JAMES ZAPPIE

ALSO ON SITE

1. What is your screenplay about?

An art forger has to choose between helping his friend who is in trouble with the mob and a crime-free life with the woman he loves.

2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay?

I thought about what it takes to be a really good art forger and what those people might be like. The story started to play itself in my head and I liked what I saw. When it was all over I thought to myself "This movie needs to be written."

3. How long have you been writing screenplays?

Five years

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

Shawshank Redemption.

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

Wes Anderson

6. How many screenplays have you written?

I have written four screenplays.

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

Writing and Directing movies that I would go see with dialouge that my wife enjoys.

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

The first step is when the idea comes into my head. It can be completely out of the blue, but usually is a "What if" about something that is quirky/odd and interests me like art forgery or competitive eating. Next, I run the movie through my head and let the story take its own course. I watch it from opening shot to end credits. Then I break down each scene and write an outline for each, the whole time I keep running the film in head. Finally, I expand each scene until it fits the film in my mind.

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

My wife and daughter.

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

I ran across WILDsound through moviebytes.com and looked through the website for more details. I was really intrigued by the short films and scripts on the website and wanted to be a part of it.

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

Never give up. Never, ever, give up. Also, criticism, any criticism is good. You get much more out of someone telling you what is wrong with your script than having a bunch of "yes"-men telling you it is perfect. Finally, never, ever, ever, give up.

James Zappie