MICHAEL HOLMES
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 PictureMICHAEL HOLMES
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I’m a product of NJ and the North Fork of Long Island now living in the outskirts of Richmond, VA, USA.

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?
Stories are ‘told’ to me in a screenplay format. I’ve grown fond of writing short screenplays due to their condensed, almost poetic nature. Every word matters. Plus, I have a short attention span.
The unending flow of BS flowing on certain employment-focused websites was a large part of the inspiration for ‘The Interview’. Having recently found myself unemployed after 28+ years with the same organization, I couldn’t force myself to play along.

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?
My script is 10 pages, so it was mentally outlined in its entirety before I wrote a word. Once I began, it took a minute and a half to write the first draft. I made several revisions over the next few weeks, particularly after the insightful feedback I got here at Wiki.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
To have people like my stuff.
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Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
It was both a full script and the first ten pages. No choice to make.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
There are several movies in competition for my all-time favorite, but when you combine the entertainment value of the film with the perfection of the script, William Goldman’s The Princess Bride sets the bar. On the small screen, Barney Miller is timeless.

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Become an insomniac. It’s great for generating ideas. Not good for much else.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
Writing-wise, nothing. All of my creative energy has shifted to an online venture selling custom apparel conceived of during those aforementioned bouts of insomnia.