1. Your script Forgiven won award in the category Best Feature
Script. How was the script inspired?
Forgiven was
inspired when I thought I saw a figure of a child outside the door of
the shower followed by a handprint on the door whilst I was in my
university hall. Once I saw that I went back to my room and began
writing the basic concept
idea.
2. How did the writing process go? What was challenging during writing?
The
writing process ran from researching different aspects of Horror &
of course real-life laws & experiences for continuity purposes. I
would write scenes in a notebook or on my iPhone notes & transfer
it to iCloud when travelling on the bus home every weekend. The most
challenging part of the process was how to bulk out the idea in
creative ways once the main plot was complete & what
subplots/character background could I add-in to make it more
interesting.
3. Tell us about your background
and when did you decide to become a screenwriter?
I
left secondary school after completing my GCSE exams and studied at
South West College doing BTEC Creative Media Production mainly
because of the Audio & Music side but quickly fell in love with
Film & Photography. Once I completed that course I decided to do
a Foundation Degree at SWC before progressing to complete my degree
in BSc Cinematic Arts at Ulster University Magee Campus under Great
care & supervision of the lecturers. They helped me progress my
abilities and develop my full potential but also narrow down the
areas that I was best suited to which turned out to be Screenwriting
& it was through my final year of Uni I wrote Forgiven for my
final project which has now won several awards including Best Feature
at the Prague International Monthly Film Festival.
4. Films that inspired you to become a filmmaker?
Tough
Question but Tarantino Movies, Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola
& Tim Burton movies would be big influences. I must admit having
a soft spot for Rom-Coms and feel-good movies so Nancy Myers would be
a big influence on my writing at times.
5. Who is your biggest influence?
My
biggest influence would be my grandfather because he taught me to do
what I love and I will live a happy life but if you want a filmmaker
I would say Tim burton & Stanley Kubrick because I love what they
do/done with their films
6. Do you have a favorite genre to work in? Why is it your favorite?
I
would always have written Romance, Comedies and Adventure but am
starting to like writing Horror scripts currently. especially if an
idea pops into my head, I'll grab whats close & start writing
what I have.
7. What’s your all-time favorite movie and why?
Harry
Potter would be my favourite as I have grown up with it & reading
the books, I always felt a connection with the series. my 2nd
favourite would be lord of The Rings.
8. If you could work with anyone in the world, who would that person be?
Again,
Tim Burton would be a dream to work with, but Tarantino I would say
would be fun on set as well.
9. The one person who has truly believed in you throughout your career.
My
whole family have always believed in me which is a typical answer but
one person has to be my lecturer from Ulster University Dr Victoria
McCollum. She always sat with me giving me tips & making sure I
was being the best I can be whilst inspiring me & others in the
class.
10. What was the most important lesson you had to learn as filmmaker?
Patience
that has to be the biggest lesson I have learned SO FAR.
11. What keeps you motivated?
Family,
Friends and getting out and about being Creative, basically keeping
as active as I can & doing what I
love.
12. How has your style evolved?
from
writing basic cheesy Romance to more complex and diving deep into
character development I feel I am learning the art of screenwriting
more in-depth & developing my own way of
writing.
13. The project(s) you’re most proud of…
"Forgiven"
as it is my 1st Screenplay that got me my degree & I put so much
work into writing it & improving it.
14. The most challenging project you worked on. And why?
The
current project I am writing which is still untitled, there are times
I feel the story isn't going anywhere so scrap it or parts of it and
start again.
15. What are your short term and long term career goals?
I
would love to have forgiven made into a picture with the vision in my
head & shown on the big screen & to develop a career as a
Screenwriter & work on many more movies whether they are mine or
not.
16. Your next projects?
The next project I am hoping will be another
thriller/horror but it is currently a slow process of developing the
story.