Interview:

Jeff Wolverton is currently a senior visual effects artist on the film "I Am Legend". Wolverton simultaneously found time to reprise his role as the voice of the ChubbChubbs, the perpetually hungry fuzzball stars of Sony Pictures Animations' short "The ChubbChubbs Save Xmas."

He most recently completed work on the "Spider-Man 3", on which he was senior visual effects artist working on sandman. Before that he was an effects animator on "Ghost Rider". Wolverton has also served as a digital effects artist on "Monster House", which was nominated for a 2007 Academy Award® as Best Animated Feature Film, and on "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", which received a Best Achievement in Visual Effects 2006 Oscar nomination.

His early career includes working as a digital effects artist on "Spider-Man" and "Hollow Man" in addition to serving as a lighting artist on "Stuart Little". All three of these movies were honored with Academy Award nominations recognizing achievement in visual effects. Wolverton also conceived the story for The ChubbChubbs!, winner of an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Prior to joining Imageworks, Wolverton was a digital artist for Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he worked on Hercules and Tarzan. Wolverton's other writing credits include Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mist, an animated film featuring the vocal talents of Brendan Fraser, Leonard Nimoy and Mark Hamill. Wolverton has a master's degree from Ohio State University and was born in Columbus, Ohio.


Is “Escape” your first script? If not, what else have you completed? 

I've written several full length screenplays, but only a few shorts (three, so far.) I like 'em! Just doesn't seem to be an easy path to getting them made.


Why did you write “Escape”? And how long did it take to write it?

Actually, only about a week! Much of it is a (very fictionalized and exaggerated) account of my little sister DeeDee's life -- she was a near-Olympic level swimmer for Ball State.


Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing?

My routine sucks. I sleep in as much as possible, eat, then nap again with my two cats (cats are a strong narcotic; they lie there on top of you while you sleep) and finally write only when I'm running out of time. It's pathetic.


What inspires you to write?

I get lots of ideas while watching educational shows (Discovery Channel), or reading science magazines like Discover or Popular Science. I also have a lot of long dialogues with myself pretending to explain things from an alien point of view, or talking as if the misunderstood bad guy in a story.    


Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about? 

Visual effects -- I like making things for the big screen!    


What influenced you to enter the Movie Script Contest? 

My father really liked “Escape” and wanted to see it continue in some way.


Do you feel that screenwriting contests are worthwhile for writers and why?  

Definitely. The deadlines can force you to write, the idea that someone is actually reading you can force you to become better, and of course if you win or place highly it is a good selling tool for the screenplay itself.    


Who is your favorite screenwriter or writer and why?  

I'm a fan of Shane Black from the old days; I read his scripts years ago and loved the excited tone he had; like he couldn't believe all the stuff in the script was really happening.    


Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers? 

You've heard it before: best advice (aside from "Don't stop writing") is “Finish” -- Half-written equals never-written.    


What’s next for you?

First up; crunch time on my effects work. Writing-wise, I have a couple irons in the fire (hopefully this contest is one of them!)