CRYSTAL THOMAS
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in the beautiful State of New Mexico. 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? The inspiration for my story came from my experiences learning to be a good parent for my children. Raising my girls is the greatest thing I get to do with my life, but it can also be very difficult. One of the ways I deal with difficulty is through irreverent humor. So when I’d joke offhandedly about my “cute little monsters” and see the shock and then laughter in my friends & family, I realized that the notion of loving and raising actual monsters could be pretty funny. It has been a fun challenge to find moments of balance between humor and horror and to explore those. I majored in Theatre, so my background and experience is deeply rooted in collaboration and the life that physical performance – on stage or on screen – brings to a story. 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? I’ve had notions of this and other stories floating around in my head for years, but the script itself probably took a few weeks, on and off. I have post-it notes, napkins, empty envelopes – whatever – stashed in odd places with sudden inspirations splashed on them. Although, now that I’m submitting complete stories for professional evaluation, I’ve become more organized about it. I set up outline and beat board templates to better track my story and characters. I do know almost all of my endings before starting a story though. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? I would love to make a living writing features or for series. I want to tell compelling, unique, authentic stories. Our stories are a record of our culture and history, and it’s a great privilege to get to contribute to our collective history as a people. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? I submitted a short that was just a page or two over the “first ten”, so it made the most sense to get the professional feedback and evaluation on the whole thing. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? I have a special place in my heart for My Cousin Vinny. Well-structured, clever story arc, fun characterizations, so many different levels and types of comedy… it never gets old. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? I think that writers submitting their work should make sure the basics are met: spelling, grammar, formatting, structure, etc., so the readers can better focus their attention on enjoying and evaluating the story. Also, I have received the greatest feedback for my stories that have a unique take on a well-worn situation, that are memorable, and above all, are authentic. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I have a short I wrote in post, another short in pre-production, and a feature and a pilot in development. |
