JOEY MEDINA
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How did you discover The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards, and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
Well, The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards is a well-respected festival, and I felt confident enough in my screenplay to submit it.
 
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Los Angeles, CA.

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?
Well, honestly, I wrote the script, “Buddy & the Man,” to shoot it and be nominated for an Academy Award for a short film. I love making people feel “something” with my scripts and films. I felt that the story about a Vietnam vet who adopts an elderly dog whom no one wants would be a powerful film. And would be the type of film that would be nominated.
 
How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
I’m a professional stand-up comedian, but I like to write stories and direct dramas. Because I can make anyone laugh on stage, I want to pull on their heartstrings and have them feel empathy and compassion.
 
What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive?
I only begin to write when I know the story's beginning, middle, and end. Then, I then find a Starbucks with an electrical outlet and live there until the script is complete.
 
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 usually write a synopsis first to see the entire film in my mind visually. Then, I start putting words and bringing the characters to life. “Buddy & the Man” took me approximately two weeks to write.
 
How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
Great question.  I try to look at the story from every angle. Then, I take a few days off and relax, and usually, something will pop up in my head. 
 
What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
Final Draft is the only software I use now. I used others in the past, and they were fine. But Final Draft offers a lot more now than ever before. Grammarly is a plugin I recently discovered. It proofreads whatever you write in real-time.  It is a tool every serious writer should have. I also use scriptreader.ai to get coverage and insight into my scripts. It’s very inexpensive and helps in more ways than one. I highly recommend it.
 
How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests?
Well, I keep my fingers crossed.  There are so many talented writers, and the competition is fierce. But I always try to see what type of stories have won in the past, get a feel for what the festival likes, and submit something similar.
 
Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting and how you overcame it?
Well, I have ADHD, and I hate sitting down behind a computer and just writing.  I also hate reading for the same reason. But the feeling of creating a beautiful story and powerful script always pushes me forward.
 
Where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter?
Sitting at a Starbucks, writing something amazing.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?  
To direct whatever I write, which I have already done for most of my scripts.
 
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?
I like it. There are more audiences and genres to write for.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
There are so many. And so many, I don’t even know their names. But I love how Quentin Tarantino writes dialog. It feels authentic and conversational in how people speak in the real world.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
My favorite film of all time is ROCKY. It is an amazingly beautifully written film. The Godfather is also as good.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
First of all, congratulations to all of them. But my advice is to use that to motivate themselves.  Take the win and use it to inspire yourself to do it again and again.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?)
I just finished a short film called ARTHUR AVE that won awards for Best Short Script, Directing, Cinematography, and Editing. I am also writing what I call my “Blazing Saddles” script called “Wet Bacula.” It's about a Mexican vampire. It's an altogether politically incorrect comedy.
  
Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.)
​My Facebook and Instagram are @JoeyMedinaComic, and my production company website is BronxBoyEntertainment.com. 

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