Interview:

My name is Tara K. McCann and I am a screenwriter and young adult novelist who is now living in the Midwest. I have had minor success writing under two pseudonyms and publishing under one, but I feel that placing in the Movie Script Shorts Contest will truly usher me into a career of screenwriting and call attention to my other scripts. I have several screenplays which have placed in contests and I am currently collaborating on a comedy with California screenwriter Frank Leggett. I am also revising two novels but there is something so fun, so addicting, and so challenging about screenwriting that I don't seem to get very far.

Why did you write REVELATION OF JOHN and how long did it take you to write it?

The idea for the script came as I was living just outside Seattle and experienced a
6.8 earthquake while in an apartment building. I remember that I was more shocked
about the alteration in the personalities around me than of the earthquake, itself.
Then I combined comedy, romance, and a crime to the drama of the earthquake and I
think the script keeps you guessing.

Writing is a long process for me; I keep scripts in the back of my head for years,
mulling them over and doing research, writing down snatches of dialogue, and watching
current book and movie trends. REVELATION OF JOHN was written in two weeks because I had been stewing on it for years.

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

Juggling three kids and two jobs, I carve time out for myself (because no one is
going to give it to you) but writing time for me is occasionally during my lunch
break but mostly it is between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m. I must have three things to write
a script-- the music of Alanis Morisette, strong Starbuck's coffee, and as many
cherry Blow-pops I can steal from my kids.

What inspires you to write?

I have an angry relationship with my muse. For years I fought it and then had to
rein it in a little because my muse sometimes consumes me. Now we get along fine. I
carry my muse to work and when it rises in the back of my mind, I know it is time to
take a lunch break and open up my laptop.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I am a child advocate, a childrens and teen librarian, and an instructor at a local
community college. I feel my lot in life is to help kids find their purpose and
potential, hopefully making the world a little nicer place. Life is too short NOT to
cherish children and laugh and learn from them!

What influenced you to enter the Movie Script Contest?

I was specifically looking for contests which had a short script category because
there aren't many big contests out there that do. This contest kept me updated, is
very professional, and offers great feedback besides a chance to get a little "buzz"
by the online bios. Thanks MSC! I will be entering their Feature Screenplay Contest
too because of the multiple categories in genres, which is an aspect that can be
hard to find in other contests.

Who is your favorite screenwriter and why?

I love the Coen Brothers but Nora Ephron has been a great influence and personally
empowered me as a woman, both through her movies and her books.

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

I like Stephen King's philosophy to "Glue your butt to the chair" and to quote Nike,
"Just do it!" Nobody is going to hand you writing time like an indulgence on a
silver platter. You have to take it, and not feel guilty about it! You deserve it!