INTERVIEW: Screenwriter-Vanessa Ionta Wright

                                          Image Courtesy Vanessa Ionta Wright



Vanessa Ionta Wright is a very talented screenwriter that I met at Shriekfest 2014 when we both had projects in competition.  I recently got a chance to talk to her recently about her writing past, present and future.


TED

“Vanessa, please tell us how you got your start with screenwriting.  What was an early inspiration for you?  Was there one film that made you say ‘I want to be a writer.’”

VANESSA

“I think I actually started writing scripts before I knew that's what I was doing.  I would write down all these directions and descriptions of what I wanted to film and then would write lines for my "actors" to say.  Most of this was chicken scratch on a legal pad, but for all intents and purposes they were scripts.  Once I went to college and took a screenwriting class I realized "oh, that's how you do this."”
“I don't know if there was a specific film that made me want to be writer, but there was a film that made me want to make a career out of filmmaking.  It was Reservoir Dogs.  I saw the film with my mom when I was 16 at the local 'art house' theater.  Up until that point I thought that movies only had huge stars and expensive explosions.  I had no idea there was something called 'independent film' and that all you needed was a group of hungry filmmakers and a great story.  I realized it was a possible career choice, and that you didn't have to "make it" in order to make it.”

TED

“How did you make it through that vulnerable transition from the dream of being a writer, to making the hard commitment to do it?”
VANESSA
“Vodka...lots and lots of vodka.  I'm kidding, of course.  I think with anything you have to make a commitment to it, whether it's teaching, or medicine or accounting, etc.  I think anytime someone makes a career in the arts it's risky.  I think if you love it, if you're passionate about it and you commit yourself to it, you absolutely will be successful.  So, for me, the commitment wasn't hard, there were no other options. This is what I want to do...this is what I need to do.”

TED
“What was the breakthrough script for you?”

VANESSA

“One that I read or wrote?”


TED
“One that you wrote.”

VANESSA
“I like this line of questioning, by the way, this is fun, we should talk more like this, lol.”


TED

“Lol.”


VANESSA

“I think my breakthrough script was my comedy, ‘Bayou Gold’.  It was the first time I finished a feature without any stops.  I understood the story beginning to end and knew exactly where it was going to go.  Lately, I start with a strong beginning, or end or middle and have to build out from there.  It makes it much more
challenging to work backwards...or sideways.”
did I understand that question correctly?”
TED

“Yes.  Perfect.”

“What is the Vanessa Iona Wright brand?”


VANESSA
“I can't even begin to think about how to answer that, lol.  what does that even mean, the Vanessa Ionta Wright brand...I'm special Ted.  Is this one of those, "if you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be" questions?”


TED

“Its Ok, we can skip that question.”

VANESSA

“Or at least come back to it once I figure out how to answer, lol”

TED
“You've recently wrote a Stephen King adaptation.  Can you tell us about that?”

VANESSA
“Sure!  I obtained the non-exclusive rights to Stephen King's Rainy Season.  We are currently crowd funding through indiegogo and are set to shoot this Spring.   The story is about a young couple that arrive in the town of Willow, ME. After repeated warnings from town locals to leave, they stay and learn the horrific price the town must pay for prosperity. Every seven years, the rainy season descends upon Willow in a downpour of vicious, man eating toads. The newest inhabitants of town are then sacrificed and suffer the deadly consequences of their choice to not head the warnings. We have an amazing cast & crew and I am very excited to be working with these guys.  I am also the Executive Producer on the film, which is new territory for me.”


TED
“Woah, that's awesome!  Is this the first time you've stepped into production?”

VANESSA
“No, but it is the first time as an EP.  I actually got my start in music videos working as a production coordinator many moons ago. I definitely prefer the more creative side of production, it's just the way my brain works, I understand it better, but I think it's important to have a larger scope, fuller understanding of the entire process.”
TED

“So do you think its a good idea for writers to get some production experience?”






VANESSA
“If they want to move past the page, then absolutely yes!  I think it's important to understand how the words on that page get to the screen.  Not just the technique and proper form, but the actual turning those words into live action (or animation).  Sometimes things are written on the page that become logistical nightmares and it's important to know how to solve those problems while preserving the story.”

TED

“Any other advice that you could impart to new writers?”
VANESSA
“Write.  Very simple.  Don't say it, do it.  it may not be great, but each time you lay pen to paper or fingers to keyboard you improve.  If you have a story in you, let it out.  Read as much as possible, and write as much as you possibly can.  Find your voice and let it be heard.  And never, ever take no for an answer.  if you have a script and studios and agents say no, get off your keister and find some hungry filmmakers and make it yourself.  If you have a book that publishers have scoffed at, self publish.  You have the power to succeed and to fail, choose the former.”


TED
“Good advice!   Thank you, Vanessa!!”

“Thank you!  This was fun...now what?  wink emoticon
xoxo”

TED
“Now, I turn into a pumpkin...”


VANESSA

“poof, splat”