ANHTUAN DOVENTRY
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Maplewood, NJ USA (NYC Suburb) 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? This is my parent’s story. I did initially try to write it in novel form, but I could never do it. I tried it for 20 years, but it never clicked. After 10 weeks and 400 hours of therapy to address my suicidal past, I saw a scene of my dad’s last night in Vietnam before leaving my mom and sister. All I could do was transcribe it. 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? The first draft was done in 14 days, but it’s never done. I keep going back and editing it when I get feedback that makes sense. My process is different than a lot of others. I usually see a specific scene in my head. Then I have a conversation and ask questions. Why is that person so calm as he’s in the tower. Why are these two boys such close friends? If those two are friends at a jazz club, why are they so smitten? Usually, within the next couple of days, the whole movie pops into my head, and I just write. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? To tell stories of the individuals. So many times we get caught up in the big stories or the headlines, but nobody takes a step back to see what happens to the person or the small family affected. Which film or television writers inspire you? Why? I know this isn’t what you’re looking for, but all of them do. Every single film or television show I’ve watched, I’ve learned something, or I’ve felt something. There are so many great storytellers out there. I will say, some of the best stories are ones that I’ve read and haven’t been produced yet. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? Forrest Gump is one that stands out. Something about Forrest just being okay with himself no matter what the world did around him was appealing to me. Something more recent would be ‘Young Sheldon”, specially those last couple of episodes. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Write what your heart tells you to write. Don’t be afraid to send it out. Listen to everybody’s feedback, but take only what your intuition tells you. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I have 13 more screenplays in my head, but the other three that are written and also doing well in competitions are ‘Love’, ‘9/11’, and ‘BLM’. Most of the titles tell you the topics. |
