JJ BRENT

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in the Nashville area, in a town called Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

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 always loved thrillers, and I wanted to find an original angle inside the genre. With all the real-world stories about porch piracy, I thought it would be interesting to begin with something small, involving low-level crime and petty theft, and collide it with something much larger. Originally, the delivery driver in the story was going to be a serial killer. As I developed the idea, I realized there was a more relevant and terrifying issue to explore, which is human trafficking. I did not want the villain to be the stereotypical creep hiding in the shadows. I wanted the threat to be corporate and organized, protected by influence and money. These are the kinds of people who often escape real consequences. Placing two small-time criminals with big hearts against an institutional evil gave the story the David and Goliath contrast it needed. After writing the screenplay, I created a short story adaptation, but the world naturally lends itself to the screen. Sylvia’s revelation is deeply personal to me, and the entire story feels inherently cinematic.

How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process?
It took about two months to write Porch Pirates. I began with the opening sequence because I wanted to join Tommy and Sylvia in the act and show that their routine is methodical and rehearsed. My process is part planning and part discovery. I outline the major beats such as the beginning, middle, and end, and I carry the roadmap in my mind. I also allow the story to evolve. Large changes, such as shifting the villain from a lone killer to a corporate trafficking network, often happen during the drafting process. I like getting surprised by where the story goes just as much as a reader or viewer would be. I do sketch out my beginning, middle, and end, but most of the journey comes from letting the characters surprise me. When Tommy and Sylvia retrieved one of the kidnapper’s boxes early in the script, I genuinely did not know what was inside until they opened it.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
My ambition is to tell unique stories that feel true, lived-in, and emotionally honest. Like any screenwriter, I want to see my work on the big screen and watch my characters come to life through actors who share the same passion for storytelling that I do.

Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
I entered the full script. In fact, I submitted three full screenplays in the same round. One became a finalist, another was a quarterfinalist, and Porch Pirates won the top prize. I chose the full script instead of the first ten pages because I wanted readers to experience the complete stories. The first-ten-pages format has made me think more about gripping the reader earlier and more intensely. Going forward, I see it as a creative challenge. My goal is to hook the reader quickly, hold their interest firmly, and make it impossible for them to stop reading.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
My all-time favorite film is Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Shawshank Redemption. The film balances humor, brutality, tragedy, and hope with masterful storytelling. Decades pass in under two and a half hours, yet the passage of time feels rich and natural. The message of hope is not surface level. It is rooted in the idea that compassion and perseverance can change people who have nothing left. For television, this year’s The Lowdown with Ethan Hawke made a strong impression on me. It left me hoping that Tommy and Sylvia are the kind of characters who could stand beside Hawke’s Lee Raybon, who is a flawed but steadfast seeker of justice. His performance and the story behind it deserve to be seen and remembered.

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Write the story you would love to see, even if it feels imperfect at first. Earlier this year, I submitted my screenplay Flashing Back to the Austin Film Festival. After submitting, I printed it out and immediately saw every typo glaring back at me. Austin does not allow file updates, but they do allow a second entry of the same script if it is submitted as a new draft. I polished it and submitted again. To my surprise, both versions, including the flawed one, advanced to the Second Round. They placed in the top twenty percent out of more than nine thousand two hundred entries. That taught me something important. If the story resonates, readers will see past the rough edges. The feedback you receive is invaluable. Individual tastes vary, but when you see recurring notes across different readers, it helps you understand how your work is landing. Art is subjective, but understanding how to reach a broader audience is part of the craft. Applying feedback is not compromise. It is refinement, as long as the heart of the story remains intact.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I am currently writing a sequel to my screenplay Checking Out. It felt like a natural progression for the characters who survived the original ordeal. I am also working on an ensemble comedy that follows a group of friends over a twenty four hour adventure after reuniting for the first time in years following the loss of one of their core group members. In addition, I have two high-concept thriller and mystery projects in development that blend medical, psychological, and spiritual elements. I do not mind when my characters make mistakes, but I never want them to lose the audience’s support. I like stories that operate logically within the rules they establish. My goal is to create worlds where, if you heard the basic events on the news, you would be shocked and horrified, and you would believe they could really happen.