KAREN SIFF EXKORN
 Karen Siff Exkorn
How did you discover The Wiki Screenplay Contest and how did you decide to enter this
contest among all the others? I discovered the contest through FilmFreeway and decided to enter it because of the fast turn- around and the promise of industry professional feedback. Wiki ended up going above and beyond! Where do you live (City, State, or Country)? 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? What inspires your overall journey into screenwriting? The Artichoke was inspired by my dad and his journey through Alzheimer’s. He was a brilliant and proud man whose inner light was still there right up to the very end. This screenplay is a tribute to him and to all of the caregivers who give so much love and energy to their loved ones. I chose to write The Artichoke as a screenplay because I wanted the audience to actually see and hear what it looks like for a close father/daughter relationship to experience the effects of Alzheimer’s. As a seasoned playwright, I wanted to expand my creative vision into another medium, and a film seemed just right. There are certain nuances that can be experienced on film that are different from theater. How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes? I always feel the need to have an emotional connection to my stories, whether they are dramas or romantic comedies. My projects are character driven; the characters have rich emotional lives that move the stories forward. Through my writing over the years, I’ve discovered something surprising--the more specific I am in creating the characters and their stories, the more universal the themes. What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive? I love the idea of having a typical writing routine, but honestly, I don’t have one. Because I’m an intuitive writer, I tend to write when I feel like it...or...I write when there’s a deadline (I’ve learned that I’m good under pressure). Funnily enough, my writing flows the most in the very early morning hours. Sometimes when I’m barely awake, I hear the first line of a script in my head. I quickly grab my phone and use the notes section to record my thoughts. I’m convinced that it’s easiest in the early morning because my brain is still in a relaxed state, so there’s no room for my internal critic to sneak in. I’ve actually written entire scripts on my phone before 6am. 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? The script was originally a stage play, so I needed to adapt it to a screenplay. While some of the dialogue remained the same, I had to reimagine it for a more visual medium. My writing process is purely instinctual—no outlines or organized storyboards. I “hear” dialogue that comes to me as I dive into my characters. It’s as if the characters speak to me and inform the story. It took me many months to get the script just right. It helped to step away from it and work on other creative projects so that I could revisit it with fresh eyes. How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process? I handle writer’s block by either going out for a walk (studies show that walking in nature boosts creativity) or by doing a fun writing exercise (I choose a random word or phrase, set a timer, and write non-stop). When I experience moments of doubt during my creative process, I keep writing anyway. I either try to kick my inner critic out of my head or I access my sense of humor so that I can engage with my inner critic in a healthy way (i.e. “Yes, I know this totally sucks but I’m writing it anyway so shut up!”). Some of my “suckiest” writing has ended up being my best. What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter? I use Final Draft for my scripts, but often I start out creating a Microsoft Word document so that I can avoid formatting decisions and allow my writing to flow. Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting and how you overcame it? I used to ask too many people for feedback on my projects. Now I only ask a select few whom I respect and trust, and even then, I take their feedback with a grain of salt. Over time, I’ve learned to trust my instincts when it comes to writing. If you are balancing your “writing time” with a “day job”...how are you managing that? As an executive coach to Fortune 500 companies and individuals, I am constantly reminding my clients to find balance in their lives. That reminder fuels me. I also know that there are times in our lives when things feel out of balance—and that’s okay. Sometimes that’s when I just give myself a break and don’t write at all. Other times, it feels emotionally cathartic to write, and I find that’s when I do some of my most authentic writing. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? I want to continue creating. I love to write—books, short stories, fiction, non-fiction, articles, stage plays, screenplays, multi-media performance pieces—and I want to be able to share my work with the world. The film and television industry is constantly evolving. How do you see the role of screenwriters changing, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence? Have you used A.I. in your writing; if so, how have you used it? I truly hope that A.I. does not replace humans when it comes to writing and all forms of creativity. I have tried using A.I. in my writing and it has not helped me at all. I’d much rather just create on my own. Which film or television writers inspire you? Why? I’m a huge Wes Anderson fan. I love The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Royal Tenenbaums. Anderson’s writing, directing and casting are perfection. He is fearless in his filmmaking and has the unique ability to explore profound human experiences through an eccentric lens. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? It changes depending on my mood. Some of my all-time favorite movies include classics like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, romcoms like Legally Blonde, and dramas like The Shawshank Redemption and The Hundred-Foot Journey. And then of course, there’s Wes Anderson (see above). What advice do you have for aspiring screenwriters? Keep writing, submit when you can, and stop listening to the voices around you (or in your head!) that are not encouraging. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?) My play Do This has been optioned by a Tony-award winning Broadway producer and will be opening in London next year. There is also talk of a film adaptation, so I’m starting to work on the screenplay. My other current projects include my stage play SO. MUCH. LOVE. (semi- finalist in Screencraft Stageplay Competition) which is in consideration for a podcast and TV series, and my short play THE PIGEON (winner of Los Angeles Women’s Theater Festival and finalist in Short + Sweet Sydney Theatre Festival), which I’m developing as both a short film and full-length stage play. Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.) https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-siff-exkorn-44011828/ NPX: https://newplayexchange.org/users/81480/karen-siff-exkorn |
