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MATT NEFF

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Where do you live (City, State, or Country?
Missouri.
​
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 Tortoise is about a homeless gambling addict who embarks on a 30-mile trek along the interstate to cash in $1,000 worth of casino chips. In 2020, I was dealing with the same horror show as everyone else in the world. Toward the end of November, I realized I hadn’t written anything new all year. I turned to my writer’s group on Facebook and made a poll with eight different loglines. I decided that whichever logline got the most votes, I’d turn it into a full script before the end of the year. Much to my surprise, The Tortoise received the most votes, so that’s what I set out to write.
 
How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process? Do you outline...use index cards...whiteboard...or just start with FADE IN?
I finished the first draft in just under a month. After I posted the Facebook poll, I outlined The Tortoise scene by scene. I had set a deadline for myself to finish the short before the end of the year, so I knew I had no time to waste. On December 29th, I was only halfway through the first draft, so I spent the next two days hammering out as many pages as I could. On the morning of New Year’s Eve, I posted the completed first draft of The Tortoise on Facebook. After reaching my milestone, I spent the next few weeks rewriting and polishing The Tortoise until I felt it was good enough for the competition circuit.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
My ambition as a writer/producer is to be involved in the filmmaking process from development to post-production. I want to work with filmmakers who are just as driven as I am to bring my stories to life. My long-term goal is to write for television and become the showrunner of my own TV series.
 
Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
My entry was a full script. Since my screenplay was less than 30 pages, I wanted the judges to see the full scope of my story from start to finish. I didn’t want the readers to be asking, “where is this story going?” I wanted to show them where it was going.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
My favorite TV show of all time is The Twilight Zone. As a kid who grew up reading Goosebumps, I loved the show for its spooky aesthetic and brilliant twist endings. I would constantly rent the DVDs from the public library and watch the New Year’s marathons on TV. I revisited the show when I was older and realized just how smart the writing was and appreciated the deeper themes of the show. When writing The Tortoise, I wanted the story to feel like a modern version of The Twilight Zone.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Focus on writing a good story rather than trying to create an “award-winning script.” Don’t be afraid to write the script you want just because you’re worried it won’t be as good as the version in your mind. A bad script on paper is worth infinitely more than a great script in your head.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
Since entering the Wiki Screenplay Contest, I adapted The Tortoise into a feature-length screenplay, which was recently optioned by Stray Productions LTD. Stray Productions is a production company in Glasgow and was named the Best Filmmaking Production Company in Scotland at the 2022 UK Enterprise Awards.

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  • THE WORLD'S FASTEST SCREENPLAY CONTEST
    • Feature Screenplay Contest
    • TV Script Contest
    • Short Film Script Contest
  • Screenplay Contest Results
    • 2022 Screenplay Contest Results
  • Screenplay Contest Judges
  • Enter Your Screenplay
  • Enter Your TV Script
  • Short Film Script Contest
  • 2023 Screenplay Contest Prize Packages
  • Writers Showcase 2023
    • Elija Maier
    • Luke Duffy
    • Frank Tomasulo
    • Roy Rhodes
    • Mark Wallinger
    • Travis Levasseur
    • Dermot Davis
    • MARGARET MORGAN
    • SAM SAMORE-MARIA MARSHALL INTERVIEW
    • THOMAS MCCONE INTERVIEW
    • JOAN BARRETT INTERVIEW
    • JASON NG INTERVIEW
    • CATHY CIMATO INTERVIEW
    • GUY PRIDY INTERVIEW
    • CANDACE EGAN INTERVIEW
    • JACK SHERRY INTERVIEW
    • Writers Showcase 2022 >
      • Maggie Grant
      • AARON SPRECHLER
      • ALIA AMZEID
      • GARY GIUDICE
      • MICHAEL BENCIVENGA
      • GUISEPPE LUCARELLI
      • JAMES KAHN
      • LEE TIDBALL
      • ROMEO CIOLFI
      • JOHN COONEY
      • SHERLANN D. MOORE
      • SUZANNE BIRRELL
      • CRYSTAL THOMAS
      • MATT NICHOLSON
      • MATT NEFF
      • JOE KILGORE
      • KIM RUYLE
      • MATT RHODEN
      • LYRIC NELSON
      • VAUGHN ROSTE
      • JAMES GIAMMATTEO
      • CHRIS FELL
      • ADELAIDE EVANS
      • KACI BOCCUMINI
      • WARREN LANE
  • Why this screenplay contest?
  • Screenwriting Inspiration
  • What Writers Say
  • FAQ
  • Screenplay Contest Rules
  • KEYS TO SUCCESS
  • Contact
  • Blog