Winning Short Screenplay – Collapse by David Sweet | Los Angeles feedback film festival

COLLAPSE
Written by David Sweet

CAST LIST:

BILL – Peter Nelson
CORTNEY – Laura Daly
NARRATOR – Gabriel Darku

SYNOPSIS:

Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Horror

A wife married unhappily to a strictly controlling man, who is presented with a startling opportunity to change things – if she is able to take the extreme step to bring this about.

What is your screenplay about?

I would say that it primarily concerns a conflict of emotions – a wife married unhappily to a strictly controlling man, who is presented with a startling opportunity to change things – if she is able to take the extreme step to bring this about.

What genres does your screenplay under?

Suspense, crime/mystery, maybe even horror, depending upon how wide a definition is employed.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Assuming a market for a piece of this length – probably no longer than 20 minutes max , possibly as a tag-on to some major work – I would contend that it ticks all the boxes of character interest, dialogue, conflict, exciting scene change, mystery – and with only one set and two characters involved, plus some newsreel footage, it would be relatively cheap to make.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Human nature.

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

The full list would be very long, so I will shorten it to 10: It Happened One Night, The Maltese Falcon, Laura, Strangers on a Train, Singin in the Rain, Rififi, Rear Window, One-Eyed Jacks, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Pulp Fiction (bonus item The Graduate).

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

If you count its short story antecedent, in hours I would guess between 30 and 40.

How many stories have you written?

If you mean short and flash stories, there would be too many to count, but have managed to get 8 published, winning two competitions and coming second in another.

What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I am always pretty much motivated, so I would guess that it came down the idea for the story plus the challenge of shaping it into a good 1pg script.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

This biggest obstacle – and I would guess that I am not alone in this – was in reducing the plot and dialogue to such a short compass, particularly as to what to leave out.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Films, politics, psychology ( well sort of – was formerly a psychologist, or at least designated myself as such), history, fiction, and particularly crime fiction – and of course the opposite sex.

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

No, don’t think so – I wouldn’t presume; all writers have to find their own way, wouldn’t you say?

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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: John Johnson