Caoimhin Mac an Bhreitheamhan
The Interview
 CaoimhÃn Mac an Bhreitheamhan
How did you discover The Wiki Screenplay Contest and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
Research. There is a plethora of contests online. Many are dubious. I looked for bona fide contests that have industry wide credentials and have experienced industry professionals on staff that can provide professional feedback. To me the idea behind screenplay contests is twofold – in the first instance they provide valuable feed back on your work to make it better, and second, if you laurel with a credible and respected organization this provides the writer with a degree of credibility. The Santa Barbara Internation Screenplay Awards and the Wiki Screenplay Contest ticks these boxes. In both contests I laureled as a finalist. Where do you live (City, State, or Country)? I was born in Vancouver where I lived for most of my life. I have also lived in Toronto and Atlanta Georgia. Currently I live in Belfast and the Scottish Highlands – both in the UK. I find that living in different countries and cities brings a unique perspective to the stories I write. |
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? What inspires your overall journey into screenwriting?
The inspiration for the story came from reading news articles about the work of British international human rights lawyer Amil Clooney. She represented the ‘Hooded Men’ in front of the European Court of Human Rights. 14 men from the North of Ireland were selected by the UK government for arrest without trial, torture and internment in 1971. The story shocked me. The story demands a visual and theatrical experience and the opportunity to reach the widest possible audience. It’s relevance is very much an issue in today’s political climate. I was a creative writer from a young age and into my adult life. During these years, I developed a passion for writing and in particular the film industry and theatre industry. Life for good or bad, took me in a different direction. I worked in the corporate world until 2014 when one day I had a cardiac arrest. I decided the time had come to follow my passion. Over the last years I transitioned my life returning to writing and the creative arts. I write short stories and screenplays. I also have been working on ideas for some plays. How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes? My current focus is to write about justice. These stories are important for humanity and more important today than at any time in recent history. The Hooded Men is that kind of story. Rescued - another one of my screenplays is a thriller that focuses on the injustices and the inhumane treatment of people and animals. What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive? I put my head down every day after lunch. I write for at least 5 hours – with mini breaks. Sometimes the writing takes me past midnight. If the creative juices are flowing – you must keep going. |
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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 Hooded Men was a highly complicated endeavor. The research took five years – the writing of the play, two years. I wanted to get the tone right and the history right. One of my other screenplays – Rescued was written in 6 months. I find that an initial outline works best as it provides a road map for the story, plot and the structure. After I have written the first 10 pages I submit them for analysis and criticism: it is then I write the log line. |
How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
Writers Block: If I cannot put pen to paper, I write and brainstorm in my head. If I am experiencing a severe block, I find cooking or baking helps move things along. Doubt: I handle doubt by believing in myself and that my writing is relevant and has a universal appeal. What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter? I use an industry accepted software program called Final Draft. If you are constantly formatting your workflow suffers. How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests? Which contests have you entered...and how has your work been received overall? Have those contests been helpful to you in your writing? I approach competitions with caution. My focus has been with the WIKI Screenplay Contest and the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards. In both contests, my work was well received and the critique of my work that came back was very professional and proved invaluable. Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting and how you overcame it? The biggest challenge was to develop a daily routine. As a businessperson, routine comes naturally, but as a writer, it takes on a different feeling. To overcome this, I created a ‘sense of urgency’ in my work – a business tactic that always works. If you are balancing your “writing time” with a “day job”...how are you managing that? One of the reasons The Hooded Men took a long time to write was the juxtaposition of the day job with writing, and at night balancing family life with writing. To overcome these, I wrote after 8pm or so. I also made a goal where I had to complete a certain amount of writing hours per week. That way, if I missed a night, I could make it up. |
Where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter?
I see myself as a successful screen writer who has a solid body of work. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? My ambition is to bring to people stories that they can relate to and that those stories will make a difference in their lives. The film and television industry is constantly evolving. How do you see the role of screenwriters changing, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence? Have you used A.I. in your writing; if so, how have you used it? I have not used AI nor would I. AI technology relies on information from the past. It only knows what has been put into it. This means AI can only bring you a formulaic creative process. The giant streamers are decision driven by their algorithms. They are risk adverse and prefer to fund what the algorithms tell them. The exception are projects by those in the industry establishment – the sure thing. This corporate business Performa is a creative block for the screenwriter who has something unique to say. Unfortunately, current and future screenplay writers will be inclined to write in line with the algorithms to make a living. Which film or television writers inspire you? Why? Martin McDonagh inspires me as a writer. His plays and screenplays are original – not driven by algorithms. His work explores the human condition unearthing the dark and absurd. His characters drive the stories and the worlds they create. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? The Banshees of Inisherin. |
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What advice do you have for aspiring screenwriters?
This is a tough and competitive business – you have to invest in yourself. The best thing an aspiring screenwriter can do is to take courses by an accredited organization/person, read many spec screenplays, (not shooting scripts), watch movies with a view to analyzing story, plot, characters and scenes, and invest in industry software. Lastly, find a mentor – even if you have to pay them. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?) Rescued. This is a thriller that explores man’s inhumanity and unconditional love. Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.) My social media links: |
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