JASON WHITE
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Marlow, OK – The heart of the Bible Belt and the oil patch. 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? We’ve all seen a fast talking “televangelist” and wondered if he’s doing it for the money, for his ego or for God? In my screenplay The Vigorish, I just wanted to tell the story of that modern-day television Preacher, that despite appearances, really is doing it for the right reasons. All of my story ideas tend to have a deeply flawed Protagonist with a heart of gold and a desire to do the right thing. But to answer the question, the original idea for The Vigorish started on a trip to Vegas with some friends. That trip planted the seed and it grew from there. 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? As far as process goes, I basically create the characters and “their world” and then just turn them loose to do their thing. I start with the first scene and try to let the characters tell the story. This gets me interested and engaged in the story as opposed to checking boxes on a “3 Act Checklist”. This method isn’t very efficient and results in a lot of re-writing, so it typically takes me a year or two to finish a script. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? I’d love to say that my ultimate ambition is to craft beautiful stories that touch people deeply and cause them to ponder their existence on a higher level, but I’d be lying. I just want to write stories about quirky characters that are thrust into interesting situations. And like all screenwriters, my ultimate goal is to make a movie for others to enjoy. Which film or television writers inspire you? Why? I’m really not a movie guy. I have a short attention span, so watching an “epic story” unfold can be excruciating for me no matter how “epic” it is. I still have scar tissue from watching the first Mission Impossible. Twenty years later and my wife is still trying to explain it to me. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? I like simple plots that make you think a little and feel a lot. I also like stories told from a “bad guys” perspective. Some that come to mind are Shawshank Redemption, Good Will Hunting, Cool Hand Luke. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Write. Submit. Re-write. Repeat. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (be sure to include any links you want the world to check out) I have a few other screenplay ideas marinating. I’m am also working on the soundtrack for The Vigorish. The character Steve, was based on an original song that one of my friends wrote called “Preacher Steve”. When the movie gets made, that song and a few others we’ve written, need to be in the movie! |
