VerLynn KneiflSearch WILDsound  11 Questions with VerLynn Kneifl. FALL 2009 Feature Screenplay Finalist 1. What is your screenplay about? William Clark recalls the perilous Lewis & Clark Expedition and its aftermath, casting a startling new perspective on the impetuous life and mysterious death of fellow explorer Meriwether Lewis. 2. Why did you decide to write this screenplay? Because it appears the passage of two centuries has not diminished Lewis's dramatic appeal. I've seen historians so moved that when they spoke of his death, tears came to their eyes, and a message left at Lewis's monument near Hohenwald, Tennessee said, "this may sound strange, but i think i love you." Co-author Laurie Larsen and I thought Lewis would play well to film audiences. We also wanted to challenge the assertion that Lewis died by his own hand. The historically accepted "witness" to Lewis's death changed her story three times, but there are references to another witness who may have been discredited because he was black. Though he had nothing to gain by claiming Lewis was murdered and in fact may have put himself in danger by doing so, he adamantly stood by his story until his death many years later. 3. How long have you been writing screenplays? Co-author Laurie Larsen and I started out as playwrights. We've written over a dozen stage plays, all of which have been produced. This is our first screenplay. 4. What film have you watched the most in your lifetime? "Dances With Wolves" 5. What artist in the industry would you love to work with? I like to imagine Eric Bana as Lewis and John C. Reilly as Clark. Historically, Lewis, who once railed about the quality of the lace on his sleeves, was "by many considered handsome," while Clark was referred to as "that homely man" by his wife's cousin. The contrast between Bana and Reilly is exquisite, and I think because there's a tendency to typecast Reilly, the depth of his acting ability has barely begun to be tapped. 6. Who was your hero growing up? The male star of whichever movie I'd seen most recently. 7. Ideally, where would you like to be in 5 years? Someplace scenic, with lots of time to write. 8. Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing? I'm a night person. That's when my best writing comes. I think it's because I'm completely uninhibited then. I've put aside the day and all its distractions. If I'm stuck, I might go for a walk. Perhaps there's some kind of universal law for writers in effect here: the farther from the notepad, the more likely my characters will strike up an interesting conversation with me. By the way, I've encountered deer on the streets of our small town when I'm out walking at night. 9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about? Films, books, music, the great outdoors. I've also mastered the nearly lost art of making piccalilli. 10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Script Contest? I've been following WILDsound for quite some time and am impressed with the feeling of sheer energy emanating from their newsletters. I'm also a fan of Canadian movies. I think they have a strong sense of place. "The Sweet Hereafter" comes to mind, and there's that marvelous scene in a little-known film titled "The Greening of Ian Elliott," the church standing stark and alone on a vast expanse of prairie, the wind whipping at Father Elliot's vestments. Another example of this haunting sense of place was so beautifully demonstrated in "The Shipping News," which was filmed in Canada. It's brimming with atmosphere. 11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers? A writing instructor once told me, "The world doesn't want you to write. It will do everything it can to get in your way." Don't let that happen. If you love to write, DO IT. You don't want to look back in your twilight years and say, "What I most wanted to be was a writer."
VerLynn Kneifl
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CREATIVE IDEAS
