NATHAN SCRIVEN
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 PictureNATHAN SCRIVEN
Where do you live?
I live in Rochester, NY home to Kodak Film with plans to move to Glendale, California in the next couple of years.

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?
Strange Sam I think came from several inspirations from my early years as a writer. I’ve been on a Phineas and Ferb binge recently which got me excited to try for a two segment pilot episode. Sam is a genius obsessed with his craft even if it means cutting corners. The pilot shares my love for videogames and that desire to be fully immersed in them even when I know there are better things to do with my time. Being a writer struggling to fit in, to break in, and who has recently lost a loved one, segment 2 kind of became my way of exploring new relationships. I guess part of the emotion behind segment 2 is that obsessive desire to connect with one person even if it means neglecting your true friends who have always been there for you. That’s something Sam ends up learning by the end of the segment - the true value of friendship. The process of writing is absolutely brilliant.

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 writing process is unconventional. Every new story is different and never really seems to follow the same formula. The only consistency is that I write in a burst, struggle, wonder why I still write, and then the rest comes out and I question how I actually placed in a contest with the script. Lol.
As for Strange Sam? It took me a few months to write but I’m still working on polishing it. I’d say this particular script was half outlined, and half vomited out with a hint of holy crap, I didn’t know I could write that. It’s really a self exploration with each process but it’s always a blast to write.

What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
Right now it’s just having the energy to write daily. In the long run, I have so many. The core has always been, I want to make films that are going to inspire the next generation. I want to make the pilots I create and hopefully learn to be the showrunner for multiple of them. I know it’s a long shot but I’ve always wanted to work alongside Matt Groening and place as a staff writer on the Simpsons.

Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
It was a full script. As someone saving up for a big move while sending pilots to a contest, I kind of have to go all in or not at all. It’s really helped me learn to be intentional with my projects and resourceful with my money. Plus it was a good way to see where each of my pilots stood at.

What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
That’s a tough question as most movies and TV shows inspire me. I’ve noticed a lot of what I watch is based on how I’m feeling internally at the time. My favorite movie of all time. Downright, Fifty First Dates. I love any movie with Adam Sandler. He always knows how to tickle my funny bone. That and anything animated.
As for TV show I’d have to go with the Simpsons and Doctor Who. They were the two show that inspired me to write early on in my career. I actually wrote my first Simpsons fan script twenty years ago when I got grounded and had to do something not involving electronics. I’ve been in love with writing ever since.
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What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Set a daily writing goal, whether it be five pages or two hours and aim to hit it everyday. Consistency beats talent any day. Keep writing. Keep learning. When it comes to entering contest, I always recommend doing a read through of your script with fellow writers to ensure that structure and tone lands. There is nothing wrong with putting off a contest entry in order to make sure your script is polished before sending out.

What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I’m currently in pre-production for my short film Only Time which I plan to shoot late May. I recently finished writing my 11th pilot Jazz: Escape Artist- an animation comedy along the lines of Tom and Jerry about an orange tabby who believes the outdoors must be more exciting then inside and tries to escape! I’m currently writing the first act of my animated comedy feature while waiting for the feedback to Jazz: Escape Artist.