ALAINA TENNANT
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ALAINA TENNANT

What inspired you to write a script rather than a novel or short story?
I think of Blue Light Special as a series of contrasting images - the structure of Vietnam
Era militarism vs. consumerism in the 1970s. I was very drawn to the visuals of a 70s parking lot and superstore with their brightness and color and I wanted to see how these visuals could drive a very interpersonal story. I can’t see it in any other art form.

Was there a specific film, TV show, or personal moment that first made you say, “I want to write like that
Well, to be honest it was Brokeback Mountain. It was the first film I saw that was very reserved when it came to dialogue. I admired that. I felt closer to the characters because of it.

What’s your writing routine like? Do you follow a strict schedule, or are you more intuitive about when and how you write?
I’m a student and often a working playwright, so my motivation is primarily driven by deadlines. I find it really difficult to work when I feel like I have all the time in the world. Sharing my work in friends and peers has been extremely rewarding. They hold me accountable.

When you're starting a new script, how do you shape your ideas? Do you use outlines, beat sheets, or dive right into scenes? What inspires your scripts? Characters? Plot? Theme? Action?
Outlines all the way! I like being able to visualize a film or play in its entirety before writing. It saves me so much time editing. My scripts are often inspired by a concept or challenge I have for myself.

How do you handle writer’s block or those inevitable moments of self-doubt?
I don’t. I learned it’s much less stressful to take a break from writing when I have writers block. I read and watch theatre and work on the business side of things. Writing is something that makes me happy. If I overthink or overwork then I can’t find much joy in it - and that’s counterproductive.

What tools—software, methods, rituals—do you consider essential to your writing workflow?
I use Final Draft, but I always outline and take notes in a notebook. Stepping away from the screen keeps me grounded.

Do you write with production realities in mind, or do you let the creative vision lead first and adjust later?
I always write with production realities in mind. If I can’t see a future for the script it makes it really hard for me to finish it.

When a scene isn’t working, what’s your go-to strategy for fixing it? Rewrite, workshop, walk away—or something else?
I take loooonnng walks and hope something hits me.

How many scripts have you completed? How many have you started and not completed (we all have those)...and why are they still unfinished?
I’m primarily a playwright. Blue Light Special and some other short-shorts are really all I have in terms of screenplays. I have about four full-length plays that have all done pretty well for themselves.

Have you earned recognition in this or other competitions? What’s your strategy when submitting your scripts, and how has contest feedback shaped your work?
Yes! (But like I said primarily playwriting.) I submit to anything and everything. I try not to pay more than $10 in submission fees, unless I know it will be worth it. It’s really paid off, even if I only win one out of every twenty submissions.

Have you done anything at this point to promote yourself or your writing (besides entering online contests)? If so, how would you gauge the effectiveness of those efforts?
Learn. How. To. Graphic. Design. Being able to show people how you picture your film or play with a poster or vision board
is amazing.

Have you pitched to producers or taken meetings yet? What have those experiences taught you about the business side of screenwriting?
Nope!

What do you see as your greatest strengths as a writer? Your greatest weaknesses?
I have this weird niche with historical and research based writing. I volunteer with archives and museums. I love talking about the topics I write about. On the flip side though, I wouldn’t say I write much outside of that niche. You aren’t going to catch me
writing sci-fi anytime soon.

How do you balance your writing with your “day job”?
I use the things I learn at work in my writing. Funny stories, technical jargon, all of it.

What message or emotional response do you hope audiences walk away with after experiencing your work?
I hope that audiences leave thinking about the forgotten people in history. Behind every big story there’s a few individuals who will never get recognition.

What are you working on right now the world needs to know about?
I have a stage adaptation of the 1927 film Wings. It’s been in development for a while and I’m very excited about the next steps!

Where do you see yourself five years from now as a screenwriter—and how do you plan to get to that place?
I don’t know where I see myself in six months let alone five years. I do know I’ll be writing no matter what. It’s something I simply have to do.

What advice would you give to any aspiring writer hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Try everything! Challenge yourself. What’s stopping you?

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