DK MERWINSearch WILDsound  11 Questions with DK MERWIN. FALL 2009 Feature Screenplay Finalist 1. What is your screenplay about? My screenplay is about three people - a lonely Croatian woman, a "poor-little-rich" girl, and a young homeless man - who form a unique friendship amid the vast differences of their own social strata. 2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay? I decided to write this screenplay mainly because I have seen people tear each other apart just because of social differences. I wanted to create characters who desire something more than just behavioral and social norms; characters who have lost something and long to gain it back through love and trust. 3. How long have you been writing screenplays? I have not been writing screenplays long, and the two scripts that I have completed were concocted in my mind while I was in Army Basic Training during the Summer of 2007. 4. What film have you watched the most in your lifetime? That would be a very hard question to answer, however, my favorite film of all time is "Gattaca" by Andrew Niccol. Perhaps that can suffice. 5. What artist in the industry would you love to work with? It is sad for me to say someone who is now deceased, but I have always wanted to work with the late Robert Altman. 6. Who was your hero growing up? I'd have to get back to you on that one. 7. Ideally, where would you like to be in 5 years? In five years, I would ideally like to be a successful screenwriter and percussion teacher in the So-Cal area. 8. Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing? I would start by "giving birth" to my characters, knowing their histories, behaviors, likes, dislikes, etc. Afterwards, I usually throw down an outline, or "sloppy" treatment, writing everything in my mind before it is forgotten forever. Once the whole treatment is done, I go over it, modify it, make sure characters are behaving the way they were "born", and then I get on my Final Draft program and begin the process of the script. 9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about? I love drumming, especially rudimental! I like teaching children percussion, and hope to one day have a side job as a percussion technician at a high school. Aside from that, I am very big in film - both classic and contemporary. Huge Hitchcock and Billy Wilder fan! 10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Script Contest? I had the contest referred to me through a facebook ad, and I decided, "What the hell...". And so I entered... 11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers? Well, I don't know. Although I take my writing seriously with a professional standard, I would still have to be considered an amateur. Perhaps when success has shown itself more consistently, I will start giving advice or tips to any writers. But for now, I'll gladly take advice and tips myself.
DK Merwin
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CREATIVE IDEAS
