JOHN RAVITZ
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Pelham, New York 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 enjoyed movies dealing with the underworld. For “Saint Catherine’s Boys” I wanted to combine a movie about the mafia with a twist. Which I hope I was able to do by focusing on the relationship between a hitman father who leaves his son on the steps of the same orphanage that he was raised in. 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 start with an outline, but then just dive in and begin to write. The first draft took four months to finish. I have done two rewrites which I believe helped the flow and tone of the script and flushed out many of the characters. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? I would love to have a producer/agent take a leap of faith with my project and take it to the next level. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? Full script. I wanted the judges to see the entire body of the work. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? Movies- The Godfather and Rocky. TV shows- The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Sons of Anarchy, Justified. For all of the above, the writing and characters are forever etched in my brain. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Keep writing and submitting your work. Develop that 80th layer of skin. Don’t get down with one bad review. If you believe in your work, keep moving forward. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I just finished two other action scripts; “Hunting The Deckers,” and “No Out.” |
