Elijah Maier
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Atlanta, GA 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? This summer I hiked the Appalachian Trail. While I was there, I heard many local legends, ghost stories, and tales of cryptids and I wanted to bring them to the screen. When hiking at night, sometimes even deer are terrifying and I wanted to capture that feeling. I love film as an art form and want to be a part of it. 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? Most of the story I came up with as I hiked. However, I usually outline extensively before putting words on the page. Once I do, it takes many drafts before I come up with a product I'm satisfied with. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? Ultimately, I'd like to write and maybe direct major feature films, mostly in the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? I chose to do a full script because, in my mind, I already had the whole story. I don't usually write until I know how it ends, so I just write it all at the same time. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? That is extremely difficult to pick and I honestly can't. However, my favorite horror movie of all time and a big inspiration for my script is The Ritual. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Just keep trying. Don't give up, even when the rejections start piling up. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? This short film is actually the pilot episode of an anthology series about cryptids I am writing called The Woods. |
