LISA TRIANO
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada 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? The script is based a true story that was inspired by a legal battle to protect a significant part of the Niagara Escarpment. The Niagara Escarpment is recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve and was being damaged by development. I wrote a script, instead of a shorty story or a novel, for many reasons. The primary reason for writing this story as a script is that the area is so environmentally lush that it ought to be seen. Another reason for writing this story as a script is that the court room drama and relationships throughout this battle are intense and will be able to be vividly captured in a film. 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 roughly one year to write the script. The process I use is to just start with FADE IN – and, draft directly into Final Draft. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? My ultimate ambition is to have a script produced into a film. I have three award winning scripts, all essentially based on true stories. I am a dedicated human rights lawyer and member of the LGBTQ community. I am motivated to have inclusive diverse stories be heard, and seen, to raise awareness for the issues faced by marginalized persons or groups of persons and to support those marginalized persons or groups of persons that feel isolated. Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? My entry to the Wiki Screenplay Contest was a full script. I made this choice because I felt that the whole story was worth telling, as it had many elements to it, some that come after the first ten pages. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? My all-time favorite move is “A Home at the End of the World”. It is my favorite movie because it captures the essence, and perhaps complexity, of true love. It also captures a realistic life and death journey in an easy, loving and inclusive way. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? My advice for other writers hoping to win a contest or to place as a finalist is to listen to the feedback of those writers with experience and to make genuine efforts to understand the purpose of the feedback and to ultimately edit their script to consider the guidance provided in the feedback. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I am working on another true story, which is very close to being complete, regarding family abuse, incest to be precise. The story shares the pain and isolation experienced by a young woman after being abused by her father. The story also explores a pattern of choices that led the young woman to other abusive relationships. However, when her father passes away, the woman takes every opportunity to face the pain she has lived with and heal. This story also includes a loving LGBTQ relationship. |
