BRYAN MARVIS
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Bryan Marvis

How did you discover The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
I had entered my screenplay THE DARKEST LIGHT in several other contests and was pleased in 2020 when it became the fourth of my scripts to become a Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist. Among many other recognitions, it was honored last year in the Page competition as a Finalist – the top 1% out of more than 8,700 entries. I still wanted to give the script as much exposure as possible, and after finding Santa Barbara’s contest on the ISA website, I decided to enter.

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I’ve been lucky to live in many different places, but currently I reside in Forest Grove, Oregon. 

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? What inspires your overall journey into screenwriting?
I’ve been writing screenplays for more than thirty years, and hope to be doing the same thirty years from now. No matter what happens to my efforts, I always love the journey of creating the movies in my mind. The inspiration for THE DARKEST LIGHT began with two questions: is nuclear annihilation still the greatest threat to humanity? And what was going on between the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and the dropping of the second bomb on Nagasaki four days later? I did a lot of research to find answers, and out of that created the two main story threads of THE DARKEST LIGHT, one focusing on a struggling family in Nagasaki, and one on the crew that would end up dropping the second bomb after a truly perilous flight. 

How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
I find compelling stories everywhere! I am never at a loss for ideas. The challenge is always to decide which idea/story will engage me for a good part of my writer’s life.  

What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive?
Writing screenplays is a passion, and I’m a persistent person, so when I embark on a project, I find the time, no matter what.  

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 just dive in. I like what Ray Bradbury told a friend of mine about his writing process: “I start by writing crap. Then I write more crap. And I keep on writing crap until… it’s no longer crap.” One other reminder along those lines: “Don’t get it right; get it written.” 

How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
Thankfully, I’ve never had writer’s block. As for moments of doubt, I think that just comes with the territory. Writing screenplays is hard work, and when you’re “done,” then you’re faced with confronting a very tough, very competitive business. 

What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
Like most screenwriters, I use Final Draft. 

How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests?
I’ve worked as a teacher and was head coach of two championship speech and debate teams. I always reminded my “speechies” that a diversity of well-meaning (but not all-knowing) human beings were going to judge them, and, in the end, their decision would often be based not on empirical evidence, but on personal opinion. I apply that same basic approach when I enter screenwriting contests, then cross my fingers and hope I get judges who connect with my work.    

Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting and how you overcame it?
I was repped for ten years by a small literary management company. They came very close to selling several of my works, and a pilot and one feature were optioned. But over a year ago, one of the owners died, and the other retired soon thereafter. So, I’ve spent a great deal of my time since then trying to find new representation, but to no avail. In the meantime, I continue to write. 

Where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter?
As mentioned above, I hope to find new representation, but it’s a bit like finding the right marital partner. For it to last, the partnership needs to include mutual affection, respect, and goals. 

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
Keep writing. Yes, like everyone I’d love to sell my work and see it on any screen. But the most important thing is to keep doing what I love, which is the odyssey of crafting a good screenplay. 

The film and television industry is constantly evolving. How do you see the role of screenwriters changing, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence?
No matter what the delivery system, people have always been drawn to stories. We’re nourished by them. I don’t see that changing no matter what comes down the pike. 

Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
I’ve always liked how diverse William Goldman’s scripts were. I’ve tried to emulate him a bit by writing scripts in a variety of genres.  
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What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
The incomparable “The Wizard of Oz” because it’s still so inspiring and delightful after all these years and is filled with valuable lessons for storytellers; and Francois Truffaut’s masterpiece “Jules et Jim,” which showed me that the movies could be much more than I’d ever imagined.   

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Keep writing. (Seat of the pants to the seat.) And don’t give up. Ever.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?)
I’m a member of ISA and also on Coverfly – where THE DARKEST LIGHT is in the top 1% out of over 155,000 projects!

Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.)
Same as above – ISA and Coverfly.

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