Interview:

Paul Rogalus teaches English at Plymouth State University, in Plymouth, NH. His full-length play Crawling From the Wreckage was produced in New York City in February 2002 by the American Theatre of Actors, and his one act plays have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Boston. His short screenplay, “Sid and Walt,” won screenwriting contests at the Wildsound Film Festival in Toronto and at the PictureStart Film Festival in New York City last year. A chapbook of his micro-stories entitled “Meat Sculptures” was published by Green Bean Press.

Is "Randall and Idnar" your first script? If not, what else have you completed?

No, I have written a number of short screenplays, including “Sid and Walt,” mentioned above. I have just completed my first feature-length screenplay.

Why did you write "Randall and Idnar"? And how long did it take you to write it?

I wrote “R & J” because I love the idea of id/superego alter ego characters—representing two extreme halves of a person’s personality.

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

No, I can’t make myself write. I write on impulse, when I get an idea, or a part of an idea, maybe a funny line, or a funny character.

What inspires you to write?

Funny characters that I see in the everyday world (humorous-funny AND strange-funny).

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Boston sports teams, teaching, golf, and poetry/spoken word open mics.

What influenced you to enter the Movie Script Contest?

I regularly check out the scriptwriting contests on the Withoutabox website.

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

Yes. It’s difficult to get your screenplay actually read by someone involved in the film industry.

Who is your favorite screenwriter or writer and why?

Charlie Kaufman and Quentin Tarantino.

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

Find your voice, and write what you want to write. Hopefully, you’ll find a place for it later..

What's next for you?

One final touch up on my new feature-length screenplay, and then I’ll start sending that out to contests.