STUART FRYER
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Los Angeles, California US of A, but I'm from the north of England via London 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? Algorithm Angels is about a guy who wakes up with his algorithm floating on his shoulder giving him the ability to see what others wish to hide. I have always fought with a voice pin my head telling me what an idiot I am or what I should do. This life long voice in my head came to life in the script, plus the fact that your google search engine knows more about you than anyone else on Earth is fascinating to me. And very scary. Why a script. I have been a cinephile since childhood, done the film school, come through the rans as a music video director in London and then a commercials director, ‘Algorithm Angels’ was only ever going to be a script, as is my next project and the one after that… 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 a year, as, with most of us, I have to pay the mortgage and look after a child. I started with a short story and crafted beats from it. I also had a white board with notes on it that formed the short story. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? ‘To become immortal and then die’. Sorry, I stole that. It is when Belmondo asks Godard in a scene from ‘A Bout De Souffle’ why he makes films and that is his answer. I don't crave fame, but I do want to leave something behind that helped someone, that moved someone to be better, to see the world in a better light, but most of all, I’d love to entertain the masses with something protected on a huge screen… Was your entry at The Wiki Screenplay Contest a full script or “the first ten pages”? Why did you make that choice? I did both. Why, because I was interested to see the results and to gain help from the notes I received. And the first ten pages is vital to get anyone to read to the end right? What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show...and why? Too many to mention. Most are cliches for a reason. Quick story, I’m 8 years old, my mum and my Auntie Liz want to go shopping . They drop me and cousin Jimmy off at the local fleapit in Blackburn, Lancashire, a working class town in the North Of England. They beg the manager Mr. Done if we can come in and watch the matinee. He relents and lets us in. The matinee was ‘Jaws’ That afternoon changed my life. What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Do not get disheartened if you do not win or even get a place. Film is so very subjective. What one reader loves another may think is garbage. Luck is important in what we do, so let me write the end of one of my favorite movies, Brian de Palma’s ‘The Untouchables’ I’ll set the scene, Al Capone (De Niro) has just been sentenced to Jail for dodging his tax. Ness (Kostner) fights his way to be near him in the courthouse commotion and shouts… NESS: Never give up until the fight is over CAPONE: What? What did you say? NESS: Never give up until the fight is over. Here endeth the lesson! Absolutely god damn right! Never ever give up. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? AIZA - Artificial Intelligence zero altruism It’s a low budget feature horror script… \A young computer nerd is accidentally bullied to death by privileged classmates. His AI avatar, AIZA, reeks revenge by killing their loved ones using everyday tech, before coming after them. |
