Joel Lesko

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Ashland Oregon, US
 
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?
I’m drawn to David and Goliath stories. How one courageous person can stand up, speak out, and make a difference. I’m interested in how a person chooses to change in order to find that strength. I’m curious about people who are open to a spiritual intuition and  struggle to trust it.  Inside of these bigger themes, Seeds is born of my passion for wellness, healthy food, sustainability and the importance of family farms. I wrote a screenplay because I want to see the movie.
 
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 started writing Seeds more than 20 years ago. I finished many drafts but the story didn’t feel right. Then, a few years ago I picked it up again, changed the protagonist to female and I sat with her. I journaled and gave her space to find her voice. Sometimes it felt like channeling, and I was writing her story.  
I also researched the world of organic and GMO farming, spoke with journalists and authors about the challenges and advantages of each, watched documentaries and movies, and interviewed farmers and lawyers. I was fortunate to find a mentor who asked me to send 10 pages every few weeks and having that accountability helped me a lot. We would read the scenes and it made it more real. So, my process is slow, immersive, no cards, intuitive, occasional white boarding, but mainly letting my subconscious bring the plot and issues forward.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
My ambition is to create. I love developing a story, getting into stuck places and finding solutions, going deep into a character and giving them a voice. I love to express all the stories that come to me, are in me, are waiting to come out…. And bring Seeds alive with great actors and crew.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Aaron Sorkin because of how he drops me into worlds I know nothing about. Tarantino because his writing is so direct, it thrills me. Nora Ephron because she just gets it all so right.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
Casablanca. Shawshank. Michael Clayton. These are the three that came to me first, but I love so many movies, all kinds of movies. Barry, Exterminate All the Brutes, Walter Mitty. Begin Again. Nomadland. Schindler’s List, Malcolm X…. So many.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Keep going. Accept that you may feel alone with your story and build the stamina to be there in that unfinished state. There are periods of incubation where you can’t talk about your story. Hold it. Let it bake. Don’t stop. Keep walking through the wasteland. If you can, take classes and find a mentor. Most of all, do it your way.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
Two episodic TV series - I am inspired by a group in my town that works to save endangered species. And I’m curiously developing a story about spiritual healing and the danger of cults.

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