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I knew I
wanted to be a screenwriter.......
About 12 years ago,
when I finally decided to write down a story in screenplay format and
saw that the result was good.
I know I've
succeeded.......
because of the respect and feedback of
other writers, because of contest recognition, and because I finally
feel comfortable writing screenplays.
My inspiration
to write
BON VOYAGE, MR. HICKEY.......
was an assignment
in a writing workshop to write a comedy that included a phone, a
stripper, and the nickname Smooch. It occurred to me not to call the
stripper Smooch, and when I created a heavy named Smooch, the rest of
it fell into place.
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FilmMakers
Magazine:
What inspired you to write?
Stuart
Creque: I had a story in my head that I thought would be an ideal episode of
The Outer Limits – only that show went off the air in the mid-1960s.
When it was revived on Showtime, I decided to write out my story, and
even submitted it to the series’ producers. Though it wasn’t accepted,
I was hooked on screenwriting.
FilmMakers Magazine: How did you prepare yourself to
write your first script?
Stuart Creque:
I bought books on screenwriting, including Cole & Haag on format, and
joined screenwriting groups, both online and in real life. Plus I had
a lifetime of watching movies and TV and reading and watching plays to
give me some direction.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Is this your first script and how long did it take you to write
BON VOYAGE, MR. HICKEY?
Stuart Creque:
It is not my first script. It took me a couple of days
to put together the phone, the stripper and Smooch, but the actual
writing took me about four hours.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Do you have a set routine, place and time management for writing?
Stuart Creque:
I write best at night, but my routine isn’t set. I
write in bursts and often write best under deadline pressure.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you believe screenplay contests
are important for aspiring screenwriters and why?
Stuart Creque:
I believe in
contests’ worth because they let new writers’ work be seen by many
people at once, and they give an independent assessment of the quality
of the work to producers who might otherwise not have the time or
inclination to read new submissions.
FilmMakers Magazine: What influenced you to enter the
American Gem Short Script Competition?
Stuart Creque:
I had Bon
Voyage, Mr. Hickey and other short pieces on hand and felt that
American Gem would give me a shot at showcasing them to the industry.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
What script would you urge aspiring writers to read and why?
Stuart Creque:
I read All
About Eve in an issue of Scenario magazine. It’s one of my favorite
movies, and the script evokes the world of the theater as a cutthroat
place of intrigue, completely the opposite of the oasis of culture
most people think it is. The characters are real people and their
interactions are also real.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Beside screenwriting what are you passionate about and why?
Stuart Creque:
Seeking some way to achieve peace in the Middle East (in fact, I wrote
a screenplay about it).
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Who is your favorite Screenwriter and Why?
Stuart Creque:
William Goldman,
because his work spans The Princess Bride to Butch Cassidy to Marathon
Man – such versatility!
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Name the director you would love to work with and why?
Stuart Creque:
Tim Burton, because he creates unique new worlds in each of his
movies.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Name the actor you would love to work with and why?
Stuart
Creque: Hugh Laurie, because he can transform himself into almost anything.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
Any tips and things learned along the way to pass on to others?
Stuart Creque:
Learn to be your characters – experience the story through their eyes.
FilmMakers
Magazine:
What's next for you?
Stuart
Creque: Spec script sale or possibly making an independent feature.
FilmMakers Magazine: Where will you be five years from
now?
Stuart
Creque: Writing screenplays and making movies full-time. |
