HENRY SARWER-FONER

HENRY SARWER-FONER

How did you discover The Wiki Screenplay Contest and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
I found it through FilmFreeway. What drew me in was the quick turnaround – it’s rare to get good feedback that fast.
 
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
 
 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 Boyfriend's A Robot came from observing the absurdities of modern dating and the growing role of technology in shaping our relationships. It began with a simple question: What if the perfect partner wasn't human at all? 
As AI transforms how we live, work, and love, I wanted to explore our growing unease about machines developing emotions – and maybe even their own agendas.
I chose to write a script because the story felt inherently visual and visceral. It thrives on awkward silences, physical comedy, and the rhythm of banter – things that just don’t hit the same way on the page.
 
How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
I’m fascinated by how technology is reshaping human connection – for better and worse. I gravitate toward dark comedies that blend heart with discomfort, especially those exploring emotional disconnection in an over-connected world. I'm drawn to the tension between what we think we want and what we actually need – and use humor to peel back those layers.
 
What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive?
I write in focused two to three-hour blocks – usually morning and evening, with a strict "no internet" policy during these sessions. Between projects, I keep a daily habit of free writing to stay limber.
 
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 a couple of weeks to write the draft, but only after I had a solid outline locked down. I don’t start writing the script until the structure is airtight – usually a beat sheet first, sometimes fleshed out with index cards.
 
How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
I step away from the project and work on something completely different, often in another format. Long walks help too; most of my breakthroughs happen when I’m not actively chasing them. I also keep a “fragments” file – stray ideas, lines, half-scenes – that sometimes become the spark for something new.
 
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 contests strategically – looking for ones that offer meaningful feedback or exposure. 
I’ve been fortunate to win several, including Cannes Film Awards, Filmmatic, Big Apple, UK Film Festival, Los Angeles Film & Script Festival, European Short Awards, New York Screenwriting Awards, and the Wiki Screenplay Contest (twice).
 
Where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter?
Ideally, I’m writing for a series I actually want to watch – as well as directing my own independent projects.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To write and direct original work that blends dark humor with drama, tackling serious themes with a comedic edge.
 
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?
Streaming has opened the door to more specific, personal, and unapologetically weird stories – which is great. As for AI, I see it as just that: a tool. I’ve used it occasionally to brainstorm or break through creative blocks. But the heart of the work – the voice, the nuance, the emotional truth – still has to come from lived experience.
 
Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
Charlie Kaufman for his surreal exploration of human psychology, Phoebe Waller-Bridge for her raw, fearless character work, and Jesse Armstrong for crafting monsters we somehow empathize with. They all walk that tightrope between intellect and emotion.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
That’s tough. I’m drawn to stories that make me feel deeply, laugh out loud, and think all at once. For example: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” or series such as “Succession” or “Slow Horses.”
 
What advice do you have for aspiring screenwriters?
Write what only you can write. Don’t chase trends – they’ll be over before your draft’s done. Learn to love the rewrite. And get feedback from readers who give honest criticism, not reassurance. Finally, rejection is part of the job. Treat it like a workout – painful, but necessary.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?)
Nowhere Man (Sci-Fi Dramedy Feature)
When a socially anxious VFX artist goes viral using an AI-enhanced persona to win over his secret crush, he’s drawn into a tech CEO’s dark agenda – and must become the hero he was only pretending to be.

Dick 2.0 (Sci-fi Comedy Feature)
Facing a divorce that threatens to halve his fortune, a Wall Street billionaire replaces himself with a clone precisely engineered to save his marriage and net worth. But when he sees how much more his wife loves his duplicate, he must battle his better self to win back his better half.
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Just Watch Me (Horror Feature)
A burnt-out influencer buys a used camper van to revive herself and boost her followers, only to discover that a serial killer has wired it with livestreaming spycams – so viewers can vote how to murder her.
I’ve also got a couple of comedy TV series in development – more to come on those soon.

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