LASHAWN KELLEY
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Los Angeles, California 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 love a good and simple ghost story with lots of atmosphere and originally that was the intention for this script. As it developed and I figured out the characters, I realized it would be better if it only presented as a ghost story on the surface. It would add an interesting dynamic to the story if something more orchestrated was going on underneath. It unraveled naturally from there. 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? It took me a few months, on and off, to write it. Usually, some element of the story will come to me, and it sprouts out from that. I have an outline but usually not a traditional one. I write down important details or sequences. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? Ideally, having the freedom of working and writing in a creative environment and making a living from it. It would be great to have a feature produced or sold. 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. It’s short anyway. I think the ending of the script makes a big impact on the story as whole. That part is especially important. I entered solely for feedback. I did not expect this at all. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? Scream (1996). I saw it in a theater at a very young age with a packed audience. It was an amazing experience that I’ve been obsessed with ever since. Watching it on VHS and seeing the behind-the-scenes documentary, that was included, got me into film and filmmaking. Kevin Williamson’s script is one of the many I read while teaching myself how to structure a script as a pre-teen. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Make sure you are writing something that you would love to watch and to have it be a kind of reflection of yourself. Include personal touches. That’s what will make it unique and make it stand out. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I have been working on a murder/mystery horror feature called Girl With The Lavender Braids for a while. Looking forward to finishing that and a few other ideas. I tend to jump from project to project. |
