking 2nd Place in the 3rd Annual Screenplay Shootout! Tell us about how you felt when you saw the news.

When I first saw I made the Top 5, I was ecstatic. To just be one of the finalists is an amazing feeling. Winning second was icing on an already delicious cake…but really, really good icing. I’m still smiling as I type this. 

What motivated you to write this particular story? 

Nursery Crimes took several different forms and five years to finish. It was always my white whale: my great story I could never quite lasso. 

I’m a big fan of crime noir, and I loved the idea of taking Mother Goose nursery rhymes and weaving them into something darker and hard-boiled, but still keeping a comedic feel to it. Before there was an actual story, I wrote the opening scene of Bo Peep explaining to private eye Jack Horner about her lost sheep and it just grew from there, first as a short story and finally to a screenplay. 

How long have you been a writer? How many scripts have you written? 

Even as a kid, I always enjoyed writing, especially dialogue. But I was pretty manic in my creativity: drawing cartoons, telling jokes, writing out stories for video games with friends. Focus wasn’t one of my strong points.  

In college I dealt with a horrible episode of unrequited love and decided to write a screenplay to vent my frustrations. Sure, it came out sounding contrived, a little corny, and a lot like “High Fidelity,” but I really enjoyed the process of writing it. This helped me decide on an English major and to focus my creative strengths on writing. I didn’t end up with the girl, but in a way she helped me discover my writing talent, so I am grateful for that. 

Nursery Crimes is my second full-length screenplay, and to see it completed is a huge sense of accomplishment and an even bigger relief; I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’ve also written several short screenplays, but have yet to see anything filmed. It’s all on paper at this point. 

Tell us about your writing habits. Any advice or lessons you'd like to share with other aspiring writers?

I’m still learning more about myself and what I’m capable of every day, so this is a tough subject. Writing is definitely a craft you have to hone. If you have that one “big idea,” don’t let it go. Be patient. Sometimes you have to take six months off to give both your mind and the story a breather, otherwise you’re forcing it rather than being the conduit. Maybe write a backstory for your character or work on something completely different. Also, find out when during the day you’re most creative and make time to write. I find late nights over cigarettes and coffee help fuel my muse. And above all: always, ALWAYS, keep writing.  

Oh, and definitely invest in screenwriting software to help you with the correct margins and all that. Doing it manually is no fun. 

What are some of your influences? Favorite films? Writers/Directors?

Catch-22 is my favorite book, and contains the best dialogue ever put on paper. Looney Tunes helped shape my comedic wit and timing. As far as films, “The Big Lebowski,” “High Fidelity,” “Blues Brothers,” “The Maltese Falcon”…it’s hard to pin down a short list. I absolutely love watching movies. “The Third Man” holds a special place in my heart for being the catalyst to finish Nursery Crimes at a time of horrible writer’s block. 

Other influences: the Coen brothers, who are geniuses; Charlie Kaufman, who writes movies Rene Magritte would be proud of; and Quentin Tarantino, even though he was once a celebrity judge on American Idol. 

What are your immediate and long-term writing goals? 

I’d love to see Nursery Crimes on film, either animated or in black and white. Beyond that, I’ve been writing some sketch comedy recently, which has been a lot of fun. I currently have ideas for two feature-lengths, but they’re still pretty rough. Long-term aspirations: making a living writing, whether doing short sketch work or longer scripts, is the ultimate goal. 

Any final thoughts?

It’s awesome there are contests such as yours for aspiring screenwriters to submit their material in the hopes of being recognized outside of their immediate family and friends. I’m sure it’s a tedious task looking over hundreds of screenplays, but kudos to the staff. I never thought I’d be typing this right now. How cool is that!? Keep up the good work, and thank you again for a great honor.

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3rd SCREENPLAY SHOOTOUT! – 3rd PLACE
Interview with Keith Alexander 

Congratulations on taking 3rd Place in the 3rd Annual Screenplay Shootout! Tell us about how you felt when you saw the news

I was stoked to be a finalist. As much as opinions on a screenplay can be very subjective, doing well in a competition such as yours does serve as some sort of validation. Plus, gas money and a little extra for some new socks doesn't hurt either.

What motivated you to write this particular story?

I had been toying with this story for a couple of years. The subject of witness protection with regards to people reinventing their lives seemed like an interesting premise to me. This script has been through a few incarnations before it became "The Third Grain". But, I'm satisfied with what it has become.

How long have you been a writer? How many scripts have you written?

My parents were avid readers and instilled the appreciation for the art in me at an early age. However, I have only been writing since 2005. I have written three scripts, including this one, and am in the process of writing a fourth. The first two have never seen the light of day. The first never will. It was more of an exercise; a test to see if I could complete a script. Now, there's more of a specific method for me to get from idea to finished product.

Tell us about your writing habits. Any advice or lessons you'd like to share with other aspiring writers?

I write a lot. Every day if I can. Usually after work in leiu of watching television. I take a lot of notes whenever ideas hit me. Then I try to organize them into an outline, index cards, then a script. I let it sit for a week or so...rewrite, rewrite.
I have always heard sucessful writers say that writing is the only way to become a writer. It sounds simple, but does makes sense. I would say reading professional scripts is something that has helped me. Two great books (imo) I found helpful and enjoyable: "On Writing" by Stephen King and "The Screenwriter's Bible" by David Trottier.

What are some of your influences? Favorite films? Writers/Directors?

I am a fan of a range of films, from the truly great movies that are so bad they are great. When it comes to writing I am a fan of anyone who writes great dialogue: David Mamet, Paddy Chayefsky. I also appreciate writers with unusual, sometimes darker ideas, like Richard Kelly and Guillermo Del Toro.

My five favorite films: "Shawshank Redemption", "City of God", "Pan's Labyrinth", "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "The Serpent and the Rainbow". Favorite guilty pleasure: "The Story of Ricky". There's probably another twenty movies that I could interchange with any one of these. It's a living list.

What are your immediate and long-term writing goals?

I plan to keep writing and looking for input. I have made a few contacts and will nurture those. If the interest is there, my ultimate goal is to get my work produced. Either way, I will be here typing away. It's therapeutic and it's free.

Any final thoughts?

I have to say that I admire anyone who is willing to put their thoughts and ideas on paper and hand them to someone else to be judged. You are emotionally naked; once it's out there, you can't change it.
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. - Elmer G. Letteman

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