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Part 1.
I knew I wanted to be screenwriter .....
if someone told me 5 years ago that I would be entering a
screenplay contest and finishing in the top 20, I would have
told them that they were nuts and that I do not have that
kind of talent or discipline.
I know I've succeeded when ......
I win an Oscar.
My
inspiration to write Ellis Island.....
was my grandmother. Her courage and perseverance is a lesson
for everyone. I cannot imagine moving half way around the
world to a country where I barely speak the language and
setting up house. This is the sacrifice that all of our
ancestors made so their legacies would endure. It was not a
lack of love for their homeland, they are all unwaveringly
proud of their heritage and culture; rather, it is the
provincial mentality, lack of opportunity, education and
jobs that drove them out. Not unlike what many Mexican,
Iraqi, Afghani and Iranian immigrants are seeking today.
Part 2.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
What inspired you to write?
M Ann Elias:
A
few years ago I was tracing my genealogy and as I followed
my grandmother’s journey, I realized that she may have been
a bit of a trouble maker, but that her journey was the
journey of many immigrants.
FilmMakers Magazine: Is this your first script
and how long did it take you to complete?
M Ann Elias:
Yes, this is my first script and it took 5 years to get it
to where it is today. It went through 12 rounds of revisions
- some of them sweeping and some of them minor.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you have a set
routine, place and time management for writing?
M Ann Elias:
I
work full time as a financial analyst, so my daytime hours
are occupied. I use nights and weekends for my writing and a
little corner of our condo is dedicated to my writing
corner.
FilmMakers
Magazine: Do you believe screenplay contests are
important for aspiring screenwriters and why?
M Ann Elias:
Absolutely! The competitive arena provides an opportunity to
test the merits of any work against its peers. Writers must
understand, and this is extremely important, that in order
for a script to be considered for production, it must
demonstrate the level of competency required by that
production company, a.k.a., the investors. Essentially, the
top 20 finishers of any contest represent a fraction of a
larger pool of several hundred other contests. Collectively,
that group enters a competition of the cream of the crop.
Since Hollywood produces about 144 films per year there has
to be a way for them to thin the herd and the screenwriting
competition is the perfect arena. I also recommend
requesting the reviewer’s notes/feedback. This information
should be incorporated into any future drafts.
FilmMakers
Magazine: What influenced you to enter the FilmMakers
International Screenwriting Awards / Screenplay Contest?
M Ann Elias:
I
entered several competitions. I was immediately bounced out
of some, made it into the quarter and semi-finals of others
and became a finalist in FilmMakers. Of all the competitions
I entered, I found this one to be extremely professional and
well organized. I would recommend it to others as well – two
thumbs up! Money well spent.
FilmMakers Magazine: What script would you
urge aspiring writers to read and why?
M Ann Elias:
I
think that depends on the writer’s goals, style and genre.
But generally speaking, I would say start with script of the
stories you enjoy watching, then those that have won Oscars.
Then go to the down the line and compare them. It will be
easy to see the differences in structure and why some
stories rise to the top. My go-to resources for structure
and convention are The King’s Speech, Saving Mr. Banks,
Braveheart, Avatar and most recently, The Book Thief.
FilmMakers
Magazine: Beside screenwriting what are you passionate
about and why?
M Ann Elias:
I
am absolutely fanatical about supporting our men and women
in the military. Aside from friends and family who are
serving, my work at BAE SYSTEMS has provided me with the
opportunity to meet and work with these heroes as military
personnel and civilians. They are hard-working and dedicated
to any assignment placed before them. They bring inspiration
and motivation to every project I have had the honor to be
assigned to with them.
FilmMakers Magazine: Who is your favorite
Screenwriter and Why?
M Ann Elias:
I
hate picking favorites, but Steven Spielberg comes to mind.
I picked Spielberg because he can do everything – write a
wicked script, direct an Oscar winner and after all that, he
still knows how to laugh.
FilmMakers
Magazine: Name the director you would love to work with
and why?
M Ann Elias:
Ron Howard. Howard has a great work hard / play hard ethic
and is another guy who knows how to laugh.
FilmMakers Magazine: Name the actor you would
love to work with and why?
M Ann Elias:
I
would like to work with any actor who:
(1) Deeply understands the importance of what they do and
how their actions impact those around them
(2) Respects themselves and the team members they are
working with
(3) Accepts challenges with optimism and enthusiasm
(4) Are secure enough to take risks, accept failure and come
back to stare those demons down!
FilmMakers Magazine: Any tips and things
learned along the way to pass on to others?
M Ann Elias:
Yes: keep your mouth shut, then read, listen and follow
directions, and finally be patient and stay open to
learning. More than anything else, these will be the
qualities that a producer is seeking for members of his or
her project team. These are also the qualities that will
inspire others to want to work with you.
FilmMakers Magazine: What's next for you?
M Ann Elias: Right now I have 3 projects in the
pipeline and another 7 in draft form, so I’ll be pretty busy
writing over the next few years.
FilmMakers Magazine: Where will you be five years
from now?
M Ann Elias: I am hoping to be an integral part of
the production team for Ellis Island. But, I have to be
realistic and remember there are gaggles of talented people
out there and I am one in a pool of thousands.
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