# Interviews

Ahead of every single element, the audience wants to be engaged with a character in a story that surprises them and keeps them constantly asking “oh my god, what happens next?” That’s everything to me.

But the truth is, you have to earn it, and you have to develop your craft to the point where you’re ready for that career.

Writers sometimes forget this is a business and that the majority of people who read your script are looking at it as a commodity. “Can I sell this concept?”

For a writer to stretch and find an original plot and a fresh and creative way to package those elements, that’s an illustration of high-concept.

The true definition of madness was becoming a reality. And it took a few years, money ran out, bills weren’t being paid, and it was time to go get a job again. But I always believed.

You may not require a hook, but your writing should really stand out to make your simple story pop. Practice your craft and read produced scripts.

For me, the trick is to constantly be working. I write seven days a week. When a draft goes into the studio or a spec goes out, you can’t wait to see what happens.

... writing a screenplay is so labor-intensive, I’ve found that I can’t grind away on something if I’m not totally enamored with it.

The Rock said, “Shut your mouth and know your role!” That’s how I feel about writing. If your voice is unique and your talent is special, I think your writing will come through no matter what genre you’re writing in.

From there, I thought, “What if a person could be totaled?” Deemed to be not worth the cost of repair. What kind of person would that be? What kind of world would that be?

As far as plot goes, I don’t think a futuristic drama is harder to write. It all depends on who you are. If I had to come up with an espionage thriller, my head would probably explode.

I always thought if I didn’t pursue screenwriting, I’d love to be a thief or crook of some kind. Maybe a counterfeiter—I hear there’s good money in it (rimshot).

Sometimes people are right, and sometimes they are not. It’s your job to take this feedback, interpret it, and make it your own.

... creativity and originality come from your unique voice, so if you try to focus too much on writing something marketable but your heart isn’t in it, then it’s going to show.

The whole set-up/joke thing is not how real people talk. It comes across false. I think today’s audiences are too mature for that.