TAMMY OLSEN
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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
 I currently live in Los Angeles, California but I’m originally from New Hampshire.
 
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 was literally a picture I saw while scrolling Instagram! And I built the world, story and characters around it.
The script I’m working on right now was inspired by an element of a story I saw on the local news.
I feel my storytelling style fits the screenplay format best.
 
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 always outline in Word. Filling in as many details as possible for each scene, even with bits of dialogue, makes writing the first draft much easier for me. This one took a few months from outline to finished first draft.
Then I move onto something else for a month and go back with fresh eyes to do another edit before I show it to my amazing writers group.
The draft that placed as a finalist was #8.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To collaborate with like-minded people and create fun, memorable entertainment for a global audience.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
I’m a woman who writes action, adventure, fantasy and sci-fi and those women who have already found success inspire me.
Most recently, I attended a panel where one of the writers of the ‘Has Fallen’ series, Katrin Benedikt, spoke about how she’s navigated the industry and found success writing in the same genres I do and it was inspiring to hear.
But there are so many other writers that are inspiring in different ways.  
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
That’s like picking a favorite child! It can’t be done!
80’s film and tv are my main sources of inspiration. Indiana Jones. Star Wars. Goonies. ET. Labrynth. Die Hard. But there are so many more that I love.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Keep writing and honing your craft. Read scripts in the genres that you love. And even those that you don’t. You can learn from every one.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I always have several features in various stages of completion.
While I love writing big budget, genre films, I also know that it’s not likely that anyone is going to want those scripts from an unknown writer. So, I have those as writing samples and am concentrating right now on writing more budget friendly scripts that have genre twists.
 
Right now I have all my completed and available scripts on Coverfly: https://writers.coverfly.com/profile/tlowrites

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