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Posted 12/08/2005
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Ken Mora
An interview with screenwriter Ken Mora regarding the Screenwriter Showcase Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?
A: “Ms. Valkyrie” takes place in a ‘political near future’ where euthanasia is legal, not because of a popular philosophy of personal sovereignty, but because a straining health care system cannot cope with care for the terminally ill, or the cost of curing those with advanced illness. At the same time, life extending technologies are available to those very wealthy that can afford them, so a social stratification begins to form: The wealthy can live longer and longer, and the rest get to choose how they die. When the protagonist, a ‘personal’ hospice care worker, proposes that her company campaign to reform the system, those closest to her start dying in the manner of her patients. As chief suspect, she must find the real killer in order to save herself and those she loves. It‘s a taut action/thriller with plenty of twists and a strong female lead unlike any you‘ve seen on screen
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?
A: Screenwriter Showcase offered a free month’s listing to entrants right off the bat. A nice inducement. A review of their site displayed some quality work so it was a pretty easy choice. An earlier version of “Ms. Valkyrie” took second prize honors in the action category at Indie Gathering earlier this year as well as placing in the top 100 of Screenwriter’s Dig, and before that was a finalist at writemovies.com
Q: Were you satisfied with the adminstration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?
A: They were not only on time with winner selection, they were early! If you’re used to pushed-back timelines and extended deadlines, this is quite a nice change and a sign of true professionalism. Emails were responded to immediately and personally. I highly recommend this competition.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?
A: None was offered, none expected.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?
A: Not so far, but the prize included a six month listing on inktip.com (along with a copy of Final Draft), and inclusion in inktip's player’s marketplace publication, which from my experience virtually guarantees good exposure.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?
A: This is my third award-winning script. My first, “A Light Before The Darkness“ based on the life of the artist Caravaggio, was optioned by director Heinrich Dahms and remains on his development roster while he begins production of “Wonder Child“ and gears up for “Thug” immediately after. He‘s a talented filmmaker whose movie “My Daughter‘s Keeper“ shows a keen sense of dramatic tension and an appreciation for light that a biography of Caravaggio demands. I’m currently seeking representation on my dark-comedic spoof of Dirty Harry films entitled “Magnum Farce” which took top honors at Indie Gathering, as well as for this script “Ms. Valkyrie“, an action-thriller sci-fi story.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?
A: I do live in L.A. I’m a California native. As expensive as things are out here, and with the traffic, I’d recommend moving here only with solid prospects.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?
A: Always. I will finish a romantic comedy soon, and continue development on two other projects. As you can tell from my body of work, I don’t feel bound by an particular genre, I’m just a “writing machine” and look for intriguing challenges which I hope will lead to assignment writing in addition to sales of my spec work. In addition, I continue to mentor others professionally via heliumfeedback.com which I find very rewarding.
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Posted: 06/08/2005
Moviebytes.com interview with screenwriter Ken Mora regarding the Indie Gathering Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?
A: I entered two, this first place win in the comedy category was for "Magnum Farce", a Naked Gun style spoof of the Dirty Harry movies. The plot draws from those films and has a contemporary political twist. I also won runner-up honors for my action script Ms. Valkyrie.
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?
A: I had such a positive experience at last year‘s Century City Film Festival contest that I‘m entering more film-fest based competitions. Indie Gathering seemed a natural fit since it was Indie production that got the whole farce genre going with Kentucky Fried Movie which spawned the great farces: Airplane, Naked Gun, etc. It was with a great sense of homage to the Zuckers/Abrahams, as well as to Clint Eastwood, that I created this project.
Q: Were you satisfied with the adminstration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?
A: Absolutely. To start with, the entrance fee includes a full weekend pass to the fest. My only regret is that I could attend at the last minute. Since I couldn‘t go I‘ve corresponded with Indie Gathering‘s CEO Ray Szuch a few times and was always responded to in less than one day. My zoetrope.com friend and fellow writer Jeff Heckman was gracious enough to attend and says he had a blast. Did I receive all the awards promised? How about a 5ft.and a two and a half foot tall trophy for my win and runner up! I also eagerly await the inktip.com listing that I’ll utilize for Magnum Farce.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?
A: There’s no promise of judging feedback, so I don’t expect any.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?
