Interview:

Robert Narholz spent his childhood and youth in Gmunden / Austria. After graduation from highschool he moved to Munich where he studied philosophy and theatre. In the early 90ies he relocated to Cologne and started his music career. Robert founded the bands TSCHIK, ROBERT E. PROJECT and PARK CAFE and worked with them as bandleader (vocals/guitars) for several years. He also composed and produced several hundred tracks for SONOTON Recorded Music Library, which are distributed on CDs worldwide.

In 1995 Robert moved to Los Angeles where he continued with his music and started to study at the renowned film university USC. In 2000 Robert graduated with distinction in music and film and subsequently focused on filmmaking. In 2001 he finally founded his own production company LENA FILM in Los Angeles.

After a few short films and music videos Robert wrote and directed his first feature film DER AUFBRUCH (THE LEAVING) ("One of the most interesting Austrian movie productions this year." OOEN) in 2003. The film had a successful run on the festival circuit and was subsequently released on DVD.

His second feature DIE SPUR IM SCHNEE (TAKE ME HOME) premiered in 2005 at the Avignon Film Festival ("... a stylish ghost thriller", Variety; "A real candy for movie lovers", OOEN) and went on to receive the Award for Best Foreign Language Movie at the Garden State Film Festival in New Jersey. DIE SPUR IM SCHNEE enjoyed a successful theatrical run in Austria and is now available on DVD.

Robert currently co-produces and co-writes GLOBAL WARNING - THE THAW OF WAR for LENA FILM / Vent Productions, and co-produces MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS for Mansion Pictures, Los Angeles.

Robert lives in Los Angeles.

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

I have written and directed two German language features, DIE SPUR IM SCHNEE (TAKE ME HOME) and THE LEAVING (DER AUFBRUCH). BLACK SUN is my first English language screenplay. I have since then written a few more English works, including a musical and two thrillers.

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

I firmly believe in good mainstream. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a low quality genre, only low quality executions. I wrote BLACK SUN to explore the futility of rigid human belief systems, while at the same time sticking to a popular genre, the thriller, and making it fun and somewhat high-concept. The theme as well as the genre are both close to my heart. As to the time it took to write: Usually I write rather fast, but in this particular case a somewhat larger number of rewrites was necessary, as the multi-layered plot needed some extra care.

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

I like to outline and plot excessively before writing. Probably eighty percent of the time writing goes into structure, outline and notes. By the time I start writing the actual screenplay, I know exactly what happens when and why. This makes writing action and dialogues a joy. Hence, the first draft of the screenplay itself seldomly takes more than five to seven days. After that, the rewriting starts.

What inspires you to write?

Everything that grabs me. Writing is a life, not an activity. 

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Philosophy. And filmmaking in general. I not only wrote, but also directed and cut my prior films. Right now I am really getting into special effects and compositing, as I am preparing to cut a documentary.

What influenced you to enter the Movie Script Contest?

I wanted BLACK SUN to be read by perfect strangers, who didn't know me at all. And in that way get an untinted, objective and fresh perspective on the screenplay.

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

For the above reason, yes. As a writer you only have so many close persons who will read your work, and only a very small percentage of them will have the skills and honesty to be objective about it. A screenplay contest is a reality check.

Who is your favorite screenwriter or writer and why?

These days, what excites me the most is serial television. I am stunned by the quality of some shows I am watching: Sopranos, of course, Six Feet Under, and more recently, my new favorite, Dexter.

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

Do not go into the screenplay too fast. It should be the last thing that you do. Research, outline, plot.

What’s next for you?

I am about to start editing a documentary. Also, I was commissioned to write a feature treatment for an Austrian producer, another (somewhat) supernatural thriller. Besides that, I am developing a TV show, and I am drafting a couple of new thrillers.