BILL ALBERT
​

 Picture
 Where do you live (City, State, or Country)? Annapolis, MD, USA
I live in Amana, Iowa, USA (about 15 miles from Iowa city)
 
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 started it as a novel called November Girl to focus on the mystery of this woman traveling across the US after a terrorist attack. It started growing from there. I got involved with a local public access station and shot a smaller version of this script. Once I started submitting it to festivals and talking to producers, I expanded it into what it is today. I keep trying to sell it and tell producers it’s not just an idea, but I have the story ready for them. I’ve actually written 18 episodes of the series.
 
    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?
With almost all of my work I have an idea of the first and last scenes. Everything else is a mystery and I just make it up as I go. I always figure if it’s a surprise to me it will be a surprise to the audience.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
I want to see the produced. It’s quite a passion project that I’ve been living with for 10 years now.
 
Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
It’s the full script of the pilot episode with lots of hints of things to come and places this story will go. I’m often asked, “what does it say?” Its message is that no matter how sure you are of the decisions you make you will eventually be held responsible for them. All of the main characters, good or bad, eventually will have to face what they’ve done, especially November.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
My favorite series taught me things. “Dr. Who” taught me the importance of the cliffhangers to keep the audience coming back.
“Hill Street Blues” taught me never to take the easy way out.
“The Twilight Zone” taught me how important it is to say thing instead of just telling a story.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Keep pushing. It’s not easy, it’s a long road you have to take, but keep going.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
A friend suggested I try writing something outside my comfort zone so I’m writing a murder mystery. “The killer could have been anyone, except the one who confessed.”