DENNIS MANNIING
The Interview
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Wilton Manors, FL USA Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project ? I wrote the title song, More Going Down, in 2022, and from there, the story flooded in. Originally envisioned as a stage musical, I had composed an entire score—but the deeper I explored the world, the more I realized it needed to be something bolder, darker, and unapologetically raw. That’s how More Going Down became a neo-noir crime thriller, where power, betrayal, and desire collide in the heat of Miami’s underground scene. This isn’t just an LGBTQ+ story—it’s a high-stakes thriller where sexuality isn’t a label, but a layer of identity. Carlos isn’t a “gay character”—he’s a kingpin first, a force of nature, a man who takes what he wants and rules with an iron will. His love story with Robin isn’t the side plot—it’s the beating heart of the film, making the betrayals and shifting alliances even more dangerous. I was inspired by films like Body Heat, Bound, and Double Indemnity, where seduction and survival are a razor’s edge apart. This script is my way of breaking the tragic queer trope and putting complex, powerful LGBTQ+ characters front and center—characters who are not victims, not sidekicks, but the ones calling the shots. At its core, More Going Down is about one question: How far will you go to have everything? This script is dangerous, sexy, and untouchable How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer...and what was your development process? More Going Down began in 2022 with a song—the title track. That song ignited a firestorm of ideas, and what started as a concept for a stage musical quickly morphed into something bigger, bolder, and more cinematic. I wrote an entire score, by December of 2022 (12 songs) but the more I dug into the world and its characters, the more I realized this story demanded the tension, seduction, and grit of a neo-noir crime thriller. The script itself came together as a first draft in January 2023. Then I went through multiple drafts as I fine-tuned every twist, every betrayal, every moment of tension. In 2024 I started entering in festivals, gaining feedback and I was lucky to gain many awards and accolades. The pitch deck came next, ensuring the visual and tonal elements matched the film’s DNA—Miami’s heat, neon-lit danger, and the intoxicating allure of power. My process is instinct-driven but methodical—I start with the characters, digging into what fuels them, what tempts them, what ultimately destroys them. Every scene is built with purpose—there are no throwaways, no fillers—just a relentless march toward the inevitable. At the core, More Going Down is about desire, deception, and power. It had to be tightly wound and unapologetically bold—just like the world it’s set in. The development process was about refining that vision until it hit like a bullet to the heart. In February 2025, STAGE 32 awarded “More Going Down” with the prestigious “DOUBLE RECOMMEND” – the top 1% of all scripts on that platform. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? My ambition is to tell the stories no one else dares to tell—the ones that break past labels, shatter expectations, and leave an audience breathless. I don’t write “gay films.” I write thrillers, neo-noir, and psychological dramas where LGBTQ+ characters aren’t sidekicks or tragic victims—they’re the leads. They seduce, betray, rule empires, and burn down anyone who underestimates them. But my work isn’t just about crime and seduction. It’s about humanity—flawed, raw, unforgettable. The Woman on the Bench explores memory, loss, and the way time shapes us. Now & Then is about the fragility of friendships and the weight of nostalgia. Undertow pulls at the tension between desire and societal expectation. Every story I write is about people standing at a crossroads, making choices that change them forever. I want my films to feel like a gut punch and a slow seduction all at once—where audiences lean in, thinking they know where it’s going, and then boom—they realize they’ve been played. I write stories for people who crave edge, intensity, and emotional truth. If it’s not dangerous, if it doesn’t make you feel something raw and undeniable—then why even bother? At the end of the day, my ambition is simple: To make films that leave a mark. To create something so undeniable, people walk away saying: "Damn. I’ve never seen anything like that before." Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why? I’m drawn to filmmakers who take risks—who craft stories that are bold, seductive, and unrelenting in their emotional depth. Directors and writers who don’t just entertain but leave a permanent mark on their audience. Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard) – He understood that dialogue could be a weapon, that tension could simmer beneath every glance, and that noir wasn’t just about crime—it was about human nature at its most desperate and dangerous. Todd Haynes (Carol, Far from Heaven) – His ability to create atmosphere, longing, and tension is unmatched. He knows that the most devastating moments are often whispered, not shouted. David Fincher (Gone Girl, The Social Network, Fight Club) – His storytelling is surgical—every frame, every cut, every line of dialogue is a move in a bigger game. He builds tension like a chess master. Guillermo del Toro (Nightmare Alley, The Shape of Water) – He takes genre and elevates it into something hauntingly beautiful and deeply human. His films remind me that darkness and beauty can exist in the same frame. The Wachowskis (Bound, The Matrix) – Bound was ahead of its time—a neo-noir thriller dripping with tension and seduction, where power shifted with every breath. They crafted a film where sexuality was both central and effortless, proving that LGBTQ+ characters could command the screen without compromise. Patricia Highsmith (Writer – The Talented Mr. Ripley, Strangers on a Train) – She wrote about dangerous desire, deception, and identity with a precision that still cuts like a knife. Her characters were always two steps ahead—and that’s the energy I bring to my own work. These are the creators who thrill me, who challenge me, who push me to write sharper, darker, and with more purpose. But at the end of the day, my goal isn’t to copy anyone. It’s to take what I’ve learned from them and make something entirely my own. |
What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show?
