CATHERINE SCHANDL, M.Ed
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Catherine Schandl is a prolific Canadian writer of Hungarian origin, with multiple published books available on Amazon sites worldwide. She's the author of Sword of the Turul, a book of such historical merit that it's a notable resource at the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and is a selection of the Forbes Book Club. Her trilogy Swedish Gold and The London-Budapest Game provide a unique look at the world of the British Secret Intelligence Service during WWII.

Equally prolific as a screenwriter, her work in Madam Professor, The Girl in the Glacier, Shadows Imperfect, and Once Upon a Tiger in New York demonstrate a range of dramatic and comedic skills that truly set her apart.
The Interview
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​Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Toronto, 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?
While growing up I attended 4 different private schools, one of which had just started to accept female students. The teachers were strict, most lectured the old-fashioned way, and I was dis-interested. Years later when I looked back on my school years, I realized how comical some of the situations had been, ranging from a chemistry teacher who kept blowing up his lab to a snarly gym teacher/coach whose favorite sport was murderball, and other such quirky characters. Most of my teachers had been male so I opted to insert a female teacher into the equation to shake things up for my sitcom pilot. She is Madam Professor - aka Danielle Swan - a black poetess from Bermuda who holds a PhD in English from Oxford University. 
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Paxton Preparatory School desperately needs her help and of course she has a secret …My story relies partly on my memories and impressions from thoseschool days and came to me visually, so it had to be a script.
                       
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?
My writing began in my head, as I pondered how this story could be told. I spent some time every day for about a week imagining how it might unfold.
Then I took the FADE IN plunge and proceeded to write the pilot. The characters became more alive every time I revisited and added to a page. All in all, it probably took a month.
           
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To create something better every time.

Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
1. Mike Myers – because he created such great comedic characters -
   and we had the same Second City Toronto Instructor.
2, All soap opera writers – because they create original material daily
    with twists and turns.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
CHAPLIN.
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What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
The best thing I ever did was to get the Academy Analysis from the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards. I highly recommend it.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
A small-town mystery (script) with an inclusive cast of quirky characters.

My screenplay Once Upon a Tiger in New York recently won Best Screenplay at the San Diego Movie Awards. It may be the most unusual and the most challenging screenplay I've ever written...but these are unusual times we live in! What I think makes this particular script stand out from my other work is the exploration of multiple themes throughout, including agoraphobia, heritage, wildlife preservation, isolations, courage, crime, intercultural miscommunication, love, death, fear, violence, religion, avarice, and the plight of displaced persons. 
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Where can we find out more about your writing?
My professional writing and producing credits are all available on my IMDB page.