DONALD MORGAN
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Bedford, New Hampshire 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? A friend of mine who’s a history buff had told me about a coup that had been planned against F.D.R. soon after he’d become President. That intrigued me, and the more I learned about the planned coup, the more I was inspired to create a story about that historical event. The reason for writing a script was because the story was already so visual in my mind that it needed to be a movie to give it justice. 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 about two years of writing and rewriting before I finally felt my characters were telling the story in a way that would really engage the audience. My writing process starts with a lot of research and brainstorming, and then I use that to create an outline to guide me from the first very rough draft to what eventually becomes a polished final draft. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? Seeing one of my scripts come to life on the big screen would be incredible. Until then, I’ll keep writing while trying to improve my craft. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? I entered a full script, and made that choice because I wanted to get feedback and see how my writing would do against the other talented writers competing in the Wiki Screenplay Contest. I had previously been a Semi-Finalist in another Wiki Screenplay Contest with my script, “Warrior Redemption,” and wanted to try the same level of competition for this script. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? There are a lot of great movies, but “Rocky” is my all-time favorite. Everything Sylvester Stallone went through writing the script and then getting the movie made with the vision he wanted inspires me as a writer. To me, the movie’s not so much about boxing as it’s about the human spirit told in a way that I think many people can identify with. Life’s hard, but we need to keep getting up and facing the challenge. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Don’t be afraid of the blank white page, and be your own worst critic. If your story doesn’t ring true in the way you intended it, don’t be afraid to take it from another angle and tackle it again no matter how many drafts or rewrites it takes. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I have a few other screenplays that I’ve completed, and while my scripts have mostly been serious pieces, I’m enjoying the chance to work now on a TV sit-com and see where that takes me. |
