JOHN KNAPICH & THOMAS KELLY
 John Knapich | Thomas Kelly
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
John Knapich, a native New Yorker, currently lives in Philadelphia, PA. Tom Kelly lives Brooklyn, NY, the borough of his birth. Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project? Tom and John are lifelong fans of film noir. Bleached Blonde Betty was originally an Off-Off Broadway play written by Tom that was mounted at the Working Theater. We felt the play was a rich vehicle to adapt into a contemporary thriller. How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer...and what was your development process? We worked for about a year, both in person and remotely, on the first three drafts. We had a table read with a community of actors, which helped us to refine the dialogue and clarify the psychology of the characters. |
What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker?
Our ambition is to find representation, to see this film produced and to secure additional work as screenwriters. Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why? Director Martin Scorsese, for his brilliant use of voice over and montage. David Lynch, for his surrealistic subversion of the American dream. Screenwriter Robert Towne, for his flawless command of screenplay construction. Richard Price, for his ability to create authentic urban characters and dialogue. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? Tom’s favorites are Dog Day Afternoon and The Sopranos. John’s favorites of the moment are No Country for Old Men and Gomorrah. What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Don’t enter these contests prematurely, make sure you are entering the best possible version of your screenplay. Be diligent in researching the numerous screenplay contests. Make sure that they align with your interests and genre. |