A: Always great to score a win. Along with my finalist finish for an earlier version submitted to redinkworks.com I’ve already garnered some nice resume fodder. My current semi-finalist standing in a couple others pending final awards helps, and I‘ve got this out to a few more.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?
A: My first screenplay, Caravaggio: A Light Before The Darkness, now has a Director attached: Heinrich Dahms of Buzzmedia (buzzmedia.net) who is currently seeking European production partners. He begins principal photography this December on a script based on the life of Mozart‘s sister, a prodigy in her own right, called “Wonder Child“ by Anthony Zaccaro. So, I‘m happy to be high on Dahm’s roster of developing projects.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?
A: Yes, I’m an L.A. native, but these days you really don’t need to be. Why bring traffic headaches into your life if you’re not already here? I think one thing Indie Gathering proves is that there's interest in making quality film everywhere.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?
A: I’m always working on new features. Most developed is a romantic comedy about an artist and a lawyer too busy with career to pursue love, who then fall in love despite their plans. I’m also developing a time-traveler script with a deeply conflicted protagonist who seeks to control the flow of time, even as he looses control of his life. Additionally, I’m co-writing a contemporary thriller featuring a protagonist assailed by demons in a Carlos Castaneda-style-reality set near the US/Mexico border. In addition, I’ve become one of the top paid mentors at heliumfeedback.com, so I’m constantly helping others to achieve a contest-winning polish for their scripts.
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Amsterdam, 21 April 2005
Mozart's Sister Subject of New Film
Netherlands based film development outfit BUZZMEDIA NETWORK and Amsterdam production company VENTUS FILM this week inked a strategic partnership to develop and co-produce up to six feature films over the next four years. The films will be directed by BUZZMEDIA’S Heinrich Dahms and produced by VENTUS’ Peter van Vogelpoel whose previous co-productions include Lars von Trier’s BREAKING THE WAVES and THE IDIOTS.
The co-production arrangement will kick off with the production in Winter 2005 of THE WONDER CHILD, a biopic on Nannerl Mozart, the musically gifted sister of Amadeus Mozart. THE WONDER CHILD will be the first of a trilogy of biopics on three female musical Wunderkinder of the early 19th century. The WUNDERKIND TRILOGY will include films on Clara Schumann (wife of Robert Schumann) and Fanny Mendelssohn (sister of Felix Mendelssohn). The award-winning screenplays for THE WONDER CHILD and CLARA were written by USA screenwriters Anthony Zaccaro and Miriam Queensen.
Other award-winning screenplays in the BUZZMEDIA NETWORK pipeline to be co-produced by VENTUS include screenplays on 18th century Italian artist CARAVAGGIO by US screenwriter Ken Mora, and a biopic on infamous Restoration poet Lord Rochester, titled MAKING MISS BARRY, by US screenwriter James T. Frazier. Ventus will handle the co-production and investment structure for the upcoming projects.
About VENTUS FILM
VENTUS FILM is the Netherlands based specialist production company of producers Peter van Vogelpoel and Karin S. de Boer. Peter van Vogelpoel was (co-)producer of films such as BREAKING THE WAVES, THE IDIOTS, WILDE MOSSELS, UNTER DEN PALMEN, PERFECT CIRCLE, REMBRANDT, CURFEW and HAIFA. Karin S. de Boer was line producer on RESISTANCE, MAGONIA, WILDE MOSSELS, and REMBRANDT.
About BUZZMEDIA NETWORK
BUZZMEDIA NETWORK BV (www.buzzmedia.net) is the Netherlands based film development company of Heinrich Dahms (www.dahms.com), director of feature films including MY DAUGHTER’S KEEPER (Miramax 1993). Other BUZZMEDIA projects include award-winning scripts on Italian artist CARAVAGGIO, and infamous Restoration poet Lord Rochester, titled MAKING MISS BARRY.
Further Information
Ventus Film: Peter van Vogelpoel, tel: +31-20-6060 773, info@ventusfilm.nl
BUZZMEDIA NETWORK: Heinrich Dahms, tel: +31-35-772 5225, info@buzzmedia.net
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11/20/2004
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Ken Mora
An interview with screenwriter Ken Mora regarding the Century City Film Festival Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?
