LISA DUFFY
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LISA DUFFY

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in the Charleston, SC area.

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?
In 1975 as the Vietnam War was ending and refugees began arriving in America, Camp Pendleton in San Diego became home to roughly 20,000 Vietnamese refugees. It was referred to as “Tent City.” We were living in Orange County at this time and when my parents heard about the influx of refugees, they took all us kids (six of us at the time) down to Camp Pendleton and offered our services as volunteers. We went down almost every weekend that summer to help the refugees integrate into society and ended up sponsoring two different families out of the camp. My main characters, Kimoanh and Cuong, were teenagers in the first family that came to live with us. As a twelve-year-old at that time, I was greatly influenced by their stories of their dramatic escape from Communism and life in Vietnam. I’ve always felt what they
went through should not be forgotten.

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 year-and-a-half to write the original feature-length screenplay, but I was always dissatisfied with it because I wanted to tell more story, so for the last year, I’ve been rewriting it as a 5-part limited series.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To tell stories that inspire and move others to appreciate the gift of life.

Which film or television writers inspire you? Why?
It would be a long list trying to name all the writers who inspire me, but at the top of the list would be Peter Gould and all the writers of Better Call Saul. Their writing is incredibly smart and they create unforgettable characters.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
It’s hard to claim one favorite, but here are a few at the top of the list:
Empire of the Sun, Spielberg
Better Call Saul, Gilligan/Gould
Bluejay, Duplass
Lion, Davis
The Queen’s Gambit, Frank

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Becoming a successful writer is the same as becoming a successful ballet dancer, body builder, entrepreneur, etc. It takes endless hours of work, a keen interest in fixing the problems that hold you back from achieving your goal and is often very lonely. But in the end, achieving your goal and getting a win makes every sacrifice you made absolutely worth it! It fuels your creative process for your next project. So, if you believe you can write, ignore the voices that tell you you can’t. Just write.

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