1st Scene Reading of HOW TO HOLD IT ALL IN, by Gwen Goodkin

Watch the 1st Scene Reading of HOW TO HOLD IT ALL IN:

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Angelica Alejandro
LYLE – Gabriel Darku
MARV – Ben Hur
CHIC-JINX – Chris Reid-Geisler

Get to know writer Gwen Goodkin:

1. What is your screenplay about?

How to Hold it All in is about a guy who’s lost the loves of his life.

2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It has a solid plot and suspense. Pathos, but also commercial appeal.

3. How would you describe this story in one sentence?

A WWII veteran attends his ex best friend’s funeral and reflects on what drove them apart.

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

The Wizard of Oz.

5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I started it right before I had a baby last November. I’ve just picked it up again after a break, so in terms of actual time spent writing? Not very long. But I’ve been working on the short story, on and off, since 2005. It’s evolved a lot over time.

6. How many stories have you written?

I’ve had 6 stories published (http://gwengoodkin.com/stories-essays/), but I’ve written a lot more than that. “How to Hold it All in” was published in July by Atticus Review as part of their Tales from the VFW series. https://flipboard.com/@atticusbooks/tales-from-the-vfw-18j7efg0y

7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I was beginning to think the short story wouldn’t be published and, one way or the other, I was going to get this story out to an audience.

8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Another screenplay elbowed its way in while I was writing this one. That was actually good – to take a break and come back. I can see the holes I need to patch now.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Women’s rights. There’s other stuff, but with three young kids at home, most of my spare energy goes into them. I know that sounds lame, but it’s the truth.

10. What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I entered the contest because I liked the idea of getting feedback on the initial scenes to see if I was on the right track, especially because the short story and the screenplay open with different scenes. The feedback helped me realize there was an area of the script I had neglected that I needed to focus on.

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

Do your stories justice. Fight for them. Be the best writer you can possibly be. Push yourself beyond what you’re capable of. When you do, you will surprise yourself. And isn’t that part of the magic of writing? The moments of surprise.

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Deadline: FIRST SCENE (first 10pgs) SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL Get it performed at the festival. 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: