EJ MAYER
The Interview
How did you discover The Wiki Screenplay Contest and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others?
I discovered the Wiki Screenplay Contest after I entered the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Contest. I was fortunate to place as a Finalist. I then entered the Santa Barbara Diversity Initiative Contest and placed as a Finalist again. I saw they had a service where you could book a one-on-one consultation with Robert McCullough, famous Hollywood writer, director, producer so I took a chance and booked a consultation. It was the best thing I ever did regarding my writing. I was extremely nervous to talk to a real Hollywood Pro, but Mr. McCullough made me feel right at home. It was the first time I felt like a “real” writer. The notes he sent me proved to be extremely helpful in furthering my script. Where do you live (City, State, or Country)? Mesa, Arizona |
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Your script stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your story and why did you write a script instead of a short story or a novel? What inspires your overall journey into screenwriting?
The inspiration for “IN A PICKLE” comes from my own experience living in a 55+ active retirement community. My husband and I moved into such a community a few years back. |
My husband felt at home right away. He’s very athletic and he was soon participating in all kinds of sports and activities.
When Pickleball became hot, I officially became a Pickleball Widow. I knew I needed an activity or hobby for myself. One day I just started typing and that’s when “IN A PICKLE” was born. |
If you have produced a Pitch Deck, Sizzle Reel, or Trailer, what was that process like for you? Did you have professional help, or has it been a DIY task? How long did it take to produce?
Yes, I do have a pitch deck available for download on this site. I took a couple of online courses to learn the basics and put together a very rough draft. I’m not a graphics person, so I contacted a Pitch Deck Designer in Los Angeles and she helped me elevate my deck into something I could submit to contests or hosting sites. I’d say it probably took about six months from start to finish. It remains a work in progress. |
How do you decide which stories to tell, and what draws you to these particular themes?
I enjoy writing comedy that’s a bit on the edgy/sarcastic side. Two things helped me growing up – I was born into a very funny family. Humor was our currency. The other thing was we all loved going to the movies. My sisters and I would frequently recite dialog from lengthy scenes from our favorite movies. Steel Magnolias was one of our favorites. It felt very natural to start writing about our lives here in a 55+ Active Retirement Community. It’s a lot like high school but without all hormones. What is your typical writing routine? How do you structure your workday to stay productive? Being retired frees up my schedule quite a bit. I don’t really have a writing routine. I’m a night owl so I usually start writing after my hubby goes to bed. It’s amazing how time flies when you are in your creative zone. How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process? Do you outline...use index cards...white board...or just start with FADE IN? I’ve been working on “IN A PICKLE” for a few years now. It started out being called “GOD’S WAITING ROOM” but the initial feedback I received on the title wasn’t promising, so I changed it to “IN A PICKLE” which is a much better fit for the show. Once I have an idea for a story, I’ll make a rough outline with notes about the characters, settings and even some dialog. After that, I just start building out. I always have several writing pads around me so I can jot something down. Then I just keep grinding away until I’m satisfied. Then I’ll put it away for a while and go back and start my revisions. |
How do you handle writer's block or moments of doubt (we all have them) during your creative process?
I know about writer’s block. In my former life I was a professional grant writer for the non-profit sector. Tackling a large Federal grant can be daunting so I would break it down into manageable tasks. I find screenwriting to be a similar process. When I find myself blocked, I’ll put it away for a day or two and come back fresh. I also like to bounce ideas off of my friends and family. By the time I’m ready to go back to the keyboard I’ve broken through the block and know what I need to write, and so the process continues. |
What tools or software do you find essential to your workflow as a screenwriter?
Final Draft, sticky notes and lots of Diet Coke. How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests? Which contests have you entered...and how has your work been received overall? Have those contests been helpful to you in your writing? I love the challenge of entering competitions. I always make sure to request feedback from anything I enter. Feedback is your friend. Before entering the Santa Barbara contests, I was routinely placing as a Quarter or Semi Finalist. After working with Robert McCullough, I began to place as a Finalist. Again, I highly recommend getting a one-on-one consultation. It changed the trajectory of my writing. Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your screenwriting and how you overcame it? An ongoing challenge I face is self-promotion. I find it difficult to toot my own horn. Maybe it’s a generational thing. I didn’t grow up with social media and I find it frustrating to navigate those waters at times. I’m starting to get a feel for it, but it still doesn’t come easy for me. If you are balancing your “writing time” with a “day job”...how are you managing that? Thankfully I’m retired so I can write pretty much any time I feel like it. I’m a night owl so I prefer writing late at night. Where do you see yourself in five years as a screenwriter? That’s a tough question to answer. I waited until I retired to launch my creative writing career, so time is not exactly on my side. Don’t get me wrong, I still have time to accomplish the things I want, but I’m trying to break into an industry that favors the bright and shiny. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? Two-fold. To get “IN A PICKLE” optioned and sold and to obtain representation. Not necessarily in that order. That is my dream. Anything beyond that would be icing on the cake. The film and television industry is constantly evolving. How do you see the role of screenwriters changing, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence? Have you used A.I. in your writing; if so, how have you used it? Today’s entertainment industry is so fluid and changing at such a rapid rate. Everything is executed at breakneck speed. Our collective attention spans have grown so short that even a brief synopsis may be asking too much for an interested party to read. A pitch deck or sizzle reel seems to be today’s calling card. I’m not a fan of AI when it replaces human creativity, but I believe it’s inevitable. As long as real actors continue to play the parts there will always be a need for that uniquely human touch to impact the audience in a way that only a live person can communicate. Which film or television writers inspire you? Why? All of them inspire me in one way or another. Most recently I would have to say Quinta Brunson who wrote Abbott Elementary. I admire the fact that she took her own personal experience and turned it into an award wining tv series. I also enjoy anything by Eugene or Dan Levy. They took matters into their own hands by writing award winning roles they could play themselves. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? Jaws is my all-time favorite movie. Strange choice, I know, but I love absolutely everything about that movie. From the incredibly difficulties of operating three mechanical sharks, to the spot-on casting to the scene settings and the perfect delivery award winning dialog. I also love that the soundtrack is in and of itself a character and remains a part of our collective psyche. What advice do you have for aspiring screenwriters or filmmakers? Stay true to your story. You’re the only one who knows it inside and out, backwards and forwards but at the same time always remember who you are writing it for. Keep writing and eventually you’ll find your own rhythm in the collaborative process of experience, personalities and perspectives. |
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (links to your projects?)
Currently I’m concentrating on finishing up additional episodes for Season One of “IN A PICKLE”. I’m also working on a new project called “PITCH BITCH” about a mean and ruthless pitch coach who gets a taste of her own medicine when she stumbles upon a long lost manuscript. Where can the world find you online? (Social media links, etc.) Currently you can contact me at my email – [email protected]. I also have a listing with Coverfly, Film Freeway, ISA and Ink Tip. |
