barbara g. grant
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Silicon Valley, 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? I’d written a short story, a supernatural romantic thriller, set in the same Gold Country mansion where people see and hear things that are not explained. I wondered, what happens when you merge what’s already going on there with the deliberate technical creations of virtual reality? VR House, my TV series pilot, is the result. 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? It took two months to write the screenplay once the treatment was written. Today, I outline, but I also make use of index cards when I add scenes or need to move them around. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? I’d like to turn VR House into a series that people appreciate for dramatic content and of course, writing. I’d also like to enhance conversations on the impact of technology on society and on the individual, as I believe we are at a crucial juncture now. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? I entered both. I entered the First 10 Pages once, and the Full Script three times, opting for the full critique each time. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? So many favorites, but here I’d say, “Contact.” Jodie Foster’s never-give-up protagonist is a role model. I also appreciate “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” particularly its 2011 version, as it’s an exceptionally well-crafted story. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? The Wiki critiques were all-important. I had analyses that I studied over and over again before making changes and re-submitting. I’d advise writers to get the full analysis and go over it diligently. The fact that each reviewer has a unique perspective is a plus… you get a very well-rounded take on your material. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? A screenplay about the U. S. aerospace industry downsizing at the end of the Cold War. This was actually a tectonic shift, given the very high level of our engineering and scientific capability at the time. Few people remember it now, and it deserves a closer look. |
