Part 1.

We knew we wanted to be screenwriters........

We've known each other since we were eight and we've always joked around and improvised skits endlessly, often extending a joke until literally anyone else around at the time had gone home. Screenwriting is a natural extension of that (except the part where everyone goes home).
 

We know I've succeeded........ 

We're both driven to do what it takes to have our scripts produced, so it's hard to call anything short of seeing one onscreen a true success. In the meantime, though, we make sure to enjoy all the mini successes that come along with the writing process.

 

Our inspiration to write Red, White & Badass.....

Somewhere along the way we just came to this concept of a story about the most incompetent patriot soldiers ever and kind of ran with it. We're both attracted to movies that strike us as somehow unique, and this idea fit the bill. It's been such a fun project to write that we never needed any extra motivation to work on it.

Part 2.

FilmMakers Magazine: What inspired you to write?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: We've always loved the feeling that a really good story evokes. It's indescribable when you see an amazing movie: it can trigger such a broad range of emotions, and though it's cliche to say, good writing can literally make you laugh and cry. Getting in on the process of creating that was always irresistible to us. And Jeff just loves making people cry.

FilmMakers Magazine: What did you do to prepare yourself to write your first script?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: To be honest, we wrote our first screenplay almost by accident. We had a funny idea that got bigger and more fleshed out over time, and eventually we just wrote it all out into a terrible 150 page script. But we enjoyed the process so much that we decided to really dedicate ourselves to getting good at it. We spent the next year overhauling that script and our understanding of how to write, and we haven't looked back since.

FilmMakers Magazine: Is this your first script and how long did it take you to complete?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: This one was our second script and it took about a year and a half to complete including revisions.

FilmMakers Magazine: Do you have a set routine, place and time management for writing?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: Not really, our process has been steadily evolving. One constant is that we like to spend the first hour talking and joking about anything non-script related. It seems to loosen us up.

FilmMakers Magazine: Do you believe screenplay contests are important for aspiring screenwriters and why?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: Yeah it's easy to hit a wall contact-wise and it's great to have an outlet for emerging writers. Most importantly, every writer is looking to have their work read by unbiased people who are involved in the industry.

FilmMakers Magazine: What influenced you to enter the FilmMakers International Screenwriting Awards / Screenplay Contest?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: The potential to get our script read by producers and agents in the industry was the main factor. in the past.

FilmMakers Magazine: What script would you urge aspiring writers to read and why?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: We both loved "Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind". It takes an utterly fascinating concept and crafts it into a compelling story.

FilmMakers Magazine: Beside screenwriting what are you passionate about and why?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: We're both passionate about tons of other things: music, visual arts, history, design, all of the sciences - really too many things to list. We discuss this stuff all the time and it plays a big part in our writing.

FilmMakers Magazine: Who is your favorite Screenwriter and Why?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: John Cleese. What needs to be said? He's the bees knees!

FilmMakers Magazine: Name the director you would love to work with and why?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: Probably James Cameron because we have a really hilarious idea for Avatar 2!

FilmMakers Magazine: Name the actor you would love to work with and why?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: Seth Rogen. He always makes us laugh and seems like he'd be a cool dude to work with. Basically what we're trying to say is that he's the cat's pyjamas!”

FilmMakers Magazine: Any tips and things learned along the way to pass on to others?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: Keep yourself actively engaged in learning about screenwriting, no matter how experienced you've become with the process..

FilmMakers Magazine: What's next for you?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: Answering "Where will you be five years from now?".

FilmMakers Magazine: Where will you be five years from now?

Ryan Lear and Jeff Wachsmuth: Still writing and hopefully living inside the "H" in the Hollywood sign.