CAROL HOFFMAN
Carol Hoffman
How did you discover The Wiki Screenplay Contest and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
FilmFreeway. I wanted feedback quickly on my latest screenplay, "The Radio Programmer".
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Cleveland, OH.
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?
Years on The radio with my disc jockey husband inspired me to write "The Radio Programmer" which began as a novel and was shopped in New York by my agents but never sold. I did a screenplay adaptation and wrote 13 more screenplays before rewriting it. I had too much material for a short story and I enjoy writing scripts more than novels. Radio stories are short and I always had more good information than I could use, so I expanded the stories into newspaper and magazine articles. Several articles were the basis for other screenplays.
How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
My creativity comes from jobs, volunteering, radio and print interviews I have done and conversations with family, friends and strangers. My interview with a high school guy who made a prom dress for his girl friend was the spark for one of my romantic comedies. My husband’s second love, trains, led me to make an award-winning documentary and write an award-winning feature screenplay about Robert R. Young. I am drawn to stories about survival of the human spirit, believing in yourself, being there for others, sinning and finding redemption and love and forgiveness.
FilmFreeway. I wanted feedback quickly on my latest screenplay, "The Radio Programmer".
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Cleveland, OH.
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?
Years on The radio with my disc jockey husband inspired me to write "The Radio Programmer" which began as a novel and was shopped in New York by my agents but never sold. I did a screenplay adaptation and wrote 13 more screenplays before rewriting it. I had too much material for a short story and I enjoy writing scripts more than novels. Radio stories are short and I always had more good information than I could use, so I expanded the stories into newspaper and magazine articles. Several articles were the basis for other screenplays.
How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
My creativity comes from jobs, volunteering, radio and print interviews I have done and conversations with family, friends and strangers. My interview with a high school guy who made a prom dress for his girl friend was the spark for one of my romantic comedies. My husband’s second love, trains, led me to make an award-winning documentary and write an award-winning feature screenplay about Robert R. Young. I am drawn to stories about survival of the human spirit, believing in yourself, being there for others, sinning and finding redemption and love and forgiveness.
What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive?
My day begins around 6 am (my body clock never reset after years of morning drive) and I write until late afternoon. On my breaks, I walk Agatha, my American Eskimo rescue dog, to clear my head and solve writing problems. I played Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap and found Agatha after my Boxer-Shepherd rescue, Hitchcock, passed away.
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 version took several months. I rewrote it with some good tips from my Wiki coverage . I outline the story and use my radio investigative and research skills. My small independent production company has made award-winning feature, short and documentary films and music videos with original award-winning songs. Firsthand experience as a writer, producer, director and every other position that comes with filmmaking is a big help.
How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
When a walk doesn’t open up my mind, I stop writing, wait for the answers to come to me and jot down notes until everything falls into place. I also draw, paint and take pictures for pitch decks or make props needed for projects and music videos featured in my screenplays. Plan A was to study art, but that’s another story and another screenplay. I also drink wine by the grapevines in my garden.
What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
Final Draft.
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 enter contests with recognizable names that can help promote my screenplays and use the awards in my promotion efforts. My screenplays made the Wiki Finalist list five times and received good coverage and have won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival and placed in the Capital Fund Screenplay Competition Top 100 and Table Read My Screenplay Top 100. A WriteMovies.com coverage reader put my Christmas comedy/action/adventure screenplay, in the same arena as THE SANTA CLAUSE and HOME ALONE and added it has the same charm and sweetness that made those films successful, with also the possibility for a franchise.
My day begins around 6 am (my body clock never reset after years of morning drive) and I write until late afternoon. On my breaks, I walk Agatha, my American Eskimo rescue dog, to clear my head and solve writing problems. I played Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap and found Agatha after my Boxer-Shepherd rescue, Hitchcock, passed away.
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 version took several months. I rewrote it with some good tips from my Wiki coverage . I outline the story and use my radio investigative and research skills. My small independent production company has made award-winning feature, short and documentary films and music videos with original award-winning songs. Firsthand experience as a writer, producer, director and every other position that comes with filmmaking is a big help.
How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
When a walk doesn’t open up my mind, I stop writing, wait for the answers to come to me and jot down notes until everything falls into place. I also draw, paint and take pictures for pitch decks or make props needed for projects and music videos featured in my screenplays. Plan A was to study art, but that’s another story and another screenplay. I also drink wine by the grapevines in my garden.
What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
Final Draft.
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 enter contests with recognizable names that can help promote my screenplays and use the awards in my promotion efforts. My screenplays made the Wiki Finalist list five times and received good coverage and have won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival and placed in the Capital Fund Screenplay Competition Top 100 and Table Read My Screenplay Top 100. A WriteMovies.com coverage reader put my Christmas comedy/action/adventure screenplay, in the same arena as THE SANTA CLAUSE and HOME ALONE and added it has the same charm and sweetness that made those films successful, with also the possibility for a franchise.
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To inform as well as entertain and hopefully lead to positive change.
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?
The screenwriter still has to tell a unique story in their own style. I haven’t used AI. However, my historical drama and action screenplays could benefit from AI when it comes to reducing production costs.
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Shonda Rhimes. Some of my screenplays are true story period pieces.
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
North by Northwest.
What advice do you have for aspiring screenwriters?
Get full coverage and keep an open mind. My favorite quote is from Thomas A. Edison. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Don’t give up!
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?)
A sequel.
www.nibstar.com
Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.)
YouTube Nib Star Productions
To inform as well as entertain and hopefully lead to positive change.
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?
The screenwriter still has to tell a unique story in their own style. I haven’t used AI. However, my historical drama and action screenplays could benefit from AI when it comes to reducing production costs.
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Shonda Rhimes. Some of my screenplays are true story period pieces.
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
North by Northwest.
What advice do you have for aspiring screenwriters?
Get full coverage and keep an open mind. My favorite quote is from Thomas A. Edison. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Don’t give up!
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?)
A sequel.
www.nibstar.com
Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.)
YouTube Nib Star Productions
