MICHAEL MORRA

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
I live in Clinton Township, New Jersey.

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?
As a horror/thriller writer one of my goals is to write a story in every horror subgenre. SCOUT is my attempt to write an alien invasion story. I kept thinking about ET hiding in Gertie’s closet and somewhere along the line asked myself what if ET wasn’t entirely satisfied by a plant-based diet? To that end, SCOUT is also inspired by LET THE RIGHT ONE IN and one of my all-time favorites, John Carpenter’s THE THING. I only write scripts. I’ve never tried to write a short story or novel, but I would love to create a graphic novel one day.

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?
I wrote the first draft in less than a month and I think it was closer to twenty pages. After getting coverage and some thoughtful notes, the characters grew as did the script by another ten pages. My goal is to write character-driven stories, so I always start with a detailed biography for the lead characters. I also create a beat sheet and usually do a short treatment.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
Ultimately, I want to write scary stories that people relate to on an emotional level and are produced. I would love to write a horror film that is replayed every Halloween season.

Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”?
Why did you make that choice? SCOUT is the first short script. One of my goals is to write a contained alien invasion feature and when I came up with the idea for SCOUT, I wasn’t sure if it would work so I thought a short script would be a good way to test the idea and characters. Given this, it made sense to enter the full script and get feedback on the entire story.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
I loved sharks as a kid and could not stop watching JAWS. It has just the right amount of scares, but what really elevates it is the awesome character work by three amazing actors.

What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
I’m a big fan of quality notes and constructive feedback and I think you should try to find it from more than one source. It’s rare that a script is perfect right out of the gate so don’t be reluctant to make changes and don’t submit it before it’s ready.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I just finished a feature called BLIND SPOT, which is a contained thriller that takes place almost entirely during a driving lesson. I’m currently rewriting a supernatural thriller that takes place on a college campus.