JOHN BROWN

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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Atlanta, Ga
 
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?
The inspiration for my story was actually a personal one. Earlier this year one of the men that raised me was diagnosed with dementia in its early stages. I was a hurt and confused. So, I decided to create a story putting myself in his shoes, a much younger man you know, how would a late 30’s man handle his situation. I enjoy the change of creating a complex screenplay. What better way to optimize your creative juices than a great short narrative?
 
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?
Between edits and rewrites it took about 10 days to get a final draft. My writing process starts and ends with the white board. It’s literally my thoughts scattered across it. An amazing sight once it’s filled.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
My ultimate ambition as a writer is to be not just a writer that can place words on a page, but one that takes complex ideas and awe the world. I’d be one that adds to the very fabric that makes writers  unique tools.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Charlie Chaplin, David Ayer, Quentin Tarantino, Alice Walker are among the writers that inspire me. These writers were and are barrier breakers. Mr. Chaplin’s grit, unwilling to settle with his scripts or the first or second take on a film to Alice Walker’s willingness to tell a story like The Color Purple with so much depth. These people make up who I am as a writer.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
My all-time favorite movie would be The Color Purple.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
My advice to those that are looking to win or to simply compete with the best is to craft and cultivate every single detail of your script. Lastly, never for a moment dumb down your imagination. As long as you have the pen anything is possible.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
At the moment I am in pre-production for a comedy I wrote and in post-production for a short film we shot this past winter.