I could list a dozen, but two films stand out as perfectly crafted, wildly entertaining, and completely unforgettable: Rear Window (1954) – Hitchcock at his best. A masterclass in suspense, voyeurism, and psychological tension. Every frame is meticulously designed, every detail matters, and the slow-burn storytelling keeps you on edge the entire time. It’s proof that you don’t need elaborate effects or excessive action—just sharp writing, precise direction, and characters who pull you in. Death Becomes Her (1992) – A twisted, campy, and utterly delicious dark comedy that plays like a noir fairytale. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn give iconic performances, and the film’s blend of satire, vanity, and immortality is just as sharp today as it was in the ’90s. Plus, let’s be honest—there’s no better lesson in the price of power and the consequences of wanting more than you should have. Both films are about control, desire, and watching characters trapped by their own obsessions—and if that doesn’t sum up the themes I love to write, I don’t know what does. What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Be humble, be hungry, be smart. Be humble – Understand that every draft can be better. Listen, learn, and be open to refining your work. Great storytelling isn’t about ego—it’s about craft, precision, and the willingness to push beyond what’s “good enough.” Be hungry – No one is going to hand you success. Keep writing, rewriting, and submitting. Study the films that move you, dissect what makes them work, and never stop chasing the story that keeps you up at night. Be smart – Know your industry. Read scripts, follow trends, but don’t chase them. Find what makes your voice unique and sharpen it like a blade. Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you. Winning isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation, persistence, and the refusal to quit. Every "no" is just one step closer to the right "yes." And most of all—write the story only you can tell. That’s what makes you unforgettable. |
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I’m always writing, always building, always pushing the boundaries of storytelling. The Woman on the Bench – A haunting, emotional drama about memory, time, and identity. A woman waits for a bus that will never come, while the world around her moves on. It’s The Glass Menagerie meets Magnolia, blending magical realism with deep, human truth. Now & Then – A Musical that premiered in Fort Lauderdale in 2018, then went to London in 2019 (Rated the #2 show that year) A poignant, bittersweet story about friendship, nostalgia, and the passage of time. How much of our past do we carry with us, and how much do we have to leave behind? Undertow – A slow-burn, emotionally charged drama where desire and obligation collide. A man torn between what’s expected of him and what he truly wants, trapped in the pull of something deeper than he can control. Bedlam – A neo-noir thriller set in present-day Dallas where a tough, honest cop is drawn into a web of temptation and danger. It’s heat, passion, betrayal—a world where love is just as lethal as a loaded gun. The Shaft – A psychological thriller where secrets run as deep as the mine itself. Trapped underground, every decision becomes a fight for survival, and the true danger isn’t just the collapsing tunnels—it’s the people inside. Buried meets The Descent, but with stakes that cut even deeper. Every project I write is about power, survival, identity, and the impossible choices we make. Whether it’s a neo-noir thriller, a quiet drama, or a haunting mystery, my goal is the same: Tell stories that make people feel something real. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.) "Follow the work. Watch the stories unfold. Let’s make something unforgettable." Website: www.danforthmusic.org IMDB: Dennis Manning - IMDB Email: [email protected] |
