DAN LABECKI

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1. What is your screenplay about?

It's about this athletic guy, and this girl, and this other girl,... and then even this forth girl, who's close with another super interesting person, that, ah, has something planned for the Olympics and, um - - WHAT??? Let's just CUT TO THE LOGLINE *****Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing... until you're left with nothing.

Despite increased tensions over the surfacing of a new designer steroid, Lee Brand enters the Olympics with his "eye on the prize" – a gold medal.

But when terrorists threaten to destroy the games and take the life of the woman he loves, Lee unwittingly finds himself fighting for what he truly values.

2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay?

Steroids and terrorism were front page news for years leading up to the completion of this story. I felt I had a strong concept, with the potential of delivering an important reminder of what truly is important in life, and that winning at all costs can be very costly indeed.

3. How long have you been writing screenplays?

I started in college and have been writing very inconsistently ever since. That's about 9 years now. Damn :)

4. What is you all-time favorite film? (name only one)

Leaving Las Vegas.

5. What artist in the film industry would you love to work with?

Paul Haggis. His scripts are so symbolic and he is very skilled at setting up scenes and then paying them off to great effect. I really respond to that style of writing.

6. How many screenplays have you written?

This was my third completed feature length script. I have a number of half starts that I look forward to going back and finishing – experience is the best teacher.

7. Ideally, where would you like to be in 5 years?

If I am writing professionally, then it would be great to look back fondly at having been able to finish in the WILDSound Feature Script Contest Top 3 - a wink and nudge to the judges!

8. Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing?

In the past I would start off by doing a lot of day dreaming. Just letting the story come to me, and jotting down ideas for the scenes and characters and what the theme and arc might be, as well as what the ending would be.

Then I'd break down each act in a Word document, place all the scenes where they belonged, and then I'd do my best to fill in the blanks. This is similar to using index cards, which I have also tried in the past. With each scene I write, I try to strictly adhere to Robert McKee's "Positive Versus Negative" beat test and his rule of "No scene that doesn't turn".

I would like to add that for my next screenplay I'm going to attempt to follow the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (BS2) found in his book "Save The Cat". I never would have considered such a template in the past but I am becoming more convinced that the big Hollywood machine does indeed look for a lot of the story beats found in the BS2.

I find myself bending to their will more and more, with each script I write, and I half expect it to get to the point where I have no original thoughts and processes of my own. Ha. But wait! They say once you learn all the rules, THAT! is when you can best devise ways of how to work around them? Phew!

To answer question 7 a second time, in five years it probably would be pretty nice to be THAT! guy.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I am passionate about fitness and living a healthy lifestyle. I also love music and find, like a good movie, it often inspires me to write.

10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Script Contest?

1) The potential to have my script read in front of a gathering of my peers.
2) Script notes regardless of placement.
3) Living close to Toronto. As I start attending more, I imagine WILDsound being the perfect place to make some industry contacts and discuss writing with like-minded people.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Always use a treatment and be honest with yourself. If the story doesn't work in the treatment phase, it most likely won't work when it comes time to type those two exhilarating words -FADE OUT. I have learned this the hard way, but learned it I have... I think.

Dan Labecki, Dan Labecki, Dan Labecki, Dan Labecki