QUILLAN DOCHERTY

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1. What is your screenplay about?

My screenplay is about a couple of middle-age labourers, Rick and Terry, discussing the Rick’s broken relationship with his wife while en route to an erotic massage parlour. Basically, it is about the various distractions that we engage in, in an attempt to divert our attention away from our real problems in life.

2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay?

I was inspired to write this screenplay from various labour jobs that I’ve worked over the years and the wide assortment of people that I met in doing so. I met a lot of people who were trapped in stagnant positions, either in dead-end jobs or broken relationships, who were always in search of something to fill the void. A lot of these people tended to “distract” themselves with bad habits (i.e. excessive drinking, erotic massage parlours), as opposed to taking their real problems head-on. This recurring theme of distraction seemed to run rampant amongst a lot of people I met. I combined fragments of various people that I had worked with and their experiences together to create the team of Rick and Terry.

3. How long have you been writing screenplays?

I’ve been writing for the past few years on and off. I usually get hit with a handful of ideas at once and will work on a few screenplays simultaneously.

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

Tough one, there is WAY too many to draw from. I’d have to go with Cool Hand Luke. I think it’s a timeless film, and its anti-conformity message can be and has been identified with by countless generations of people.

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

I’d love to work with Robert DeNiro. He’s a phenomenal actor with an extremely impressive roster of acting credits. I think it’s quite apparent that he invests heavily into the roles that he takes on, which is probably the big reason that he has created so many fascinating characters in a lot of iconic films (i.e. Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Raging Bull).

6. How many screenplays have you written?

I have written three screenplays that have been either entered in contests or made into films. There are a handful of others that died by the wayside, or just never grew to fruition. Over the course of this coming year I want to take on writing a feature screenplay and continue to develop ideas and projects on a more consistent basis.

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

In 5 years, I would like to be working as a creative producer, ideally in feature films. If not, I’d like to be working in a producing capacity in commercials and television.

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

My writing “process” is pretty loose and scattered. I definitely do not have any set routine and my method lacks any sense of organization. I usually flip-flop around between the different stages, sometimes even toying with dialogue while I still work on my one-page! I think writing is meant to be sporadic and cathartic, not rigid and regimented.

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

I’m very passionate about music. I listen to many different genres of music on a daily basis and love attending live shows. I also read a lot and travel as much I possibly can. Most of all, I’m passionate about film and everything that it entails.

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

I had a short film play at Wildsound about a year and a half ago. I enjoyed the festival and the crowd that it drew. I think that it serves as an excellent forum for artists, actors and industry professionals to come together to view and discuss films and scripts.

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

I’m definitely in no position to give advice to others and can’t really say anything here that hasn’t already been said countless times. But, I guess that’s why everyone ends up spouting the same tired old clichés for questions like this, as they ring true universally.

1) Write what you know. Sometimes what you perceive to be a simple, boring experience can serve as fascinating story to someone else.

2) Never let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do something. Negative feedback should only serve as a motivating factor for you.

Quillan Docherty

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