CM BistransinSearch WILDsound  11 Questions with CM Bistransin. FALL 2009 Feature Screenplay Finalist 1. What is your screenplay about? Marlowe is about the Renaissance poet Christopher Marlowe, a very modern sort of fellow with his concern about freedom of speech, repressive religion, and his need to live and love on his own terms. Specifically, the screenplay is about the tap dance he did around theatre, his contractual obligations as a government spy, his lover Ned Alleyn, his other lover King James, the crass opportunist we know as Shakespeare, and the final heresy charge hurled at him by a jealous writer. 2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay? While attending graduate school, I took a course in Renaissance Lit. One of the assigned books contained a chronology of Marlowe’s life, with one entry noting his famous sword fight in Hogg Lane. I tried to imagine Edward Albee having a sword fight on Broadway. Couldn’t go there. Nor could I imagine another man stepping between two dueling opponents like the poet Tom Watson did, killing their opponent. I became obsessed with Marlowe. The man haunts me to this day. 3. How long have you been writing screenplays? I took a workshop at NYU in 2003, and my interest evolved from there. I have a theatrical background, so writing drama is something I’d already done. It’s the structure of screenplays that’s so demanding, and in my opinion, harder than plays. 4. What film have you watched the most in your lifetime? Chinatown. 5. What artist in the industry would you love to work with? Frances McDormand. 6. Who was your hero growing up? Nancy Drew. 7. Ideally, where would you like to be in 5 years? At the premier of the film of one of my screenplays. 8. Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing? No set method, but I do write just about every day, or rather, I rewrite every day. I also keep a running critique about the films I watch. Being a critic is hard. 9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about? Watching films. 10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Script Contest? The opportunity to hear the work aloud, which is something we do routinely in theatre; it’s a valuable process. Also, the chance to visit Toronto is no small incentive. 11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers? Before writing a screenplay, get some formal training; The ScriptForSale site offers great online classes and a paradigm. If you think your first draft is brilliant, please find another occupation.
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CREATIVE IDEAS
