JOSE LESSA
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil 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’ve long developed a feeling that old myths, like the Greek myths, may have originated in real facts. Those were facts lost in the depths of time. As the Creation myth, in the Book of Genesis, had been challenged by “science” in Charles Darwin’s The Origins of Species, I came to consider that the biblical narrative could make perfect rational sense from the perspective of scientific advancements we are already familiar with. Besides, skeptics have always questioned what was God doing before he created this world. Theologians and prelates may develop strenuous efforts, complex and imaginative metaphysical “explanations”, but they cannot convince many people actually. 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’ve written the story originally as a novel, in 2012, but it has never been edited. Some ideas are better expressed in English than in Portuguese. However, a novel in the English language would require an editor in the US or in the UK. Later, I understood that the image of the starship Harmony Star flying across the space could be gracefully shown on a movie screen. So I started do convert it into a screenplay. I’ve just used the Movie Magic Screenwriter program. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? My ultimate ambition is to convey to people ways to see life as a fabulous adventure without fear or prejudices. I would suggest musical themes of my own for my script too. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? It was a full script. I thought that the first 10 pages wouldn’t cause the necessary impression. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? I’ve been a big fan of the Star Trek TV series in my youth because of the authors’ creativity. Modern war movies, like 1917, causes me a very strong impression for their technical quality. I enjoy reviewing old Hollywood musicals too. Rita Hayworth is my most beloved movie star ever. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? I’m not that experienced. This is my first screenplay. I would recommend however be as creative as possible, conveying good sentiments, and describing situation that can be translated into great shots on screen. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I am committed to writing a beautiful drama about a genius of baroque music. |
