aaron sprechler
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Los Angeles, CA 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? My grandmother is 100 years old, and for the past 4 years she has been dealing with an increasing amount of dementia. She has just as much personality, sass, and wit as she always has, but she can’t remember what we’ve just talked about after 2 minutes. I wanted to show that character off, because she’s always been an inspiring and loving person to me even when she tells me my clothes are ugly (lovingly). I also thought it would be funny to see loving grandparents make fun of their stupid grandkids. I wrote a script because I wanted to ultimately film it so people could experience the character, not read about her. 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? This script took me about 2 months. For me, it’s all in the editing. My first draft had too many jokes, lacked structure, and lacked a real story arch, but I nailed the characters. Then each revision brought it back to the core of the story: the friendship. I highly value the notes of close friends who helped me make it what it is now. For a short script I don’t outline or use note cards, I can write funnier lines if I improvise. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? I want to create a story that changes the way people see everyday occurrences or people. Like how THE MATRIX made you look at the internet differently, or TOY STORY made you wonder if your toys really did come to life when you weren’t around. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? My entry was both a full script and the first ten pages because my short script was only 8 pages. Life’s easy when you don’t have to make decisions. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? Impossible question, everyone should have a list of their favorites, each one highlighting a different part of storytelling you love. One of the most complete TV shows I’ve ever watched is SCRUBS. I really love how absurd yet heartfelt that show can be all the time. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Listen to notes people have on your script, know when they’re just making it different and not better, and apply to A LOT of competitions. And revise, revise, revise. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I recently finished working on an Apple TV+ show called “Shantaram”, you should watch whenever it comes out, or read the 1,000 page book to see if you like it first. I’m also writing a book of short stories that I’m hoping to finish in the next few months. |
