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I knew I
wanted to be a screenwriter.......
I can’t remember an exact moment when I realized I wanted to do screenwriting. Stories and legends were always told to me as a child and they always fascinated me. I suppose it just makes sense to have gravitated towards writing.
I know I've
succeeded.......
When my words and imagery are translated
onto the screen.
My inspiration
to write
THE OIAD SHOW.......
The dark side of human nature is something that has always intrigued me, and the scripts surrealist tone came from a variety of sources. From the writings of Neil Gaiman, theatre of the absurd, to the lyrics of the rock group the Mars Volta and Tool the story came together and practically wrote itself. I began with an image in my mind and then built around that.
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FilmMakers
Magazine:
What inspired you to write?
Jeremy
Montgomery: Not specifically screenplays, but just writing in general I have always found to be such a powerful form of expression. It’s amazing what someone can get across in words, and even by saying so very little. Nevertheless I am very much a visual person, so screenwriting just seemed like the natural path to take.
FilmMakers Magazine: How did you prepare yourself to
write your first script?
Jeremy Montgomery: I don’t really have a mode of preparation for writing. Sometimes it just goes down without any thought. At other points I do a great deal of research and try to flesh out a history of my story before I even begin. My script writing classes helped a great deal in getting the ideas out onto paper as well.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Is this your first script and how long did it take you to write
THE OIAD SHOW?
Jeremy Montgomery:
This is my first original script. I have written several adaptation treatments and have numerous ideas that are in the early stages and in the process of being worked out. The script was for a third year screenwriting class, and was written over the course of three weeks with constant revisions.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Do you have a set routine, place and time management for writing?
Jeremy Montgomery: I always try and set deadlines for myself, attempting a few pages a day, but I find I write better sporadically over periods of time. Still, the deadlines always help you accomplish things that much quicker.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you believe screenplay contests
are important for aspiring screenwriters and why?
Jeremy Montgomery:
Of course. They offer a chance for a voice to be heard that might not even audible to studio executives. As well, it gives you a chance to see an unbiased view of your writing skills.
FilmMakers Magazine: What influenced you to enter the
American Gem Short Script Competition?
Jeremy Montgomery:
I was at a
lull in my attempts to break into the film industry so I decided to
check out some screenwriting competitions and American Gem was the one
that stood out the most to me.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
What script would you urge aspiring writers to read and why?
Jeremy Montgomery:
Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Quite possibly one of the best scripts
about relationships and its told in such a clever and original way.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Beside screenwriting what are you passionate about and why?
Jeremy Montgomery:
Music and philosophy. The former is like a drug to me, I can’t go a day without strumming on my guitar and listening to some hypnotic rockin’ music. Philosophy is where I tend to get most of my ideas from; reading writers opinions on human nature, reality, morality all serve as a great base for a story.
Lastly, just the
entire process of filmmaking intrigues me. As I said, I am a very
visual person and just creating that “eye candy,” using the
manipulation of light and shadow is just a beautiful art form.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Who is your favorite Screenwriter and Why?
Jeremy Montgomery:
At the moment I would
have to say Charlie Kaufmann. Every script is different, and highly
original but still has the writers personal touch embedded into it.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Name the director you would love to work with and why?
Jeremy Montgomery:
There are so many. Just to name a few: Terry Gilliam, David Fincher,
Spielberg (my guilty pleasure). All of them bring something different
and have their own ways about directing. I’m just curious to see how
they all go about doing the same job.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Name the actor you would love to work with and why?
Jeremy
Montgomery: George Clooney. He has made some very smart decisions with projects
he’s been involved in and with his recent venturing into directing and
producing, I really consider him to be like the Orson Welles of today.
Jack Nicholson would also just be a blast to have on the set.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Any tips and things learned along the way to pass on to others?
Jeremy Montgomery:
If you want to sell your script, know the proper formatting. No one is
going to want to read the script if its full of formatting errors.
Once you have that down, tell a story your passionate about and write
what you know.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
What's next for you?
Jeremy
Montgomery: Looking into some post-graduate film programs and at the moment working
on a feature length screenplay.
FilmMakers Magazine: Where will you be five years from
now?
Jeremy
Montgomery: Who knows? I’ll
tell you when I get there |
