DORENE LORENZ

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Juneau, Alaska
 
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?
Several times a day in any Alaska newsroom those who work there look at each other and with earnest say things like, ‘you just can’t make this up.’

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?
Years of watching the unimaginable happen lends for great cocktail party stories, followed by sleepless friends ringing you up in the middle of the night from all corners of the earth to ask ‘so what happened today?’ It became self-evident that there was an audience for these stories, the ones behind the headlines and what actually gets reported, the ones we tell amongst ourselves, and since the storylines often develop over years it only made sense that a television series was the proper platform.
I took notes for years, made several draft attempts, but it wasn’t until October 2022 when my former roommate related a unbelievable tale of being left behind in a remote area when she went behind the car to pee that I found the urgency that was missing before.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
I write most every day, shoot and edit short films just as often.  Its the lifestyle.  Taking MasterClasses from the giants  - my crushes Aaron Sorkin and Hans Zimmer, and the admirable Shonda Rhimes helped me find my voice and express it.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Most helpful of all, the one-on-one meeting that I had with Robert L. McCullough, WGA .  My script had a dozen professional readers at that point, some with great feedback, others that made me wonder if they had actually read my script, McCullough offered insight, useful takeaways, and meaningful recommendations.  It was time well spent, and I am very grateful for the sharing of his talent and resources.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
There are far to many worthy bodies of work to pick just one.  Sweet Land, Le Reign Margot, Dangerous Liaisons, Hero, both True Grit films, Atonement, The Others, North by Northwest, Shindler’s List, Legends of the Fall, the Swedish version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, Juno, Gosford Park, anything by Baz Luhrmann.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
I have been to a lot of film fest as an actress, director, presenter or audience member, not a one as script writer.  It was a very foreign thing to enter a script.  Advice, get over yourself and enter anyway.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
My point-of-view has been collected so  you can enjoy it home, find it at DoreneLorenz.com.

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