Interview:

Stephen Leach, Dublin, Ireland

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

Shakedown is my fifth script. My previous four thriller screenplays were
also highly
placed in contests.

Why did you write "SHAKEDOWN? And how long did it take you to write it?

It took me six months to finish Shakedown. I wrote it because I'm fascinated
by the dilemma of it's protagonist. A man who, in order to stay alive, has
to use
the violent and brutal talent that he'd previously renounced.

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

I write every evening after work, and on weekends. Although I create an
outline before starting a first draft, it isn't exhaustive. Because
sometimes characters
lead a story down a different path, and I'll follow that new way to see
where it goes.

What inspires you to write?

The dream that someday people will sit in a cinema and be thrilled and moved
by something I created.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Watching movies and reading books. Not only am I passionate about these, but
they in turn boost the standard of my scripts. Hey, it's the perfect chain
reaction.

What influenced you to enter the Movie Script Contest?

Word of mouth about Movie Script {especially on Moviebytes} was great about
their professionalism, and about the effort they put into promoting winners
and finalists.

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

Contests are great for bypassing the fact that agents/managers/producers
don't read scripts that haven't been personally recommended. Contests like
Movie Script get writer's loglines and screenplays in front of
agents/managers/producers.

Who is your favorite screenwriter or writer and why?

Two favorites of mine are Tony Gilroy and David Mamet.

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

Write every day, even just a little. Watch movies, read books and scripts,
and... write, write, write.

What’s next for you?

I'm on the final draft of my latest script. A thriller about a novelist, his
gangster brother, a tough cop and two brilliant bank heists.