A: I won with my script A Light Before The Darkness. It's an action-drama that focuses on the meteoric rise, volatile life, and tragic end of Caravaggio. Caravaggio, was the artist whose works revived the Catholic Church at the time of the Counter-Reformation, and he was gay. He was driven to become powerful enough to live life as he chose, yet hounded by fear of persecution for his sexual identity.
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?
A: You know, I almost didn't. The theme of the film festival was "Camp, Cult, Classic" and while my script was definately not the first two, it's definately a classic story-line in the tradition of Cyrano De Bergerac. Also, the contest requirements stated they were looking for great scripts in any genre, so I entered and I'm glad I did. I won representation through a previous victory in the 20/20 screenplay competition and my agent, Andy Rodman, has been able to leverage this success into current negotiations with a Dutch director who wants to spearhead the production in Europe. Cross fingers! I recently finaled in the redinkworks.com comp (top 10%) and I've had various finalist, semi and quarter-finalist successes. I'm also top three on the Zoetrope.com site for September.
Q: Were you satisfied with the adminstration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?
A: The folks who put this on were real lovers of cinema and very enthusiastic. It wasn't glitch-free, but it was a very well run expo overall. I loved the quality of the films entered. Most very powerful, very funny, or very artfully done. It meant a lot to be in their company. The contest was run with prompt attention to deadlines and I absolutely got everything I was promised. I'll be entering this competition again with new works for sure.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?
A: I was forwarded the critiques of two judges which were concise and informative. Not quite coverage level, but very incisive.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?
A: Since the soyouwannasellascript.com "script express" querry blaster, which was part of the prize, I've had six requests, and that's been less that one week ago. I also got listings on their site and inktip.com as part of the prize package.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?
A: I've completed a second, which I'm whipping into shape for competitions next year, and almost finished with my third. Also, part of the prize package was a six week Writer's Boot Camp course, which I've been meaning to try anyway. That screenplay four I'm working on for that. I'm very impressed with their methodology and would highly recommend their course.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?
A: I live, write, and paint in L.A. there are definite advantages, but not absolute ones. These days you can get your career started anywhere and travel here when you need to. Just stay off the freeways!
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?
A: Always. Next year will see at least two finished to the point where I can pitch them and enter them in competitions. Though the more comps I win, the fewer I qualify for since some restrict the amount of money you can have earned/won to qualify. The price of success I suppose. I can't talk about what's happening this minute in detail, but I might be close to my first option with this screenplay.
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01/16/2004
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Ken Mora
An interview with screenwriter Ken Mora regarding the 20/20 Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?
A: A Light Before The Darkness
Q: What made you enter this particular contest? Have you entered any other contests with this script? If so, how did you do?
A: The novel "First 20 pages judged for $20.00" philosophy appealed to me. After all, you know if a script is good enough after the first 20 pages. Also, the fact that no other fee was required for the next round seemed forthright.
Q: Were you satisfied with the adminstration of the contest? Did they meet their deadlines? Did you receive all the awards that were promised?
A: They were good explaining their growing pains due to both the high number of submissions and the quality of submissions. For a first-time contest I have no complaints. Considering it got me WGA Affiliated Representation, and a reading at Dreamworks and BBC productions (so far), I can't really complain.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?
A: I found the 20 point checklist very instructive in its own right. It was elegantly concise and let me know on what criterea my submission was evaluated.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?
A: So far it has been to Dreamworks who unfortunately gave it a pass, but are now open to future work of mine. It is now on its way to BBC productions, which is more open to period pieces. It is also being reviewed by a name actor that my agent approached shortly after signing me. One unexpected bonus: My agent hooked me up with one of L.A. longest establihed writing groups.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?
A: This is my first screenplay. As an exhibiting artist and painter I was inspired by the dramatic life and death of the artist Caravaggio. Since finishing that script I find I cannot stop. I'm working on my second and third concurrently.
Q: Do you live in Los Angeles? If not, do you have any plans to move there?
A: I do. Though for this contest and the opportunities that sprang from it, I needn't have been.
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?
A: Two more screenplays: 1) A psycho-sexual thriller in the vain of Fatal Attraction, but with a futuristic twist. 2) A near-future Action-Adventure involving the implications of Time Travel and the pandora's box that is technological discovery.
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