JERZY SUCHOCKI
​

 PictureJERZY SUCHOCKI
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Mexico.
 
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?
Well, I love Westerns and comedies, and I wanted to do something that combined both genres but that felt different. I was also obsessed with the idea of a group of nuns shooting rifles from inside a church, and I thought that the best way to create that scene would be by making a Western comedy about a nun who turns into a gunfighter. Then, everything just came together and it was quite a fun experience to write.
As for why I wrote this story as a screenplay, I just think it would be quite a cinematic experience… and, to be honest, I’d love to direct this project myself. I just love it so much!
 
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?
To be fair, coming with the right idea took a few months… but once I felt like this was the story I wanted to do, I wrote it in just nine days. Of course, there was plenty of rewriting afterwards, but I was very inspired during that first draft.
I tend to write an outline… but, for me, once the characters start talking and interacting, the story writes itself and I just go with the flow. I think that in the case of “Sister Mary” the result was a bit different from what I originally had in mind, but I was pleased with the final product – and I’m hoping to use the elements that didn’t make it to this story into another one.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
I want to create stories that entertain and amuse people, and that can also make outsiders at heart like myself to feel included. I think that films are the ultimate art form to create empathy (the key element for any civilized society) and if we make stories that allow us to understand each other’s points of view, we can create something special.
 
Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
In this occasion, it was a “first ten pages”, because I wanted to see how the script performed with just that – and I’m so pleased it made it as a Finalist! That said, I do find your full script coverage quite helpful and the notes I received in three other entries were great.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
Ah, too many to pick! I’ll go with The Fellowship of the Ring, because, for me, is the ultimate adventure film. Everything about it is perfect and it just holds a very special place in my heart. But, again, I love Westerns and comedies, so I have to make a shootout to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and The Royal Tenenbaums, and Pulp Fiction, of course. That’s the film that got my attention into screenwriting.
As for TV shows, I’ll go with FX Legion, one of the craziest television experiences ever. And for comedy, 30 Rock and Parks and Rec. All of these shows are brilliant.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Well, make sure your first 10 pages are great, haha! No, for real, winning or placing finalist in a contest is not easy. There are countless factors and the competition is huge… but I do think that if you write with your heart, if you write something you truly love and that only you could write, people will notice it. Writing is hard. It takes a lot of time and effort, and you don’t know what’s going to happen with your project, so all you can do is trying to enjoy the experience and that is only possible if you’re really in love with your project. So, in the words of Tarantino, write what is in your heart.
That said… pay attention to formatting and structure. These two elements go a long way and they help a lot to make readers understand what you’re trying to do.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
Too many things, actually. I’m trying to make my directional debut – a horror comedy called How to Expose Possible Vampires (And Not Get Killed in the Process), and I’m polishing three other Westerns, a dystopian saga, a Victorian anti-romance, a period fantasy, and a couple of horror pieces. And a few comedies. What can I say? I just love writing!