WILL TURNER BRETT
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WILL TURNER BRETT

Can you tell us about your journey into screenwriting? What inspired you to pursue this career?
The glitz and glamour. (No, not really.) I like watching movies and TV shows and I’ve always tried to make stuff which I would like to see more of; as a kid I'd try to make Hiphop music in my friend’s shed – as an adult, I write screenplays.

Your stories often focus on themes of resilience and personal growth. How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
Stories present themselves in your mind and your job is to refine them into something which makes sense to other people. Every story is either about personal growth or resilience in some sense.

Could you walk us through your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive?
I work full-time as a teacher, go to the gym, cook a lot, see friends, and attempt to find love, all while living and paying rent in one of the most expensive cities in the world (London). So finding the time to write is the challenge. Structuring the day is the least of my worries. Sit down, focus, write. Make it good. That’s it.

When approaching a new screenplay, how do you organize your ideas before diving into the actual writing?
Do you start with a detailed outline, or do you prefer to let the story unfold as you go? Normally with a rough outline of about a page or two. If it’s a feature, I usually like to think of a great ending and write backwards. If it’s a series pilot, then I usually work forwards with the aim of amplifying or severely altering the world by the end of episode 1.

How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt during your creative process?
Writer’s block suggests that you’re trying to force yourself to write something. I’d suggest that if you don’t have anything to say at that moment then don’t force it. Do something else you enjoy.

What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
Laptop. Cup of tea.

Your screenplays have earned over 20 laurels in contests. How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests?
Through participating and working for contests, I’ve learned that film festival results are mostly arbitrary. Winning or not depends on the whim of an anonymous individual the other side of the world and doesn’t really reflect too much on the quality of your work or its potential value. Of course it’s nice to win, and if you never win you should endeavor to improve. But don’t read too much into it.

Screenwriting often requires a deep understanding of character. How do you develop characters that feel authentic and relatable?
Just make characters distinct. Distinct is authentic. Make them consistent with themselves. And if they are in a state of change, then the change should make sense with the world. It’s easier said than done, but that’s pretty much all there is to it. I’m not sure that relatability is necessary all the time because, in a way, the audience is able to relate to most things through their imagination.

As someone with Mexican-American, Native-American, and Azorean heritage, how do your cultural backgrounds influence your storytelling?
As far as I know, I’m not Mexican-American. Lo siento.

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 don’t know, honestly. I doubt the role of screenwriters will change much due to A.I. However, I do think that studios should be more willing to take risks with medium budget projects to allow potential up and coming writers more opportunities. That’s how we got many of the movies from the 90s and before, which are considered absolute classics today. I think audiences would
appreciate it. It’s an economic issue not a technological one.

What advice would you give to aspiring screenwriters trying to break into the industry today?
I haven’t broken into the industry so what the hell do I know!? Just do your thing, whatever that is.

What are the key skills a screenwriter needs to succeed in such a competitive field?
Passion and focus.

How do you balance creative freedom with the demands and feedback from producers, directors, and studios?
Limitations can allow freedom to flourish.

Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting career and how you overcame it?
I don’t have a screenwriting career so I guess having a career at all would be the main challenge, and I’m still working on overcoming it.

What do you hope audiences take away from your work? Are there particular emotions or messages you aim to evoke through your storytelling?
I hope they find it immersive, gripping and enjoyable.

You’ve written both feature-length scripts and TV pilots. How does your writing process differ between the two formats, and do you prefer one over the other?
(Answered above.)

With several successful screenplays under your belt, what are your creative goals for this year? Any new projects or collaborations you're excited about?
There are some of my earlier scripts which I’d like to revisit and refine. I have improved as a writer over the last few years so it would be good to bring some of my older scripts up to current standards.

What are your thoughts on diversity in Hollywood, particularly in screenwriting? How important is it to you to see more diverse voices and stories on screen?
In my opinion, diversity is fantastic. However, the definition of diversity is often limited to biological labels such as race, gender or sexuality. My understanding of diversity also involves variety of outlook and approach, which does not depend on social labels. This is what I’d like to see more of – psychological and creative, as well as biological, diversity.

How do you keep growing and improving as a writer? Are there specific habits, workshops, or feedback processes you follow to sharpen your skills?
Keep practicing and get regular feedback from sources whose opinion you respect. Not just any geek off the streets.

Lastly, where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter? Are there any dream projects or genres you’d love to explore?
I see myself living at the top of an ivory tower looking out over Hollywood with a delusional air of self-importance and grandeur while smoking a pipe and drinking a beer with my feet in one of those portable foot spas.

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