J. THOMAS PETERSON
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Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Hansville, Washington, USA
 
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?
I have been interested in undersea exploration since I was five years old when I went to see a double feature at a drive-in that featured Cinderella and the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. I was bored to death by Cinderella but riveted by the Undersea World.
I wrote a script instead of a short story because I thoroughly enjoy the screenwriting format. I like how screen writing forces you to think in an active voice and use the minimum number of words to convey the message. Many years ago, there was a website called Movie Poet. That site helped me become a significantly better screenwriter in a very short period of time.
 
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 tend to work off of a rough outline. I wrote the original script in about 2 1/2 days but then revised it multiple times making it longer and more detailed over a period of a couple of years.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
Ultimately, I would enjoy being a full time writer either as part of a writing room or as an individual. I have a very unique background among most writers, and it gives me a lot of material to draw off of. In my life I've been an Army officer, a professional intelligence officer, a stockbroker, an airport planner, and now I work in higher education and planned giving advancement and development.
 
Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
I entered my short as a full script because I wanted the full coverage.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
I don’t think I could really ever limit myself to just one, but among my favorites are the Bourne series, Patton, and Argo (I was directly involved with the attempted rescue mission and was nearly a hostage). But I also love dramedies and sitcoms. Some of my favorites are Big Bang Theory, Reservation Dogs (I live adjacent to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Little Boston Reservation), and What We Do In The Shadows.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Don’t give up! Write what you’re interested in, not necessarily what you know, and don’t be afraid to rewrite as often as you need to.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
Three features I’m working on are the story of the first American woman to be captured by the Nazis during WWII, the story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (that I wrote with two cowriters), and a true crime tale of a couple I worked with who embezzled $30 million – and got away with it!