RAEF LAWSONSearch WILDsound  11 Questions with RAEF LAWSON. A WILDsound SPRING 2009 Feature Screenplay Finalist 1. What is your screenplay about? Tired of working a dead-end job, an impressionable twenty-something guy is coerced by his slacker friend into faking an injury to collect workers’ compensation so they can party full-time – but an unexpected love interest and the threat of a frenzied insurance fraud investigator complicates their plan. 2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay? “Dateline” ran a series on employees committing workers’ compensation fraud. I was very intrigued by one segment where the scammer kept up the act for years but he finally slipped. It turned out the company was still paying an investigator to follow him around with a camera and they caught it on tape. I laughed at what lengths both the con-artist and the seemingly soulless company were willing to go. The situation was presented in a manner where you couldn’t help but feel bad for the sleazy guy who was stealing everyone’s tax dollars. I knew that had the man been likeable to begin with that it’d make a perfect general premise. 3. How long have you been writing screenplays? 2 years. I began in June 2007. However I wrote TV spec scripts for existing shows for about 6 months before that. 4. What film have you seen the most in your lifetime? “Robocop”. I know some people might take that as a bad thing but under its surface of over-the-top violence contains many incredible elements. Along with “Network”, I think it’s one of the best social satires I’ve ever seen. It basically predicted the future in how people would become desensitized to violence, the government would go bankrupt at various levels, and corporations will try to buy public services that should stay that way (jails, police forces, etc.). I’m highly anticipating the reboot and think Darren Aronofsky’s a perfect choice to revive the series. 5. What artist in the industry would you love to work with? Norm MacDonald because he’s my favorite standup comedian and one of the few old school comics left where he doesn’t mind the joke being on him, which takes more talent. I also thought “Dirty Work” was the funniest film I’ve ever seen and am sorry he hasn’t lived up to his potential since. 6. Who was your hero growing up? Orson Welles. He was an auteur that was way ahead of his time, and even though he’s been deceased for quite awhile…still is. 7. Ideally, where would you like to be in 5 years? At worst, earning a basic living as a writer. At best, writing and directing my own films. 8. Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing? Absolutely. I always start with generating loglines for potential scripts. I pick the best idea from them then do a 1-page synopsis. After that I’ll do an outline. Finally I’ll begin the script itself. If I’ve thought of any short ideas or lines that need to be used I’ll keep them open in a separate document when I write, so that way if I can’t think of dialogue that works in the current scenario I’ll refer to them and see if any of those fit. 9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about? Film itself. I’ve always known I wanted to be a part of the movie-making process in some way and would help out anywhere I could. 10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Script Contest? The first thing that drew me to WILDsound was the fact that they offered feedback with the entry. But what really blew me away was how comprehensive their website is. They offer everything for film buffs such as myself. I’ve never seen a contest do anything like this before. My personal favorite section is the movie reviews for not just the current film releases but also the classics, which I’m constantly checking. Finally, that you have the chance to hear what you wrote to be expressed out loud by real actors. In the end I think that’s every writers dream. To see paper come to life. 11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers? Always keep writing. You never know where your next script can go until you write it. Also…persevere. Unless it can lead to a sexual harassment suit, don’t take “no” for an answer. Every reader differs on his or her criteria for what makes a good screenplay. What’s Uwe Boll worthy to some might be “Citizen Kane” to others.
Raef Lawson
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