LEE QUARRIE
 LEE QUARRIE
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
North Hollywood, CA How did you discover The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others? A friend found the Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards on Filmfreeway and suggested I enter my feature script. I thought Palm Springs contest was a great fit for me as a writer specifically because of the inclusive nature of the contest. Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project? The inspiration for this script came from a sound design project I once saw on Youtube. The project was designed to make you feel like you were sitting in the dark listening to the goings on happening all around you in a barber shop. That got me thinking about places that you could listen but not be seen, which brought to mind a photo booth. And out of that initial inspiration the seed was planted for my story to grow. How long did it take you to write your script or produce your pitch deck/sizzle reel/trailer...and what was your development process? I wrote this script in multiple forms (short stories, short films, web series, novel, and finally a feature length) over the course of a few years. I hadn’t initially thought of the story as a feature length film. I kept thinking of the individual characters and their full stories. It wasn’t until I had written several short stories and half of a novel that the feature length film started to make sense to me as an ensemble project. Once I committed to the feature length film, I wrote the script in spurts over the course of about 5 months. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? I want to have a career that not only focuses on creating really good stories, but also focuses on making an impact on how those good stories are made. As a writer and filmmaker, I like to offer inclusive opportunities in front of and behind the camera. I think there’s room for everyone at the table who has an artistic vision and ambition. It would be great to build a career that helps others build their careers, too. Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why? I love indie-vibe filmmakers who exude practicality in art- people who roll up their sleeves and get to work for the purpose of telling a good story -- and for that I consistently look to the Duplass brothers. They exemplify hard work, good story, and creativity, and their characters are very real, even as they are sometimes quite odd. I also truly appreciate the voice of other female artists, and although she was taken far too soon from this earth, Adrienne Shelly has influenced me a great deal. Waitress taught me complexity and clarity can co-exist. Her characters are funny and real and serious and the story springs from their needs and desires. But most importantly, Shelly’s voice as an artist shines through in every frame of the film. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? Run Lola Run is my favorite film. It has a fantastic format that’s married to a good story. How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests? When I enter a script into a competition, it’s because I’m seeking professional feedback that will help me understand what I might be missing in terms of improving the script. That means I’m looking for competitions that somehow have me as a writer in mind. I have an understanding of who I am and who might be interested in my work and I target those possibilities. What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Write and write and write and write and write. This helps you know your characters, your setting, your, well, everything. Accept feedback, avoid suggestions. Kill your darlings. Don’t talk about your work, just work. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? ● “Call” is an anthology series about the most important call a person can make. ● “Earth Laundry” A quirky series about saving yourself when all seems lost. In a last ditch effort to save their planet from global warming, Earthlings have acquiesced to alien overlords and become indentured servants on their own planet. Earthlings now operate the laundromat to the Universe. But not everyone is on board with the plan. ● “The Diner” A nearly forgotten roadside diner is the perfect little hideaway for a woman on the lam. ● Two Birds Perched a play in 10 minutes about two constant friends in an inconstant world. ● Swimmers Ear. A feature film -- Synchronized swimmers can be pretty cut throat in competition and in love. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.) https://leequarrie.com https://photoshootmovie.com https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2597287?s=5ecb669a-322f-332e-812d- 4ea2a7466b54&site_preference=normal |
