james giammatteo

Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Houston, TX
 
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?
It was an adaptation of one of my books. So many reviewers commented that it would make a great movie, and I agreed, so last September, I sat down and began to learn how to write a screenplay. The story is about where I grew up, and a lot of the tales are real, though not the grisly ones.

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 about three weeks to get a first draft, but then it took several more months to refine it.
 
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer?
 To get one or more of my books made into movies.
 
 Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice?
 It was the full script, and I did that because I wanted feedback on the entire script, not just the first ten pages.
 
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why?
 Favorite movie was “Casablanca”, and favorite TV show was “The Wire.” Both of them did so much with character development, and it was inspiring.
 
What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have?
Be persistent. Enter contests and listen to the feedback you get.
 
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
 I’m working on a new TV pilot/series set in the future, called Tomorrow Was a Long Time Ago.

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