Interview with Debbie Bolsky, Winning 1st Scene Script Writer (The Umpire Has No Balls)

Watch the Winning 1st Scene Screenplay Reading of “The Umpire Has No Balls”


CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Val Cole
Jessie – Melinda Michael
Dutch – John Goodrich
Catcher – Lucas James
Ken Griffrey Jr./Sr. – Andrew Tite

Matthew Toffolo interviews Debbie Bolsky:

Matthew: What is your screenplay about?

Debbie: It’s the story of Jessie Stiles as she starts her journey through the umpire ranks to achieve her one goal in life – becoming a major league baseball umpire. But there’s one little problem – no woman’s ever broken through the stainless-steel ceiling of the MLB.

This dramedy with scatterings of romance follows Jessie as she fights her way toward achieving her goal – she is a woman who, not always successfully, tries to balance her life with her dreams. Interspersed throughout the script are interviews with real people involved in the game of baseball.

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

Debbie: It’s a good story that I think people will enjoy and it’s got some very strong roles especially for women.

Matthew: How long have you been writing stories?

Debbie: I’ve been writing since I was a kid but screenplays and stage plays pretty consistently for the past 15 years.

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

Debbie: The Philadelphia Story and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Matthew: What artists would you love to work with?

Debbie: There are just too many to list and it would also depend upon the project.

Matthew: How many stories/screenplays have you written?

Debbie: I have over 10 screenplays and stage plays at different stages and that doesn’t count the ones I tossed in a drawer never to see the light of day again.

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

Debbie: I have no set routine. I’m the most undisciplined person in the world so when I start working on something I have to give myself a deadline. Then I’ll take many walks through the park and on the beach and think and talk to myself and make a lot of notes. When I have a handle on it I’ll pull out my laptop at home or in the library and start writing because after all, I have a deadline to meet.

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

Debbie: Writing, baseball, friends and politics.

Matthew: That’s funny. Those probably would be my answers to that question too!

Matthew: What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Festival?

Debbie: I read about WILDsound in an email so I looked at their website, watched a couple of the readings then decided to submit to them.

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

Debbie: It would be presumptuous of me to give anyone advice so all I’ll say is so long as you enjoy it, keep writing, and rewriting, and rewriting, and rewriting…

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Deadline: FIRST SCENE (first 10pgs) SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL Fet it performed at the festival, and get full feedback
http://www.wildsound.ca/firstscenescreenplaycontest.html

– Submit the first stages of your film, get it performed at the festival, and get full feedback!

WATCH past 1st Scene Festival readings: