ROWAN SUTHERLAND
Winner Best Screenplay Spring 2024: "State of Being"
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Los Angeles, CA, USA Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project? “State of Being” started as a very different idea. Initially I wanted to write a “parallel universe” script, wherein the hero exists in “universe 1” as a kind, simple, busboy. His alter-ego is a tech-savvy FBI hacker with Jack Black energy, who is able to travel between the universes. After the 10th rewrite, or so, it began to naturally morph into the script as it is. How long did it take you to write your script... and what was your development process? Once I’d embarked on the very new premise, it took a year. I had to create a fresh outline to accommodate the ocean of ideas that would constantly flow into my head. When that began to happen, I knew I was on the right path. I ended up with approximately 30 rewrites before I was satisfied that I’d nailed it. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? I want to see my screenplays produced as successful movies. Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why? Right up there is Chris Nolan – for his ingenuity, his ability to keep things moving along without always slapping the viewer in the face with an idea. I admire the Russo brothers enormously for the path they forged for themselves, from screenwriters to enormously successful director/producers. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? Two very different movies, “Being There” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Get your work out there, as much as you can. As good as a script may be, there is almost always a huge element of luck involved in getting the recognition one may desire. The more the script is seen, the better its chances of rising above the rest. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? I’m currently working on two projects. One is a flat-out action adventure, set in a remote jungle region. The other a sweeping romance against the background of a terrible war. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.) I have a fairly limited presence on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2918753/ |
