Author Q&A: Filmmaker Matt Bissonnette, "Passenger Side"

Passenger Side, one of seven films in Narrative Competition at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, is a "comedy of sibling rivalry and verbal one-upmanship." The film, about two brothers on a "road trip" through Los Angeles, is written and directed by Matt Bissonnette--and stars his brother Joel Bissonnette, along with Adam Scott. Matt talks about his writing process, filmmaking, and the importance of film festivals in this Write On! Q&A.

Is there anything autobiographical in this film?
Nothing, no. Except in the sense that we are brothers. You take characters that you know and then impose stores on them, because it is much easier to make up a story than a person in my experience. Usually what I try and do is go with people that I know or sort of know--they seem more real to me. I find stories come and go. I make 'em up, put people (characters) through their paces.

What is your writing process?
Get up at 8, turn on the computer by 9 finish by 1. That's basically it. Have a cup of coffee.

How do you approach the blank page?
I think Hemingway said, "Finish when you still have a good idea, and start that one the next morning." When I'm still thinking, I quit. By the time I come around the next morning, that other scene is already in my head and I just write it.

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