WILLIAM SZARKA
 WILLIAM SZARKA
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
New York (Dutchess County). How did you discover The Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards and how did you decide to enter this contest among all the others? Where Hollywood Hides. I loved your website and your contests. Your script or media entry stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your project ? Born and raised in the Bronx, and coming from an Italian family, I knew this world like the back of my hand. All the characters in the story are based on real people I grew up with, though deeply exaggerated for the story. How long did it take you to write your script and what was your development process? It started off as a feature film. I actually wanted to tell this story for a long time, so it was just a matter of sitting down and writing it. I knew what the opening forty pages would look like, and the last forty. The middle section took me longer to write, but I had a first draft written in a month. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer or filmmaker? I’ve been making movies since I was twelve. In my early twenties I directed my first feature film “South Bronx Heroes” starring Mario Van Pebbles, Dan Lauria, and Brendan Ward (Taps). It took me two years to make and it was shot entirely on location in the South Bronx and shot on 16mm. It was released theatrically in New York & L.A. & made the 50 Top-Grossing Film List in Variety (#21). It actually beat out “Purple Rain” in its opening week. I also made a short film called “The Godson” which was screened at Sundance. But, to answer your question, I’ve directed a few feature films, two documentaries, and a few short movies, but never wrote a full length script until now. I love writing, and your contest and feedback has really encouraged me to keep doing it. My ultimate ambition is to hopefully sell one and have it produced. So thank you. |
Which film directors or screenwriters inspire you? Why?
I love foreign directors. Giuspeppe Tornatore (“Cinema Paradiso") and Vittorio De Sica (“Umberto D.”) are two of my favorites. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? Favorite movie: “The Godfather” without a doubt. It definitely inspired me. Television show(s): “Sons of Anarchy”, “Peaky Blinders,” & “The Sopranos.” How do you approach competition entries, and what have you learned from participating in these contests? I try to write about stuff that I would want to watch myself. I spent two years writing “Rebels,” a mini-series about James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo, and the making of “Rebel Without A Cause.” People today, especially younger people, would definitely relate to him. Your feedback, as well as the Wiki and Santa Barbara contests, have given me a blueprint for how to write a better script . The Blacklist, which I submitted my first script into a number of times, was always very negative. They would basically tear it apart and rate every section with numbers. I would resubmit it, making the changes they suggested, & the numbers would keep going down. It was a complete waste of money and time. What advice do you have for others hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? Someone once told me, writing is about rewriting. One of the nice things about getting feedback from your contest is you actually do read every line. Your reader suggested I turn “Takin’ It To The Streets” into a limited TV series and gave me the blueprint to do it. My advice is, leave your ego at the door and pay attention when a professional is giving you advice. |
What else are you working on that the world needs to know about?
I’m very excited about my newest TV screenplay. It’s called ICE: The Diary of Ernesto Cruz”. It’s the story of a 17-year-old boy, whose quiet, ordinary life in the South Bronx, is torn apart when his father is taken in a violent raid by ICE. Barely escaping, he hides in an abandoned building and, like a Latino Anne Frank , begins recording video diaries to document the fear, injustice, and resilience of immigrants and a community under siege. His raw, unfiltered videos start a revolution, pitting one undocumented teenager with a camera against the full force of a federal agency determined to silence him. It’s a cross between “The Plot Against America” & “Escape from New York.” This thing is writing itself. Where can the world find you? (Website, IMDB, etc.) For now, you can find me on Linkedin under William Szarka |
