when at least one person likes what I've
written.
My inspiration to write FOUR IN THE MORNING.......
It was an introductory scene to a
feature-length script I was working on but the more I explored the
scene, I felt it worked well on its own as a short.
*****************************************************************
FilmMakers Magazine:
What inspired you to write?
Andrew Newall: I've always enjoyed it. I wrote and did the
artwork for my own comic strips for years and I was always encouraged
with it so that encouragement in itself was inspiration. Over the
years, I found myself thinking more about storylines, characters and
dialogue, especially when British comics started changing. Popular
comic book super-heroes were given more adult-themed stories. They
were more interesting to read and in a way, drawing them (albeit as a
hobby) made me a part of it all.
FilmMakers Magazine: How did you prepare yourself to
write your first story?
Andrew Newall:
I was about 9 so I
can't remember! My first serious attempt at a story didn't take long
to prepare or write. It was an idea I had in mind for a long time and
I wrote it purely for my own enjoyment.
FilmMakers Magazine: Is
this your first story and how long did it take you to write FOUR IN THE MORNING?
Andrew Newall:
It's not my first and it only took a couple of weeks to write. I had
written it as a short script a few years ago so I knew exactly what
had to be changed around when I adapted it.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you have a set routine, place and time management for writing?
Andrew Newall:
I write notes first,
anything that comes to mind. After a while, I'll go over them all, see
where they might link and take it from there. I usually write at home.
As far as time management goes, I still have a day job so I have to
work around that.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you believe literary contests
are important for aspiring writers and why?
Andrew Newall:
Yes because it gives
you a goal. They're an incentive to see your idea through to a
finished product, and you're getting your work seen by people who
don't know you so their opinion is based purely on what they're
reading.
FilmMakers Magazine:
What
influenced you to enter the
American Gem Literary Festival Competition?
Andrew Newall:
It
was the positive feedback from entrants. I was google-searching short
story competitions. I found American Gem and liked what I saw.
FilmMakers Magazine: What Book would you urge aspiring writers to read and why?
Andrew Newall:
That's not an easy
one to answer. I liked John Grisham's The Client because it was easy
to follow and the entire opening, with the two children hiding from
the man in the car, was very suspenseful. I would say to read the
introduction to a book. If it grabs your attention, read the whole
thing. In addition to reading, another thing to do is if you really
liked the book, take a note of the author's name and try finding
interviews with him/her on the net. It's sometimes just as good to
hear what makes them tick as it is to read their work.
FilmMakers Magazine:
Beside writing what are you
passionate about and why?
Andrew Newall:
I love comic art, I
grew up drawing them. I also like to keep fit. I've been training in
Tukido, one of the Martial Arts, for over twenty years. It's great for
health & fitness. I've been involved in short films in various
capacities for several years now and recently got the opportunity to
direct my first one.
FilmMakers Magazine: Who is your favorite
author
and Why?
Andrew Newall:
I don't really have a
favorite. If the first paragraph grabs me, I'll read it. I like
biographies/autobiographies. The last book I read was Waking Dragons,
by Goran Powell. I enjoyed that, and I've just started another John
Grisham book now.
FilmMakers Magazine:
Any tips and things learned along
the way to pass on to others?
