ALBERTO DIAMANTE

 PictureALBERTO DIAMANTE
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Your script stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your story and why did you write a script instead of a short story or a novel?
The inspiration came from history. I was inspired by the story of Joe Cino, a gay Italian-American man whose café became the makeshift theater for countless ‘ragtag rebels, iconoclasts, the marginalized, hippies, LGBTQ+ people, etc.’ during the turmoil-laden Sixties.
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How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process? Do you outline...use index cards...white board...or just start with FADE IN?
I wrote the first draft of the pilot in a few months. The second episode took a lot less. For the structure of the film, I use a .pdf file that I superimpose over an Excel file, which helps me structure the beats. This becomes the template of the story. With regard to characters, I simply use Word documents, no cue cards.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To continue to find inspiration in true stories, learning from history, while creatively manipulating the narrative flow in order to maximize drama and emotional impact.

Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
I draw inspiration from dozens of writers, each unique in their own way: the way they create drama, the way they articulate dialogue, throw curve balls at the audience, surprise and shock audiences, all the while sticking to essential criteria of believability.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
Best film: Wolf of Wall Street. Television Show: If I had to pick one, it would be The Simpsons. Other shows: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Roseanne, Family Ties, Cheers, Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, The Larry Sanders Show

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Read.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I’m currently working on a feature film script about art. I will then work on two more projects, one a murder mystery and one a TV drama about various artists.