WINNING TV SPEC Reading of SUPERNATURAL “Don’t Look Back” , by Bonnie Bonaduce

Winning Screenplay – SUPERNATURAL “Don’t Look Back” Written by Bonnie BonaduceCAST LIST: NARRATOR – Becky Shrimpton DEAN – Jason Martorino SAM – John Marcucci CASTIEL – Brogan Caulfield EMMA – Roselie Williamson

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller, Romance

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

The logline best answers this question for SUPERNATURAL – “Don’t Look Back” – Dean, Sam and Castiel take extreme measures to save an unusual and innocent woman from an evil curse. However, the crux of the episode is to introduce the new character of Emma De Luca, a woman as embroiled in the supernatural universe as Dean and Sam, and to lay the foundation for an epic love triangle between Dean and Emma and Castiel. Time for Supernatural to grow up, leave the overdone “bromances” in the dust, and throw a strong, ass-kicking and yet sweet and vulnerable woman into the mix. Sparks will fly!

How does this episode fit into the context of the show?

This episode is designed to be a season-opener, and carries no baggage other than our main characters and the Men of Letter’s Bunker set, which from what I understand was incredibly expensive to build and will surely be available should my story be a miracle baby and make it to the small screen.

Have you watched every single episode of SUPERNATURAL?

I have watched every single episode of Supernatural, more than once. Some I could write from memory, such as my personal fave, “The Man Who Would be King”, which was also the first episode I ever saw. I must confess, I had never even watched Supernatural until this past January. Honest to God. I was working so many hours at my bring-home-the-bacon job that I seldom had time to watch anything longer than a sitcom. I guess I owe my newfound writing obsession to a miserable cold that forced me to kick back and actually relax for a while. I stumbled on “The Man Who Would be King”, got completely sucked in, and the rest is history. I think any writer attempting to write for an established show MUST take the time and effort to study their quarry. So much of great writing is in the nuances, the little things about a character or a concept that make all the difference.

How would you describe this script in two words?

If I could describe this script in two words, they would be GAME CHANGER.

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

The movie I have seen the most times in my life? That’s a hard one. I’d say it’s a toss up between any of the Lord of the Rings movies, all the Harry Potter movies, the entire Star Wars franchise, and “While You Were Sleeping”. Yes, that’s the romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. Hey, I never said I was consistent. Or maybe I am…after all, I’m still mixing fantasy universes with romance.

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

I worked on this particular episode for about six weeks, on and off. My mind tends to run ahead, and I also spent time outlining and making general notes on several more sequel episodes. The follow up to “Don’t Look Back” is titled “Timing is Everything”, and it too is complete and making the contest rounds with DLB as we speak. I’m halfway through the third episode titled “Out of the Blue”, and also have 6 other episodes that I’m outlining/simmering. No rest for the obsessed, I’m afraid.

How many stories have you written?

I have no idea how many stories I’ve written. So many were written only in my head, because I never had the time to commit them to paper. I did write a romance novel and a screenplay that did well in some contests about 10 years ago, but then I took a long break from writing, like ten years of break, during which I was raising my kids and working my ass off, and just trying to keep the wolf from the door. Sometimes life just gets in the way…and sometimes we let it. I wish now that I’d taken more time for ME. And that would have meant writing. But no use in lamenting the past. We can only look forward.

What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

My favorite song? That’s an interesting question. At the moment, it’s got to be Carly Pearce – “Every Little Thing”. Yes, it’s a country song. This is me, saying, and saying it proudly, that although I love almost all music, Country music holds the key to my heart.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

The only obstacle I faced in finishing “Don’t Look Back” was time. The story was simply bursting out of me, to the extent that I even dreamed about it at night, waking up at three a.m. and running to my computer to get the thoughts down before I could forget them. But time is an evil bitch, and with the deadline for so many important contests looming, I took a week of vacation time from my job to be able to give the writing the attention it deserved. Man, did I LOVE that week! All writing, all the time? Heaven.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Apart from writing, I am passionate about my kids, and living life to the fullest. I prioritize taking care of my health. I eat very well, don’t smoke or drink, hit the gym most every day, use a far-infrared sauna, and take a handful of supplements daily. As my wise grandma used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

I learned about the festival on line. First, as a new writer, I know how important it is to get my work out there, everywhere I can. I also value the feedback, although I always rely on my own instinct and taste. First and foremost, I write for myself. Especially for Supernatural, that makes sense to me, since I am part of their largest demographic viewership. I also loved the idea of having professional actors table read my work. So cool.

My initial reaction to the feedback was, Wow! He really liked my work. I mean, when the first sentence you read says, “An exceptionally well-written episode of Supernatural…” you know you’re off to a great start! I did incorporate the advice to lower my page count, and it was a good lesson in evaluating what scenes were absolutely crucial to the story. I really did learn something, and isn’t that the point?

*****

Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Kierston Drier

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

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