KEVEN WICKHAM
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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Belfast, the North of Ireland/Scotland - UK
 
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 the story came from reading about the work of Amal Clooney who was representing the ‘Hooded Men’ in front of the European Court of Human Rights. The Hooded Men were innocent human rights men and others who were selected by the government for arrest without trial, torture and internment in 1971.  I was shocked by the story. The story of Seán McKenna stood out because his daughter Mary championed his case. I decided his story, and that of the other Hooded Men had to be told.
When the story broke in the fall of 1971, it captured the attention of the world’s media.
I wrote a script to be able to reach a wide audience. I hope it can be a cautionary tale. The Last Colony is also a story about colonialism. In the north of Ireland in 1971 British government used ‘techniques’ they had previously refined in their colonies.
 
Log line:
One day they will come for you.
Brutally oppressed by the British state, a Northern Irish civil rights man and his family seek redemption and justice.

Synopsis:
The Last Colony starts at the beginning of the Troubles and follows the story of civil rights activist Seán McKenna, who puts everything on the line for human rights making him a target of the British Government led by Prime Minister Heath.  After witnessing her father endure arrest without trial and brutal torture at the hands of the British, his daughter Mary, along with the Irish government take up the cause for his justice culminating in the first interstate human rights case heard by the European Commission on Human Rights.

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?
When I first heard about the protagonist and read about what happened to him, I decided I had to tell his story.
This is a bio drama, so I had to start with research - 4 years of research: it was important for me to get the facts right. When you research you grab hold of everything you think underpins the story of the protagonist. Then, the difficult decisions of what to keep and what to throw away. Not easy. The final draft was completed in year 5.
I outlined the character arch of the protagonist and built the story/plot from there. Once the first 30 pages were written I reached out to the SB Wiki Contest for an evaluation of the first 10 pages. This precipitated a focus change and sent me in a better direction.
When the draft screenplay was completed, I sent it out for analysis and criticism with the SBISA. The feedback saw me delete 40 ‘close to my heart’ scenes and replace these with new scenes while tweaking and re-writing others.  The screenplay was much better, tighter, and focused.
As a writer I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having your work critiqued by a reputable person or organization of competence.  If you do not have a manager or mentor, reach out to a contest that is bona fide and industry respected. Do your research.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
My voice is to highlight the oppressed and to bring to light how humankind justifies its oppression given its relative morality. There are civil rights issues in every country and these stories resonate.
As a child in Canada in 1970, the federal government suspended everyone’s rights and put troops on the street. I witnessed brutality meted out in my city, there were hundreds arrested without charge and the daily feeling of doom for my fellow countrymen left an indelible impression.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Martin McDonagh inspires me. A play-write and screenplay writer, he creates amazingly driven characters whose arcs are highly engaging. Another writer is Jim Sheridon. Jim wrote - In the Name of the Father. A story about a group of young men and women who won freedom after being falsely accused of terrorism and incarcerated for many years.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
 Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan. - Simply amazing.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
The best advice I can give is to find a bone fide industry professional who you will critique your work.  I reached out to the folks at SBISA several times. I found their feedback hard hitting yet very helpful. When you get the feedback, read it several times then put it down and come back to it in a day or two.  
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
The working title is - Rescued. It is a drama based on oppression and unconditional love.

Links:
IMDbPro Link
            https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm15038642?s=00c86fa9-4b2e-5a85-a0a1-858720e924e&site_preference=normal  
X         https://x.com/kevenwickhamIre

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