PAUL HUENEMANN
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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

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?
“EB and Flo” is about two older people in rural America who try to revive a town via a cafe for everyone.  There are lots of “little towns” across Mid America that are suffering a similar fate.  -and many are fighting that fate, and preserving their quality of life.  I own an animation studio here in the midwest, so naturally I think in terms of movies and scripts.   Scripts are hard enough, I can’t imagine writing a novel.   Maybe, with time…
 
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?
Write it?  Or rewrite it?  Or rewrite it again?
Of course, flash-of-imagination first, then, lots of “thinking about it.”   I make a sort of a “spreadsheet” where I lay out the plot, character, emotions, actions, anything else that might be germane.  Then, I get a couple of gallons of coffee and it goes together pretty fast.  After that, pester friends to read it, send it off for some excellent Santa Barbara feedback, and rewrite and “loop” all that until it’s good enough.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
I would love to see my script out in distribution in a successful film.  Be cool if it was animated….
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
All of them!  It’s a tough job, and to get it produced- awesome!
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
Ooooo, tough one!  Better to say, “which comedy” or “action” or “drama” show.  Right now, I’m dissecting “TED” on apple TV.  I’m jealous of the thinking that went into it.  “I appreciate them.”
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
WRITE!  I can’t count all the truly awful scripts I’ve written.  It’s expensive (watch for discounts and sales!), but the feed back from contests, such as Santa Barbara, are invaluable and worth it.  Read books on story and format- and read scripts from produced movies.   It’s so easy to do, you’ve got no reason not to.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
Another, script, ‘Sea Terror’ (Santa Barbara finalist ’23), just won a contest.  reworking on a Horror Comedy script ( involving a “Celestial Circus”  (winner short film @wiki contest- rewriting never stops!)  and just a glimmer of an idea for an animated children’s story-stay tuned, as they say…

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