Interview with First Scene Winner Jacob F. Keller, (The Curse of Sam Hain)

It was the first contest I’ve come across that didn’t require an entire screenplay to be submitted. A first scene allows for a much more focused effort on polishing a really good sample. Getting those 5-10 pages right takes a few days to a week while an entire screenplay can take many weeks or months to get right. Plus, the price of submission made it much more appealing. Really, there was nothing to lose.

– Jacoob F. Keller, on why he submitted to the WILDsound Festival (Review)

Watch the 1st Scene Reading THE CURSE OF SAM HAIN:

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Frances Townend
Belenus – Sean Ballantyne
Sam Hain- Neil Kulin
Daughter – Julia Vally
Rider – Kaleb Alexander
Wife – Jacqueline Brown
Man #1 – Charles Gordon
Man #1 – Rob Salerno

Submit your First Scene Screenplay:
http://www.wildsound.ca/firstscenescreenplaycontest.html

Matthew Toffolo interviews Jacob F. Keller:

Matthew: What is your screenplay about?

Jacob: The lone survivor of a crash landing on a distant world becomes the surprising savior to the aborigines facing genocide.

Matthew: Why should this script be made into a movie?

Jacob: It’s Cast Away meets Alien. It is a story that is can be both visually and metaphorically engaging with its strong ties to Dante’s Inferno. It is also a role that a lot of actors fight over. It has a lot going for it.

Matthew: How long have you been writing stories?

Jacob: It started in junior high. So, 20 years? Yeah, that’s about right.

Matthew: What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Jacob: Easy, Ghostbusters. Probably watched it 30-40 times. I can almost quote the whole thing.

Matthew: What artists would you love to work with?

Jacob: It’s not so much about who I work with but what kind of projects I would want if I could choose. There are properties I would love a shot at, things nobody has thought about developing or projects that haven’t gone anywhere. I’ll work with anyone that has the same passions I do.

Matthew: How many stories/screenplays have you written?

Jacob: Last I counted 7 finished, and another 4-5 in various stages of development.

Matthew: Ideally, where would you like to be in 5 years?

Jacob: Ideally, still living and working in Hollywood developing any number of projects in various forms.

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

Jacob: I try to get an early start and save personal errands and such for the afternoon and evening. If I flip it, I’m usually too worn out to sit in front of a computer for 3-4 hours. I also try to break it down in chunks. If I write one scene or get a problem figured out, I’l reward myself with some Netflix or playing one of my video games. And I always walk away mid-scene so I know exactly where to start the next day.

Matthew: Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Jacob: Old school, 8-bit video games. I play almost every day as a break between projects. And my family. I have one brother but many, many cousins all across the country and we try to stay in touch as best we can over Facebook.

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

Jacob: Don’t follow trends or write what you think a producer or executive wants to read. Write what you want to write. Your passion will shine through and the right audience will find you.