Post a Question for Kirk Jones, "Waking Ned Devine, "Everybody's Fine"

What is the biggest mistake that beginning (or any) screenwriters make?

Now that I have completed my screenplay. How do find someone who will actually take a look at your pitch, much less your screenplay? Typical answer is that we are not accepting screenplays at this time. Poco's Song Screenplay Blog can be found on myspace page.

Brian Opean
www.myspace.com/opeanbe
Poco's Song Screenplay Blog

What are the major differences for you between writing for a British audience versus an American audience?

Selling a screenplay and walking away is one thing. Financing something you've written and directing it is another; so, what advice would you give or what has been your experience in financing films you've written that you wanted to direct.

Cheers,
Dylan Balfe

How did you discover the Italian film upon which your new project is based?

In most screenplays, which do you consider the more important: plot or character development?

In a piece like "Waking Ned Divine" or in an adaptation such as 'Everybody's Fine', how do you find a unique voice for each character? (their speech patterns, language, etc.)

Kirk,

Rewrites are often an area of the process where many writers fall short. I myself have a tendency to perform more of a polish rather than a rewrite. What are some tools/tricks that you use to help guide you through rewrites, identify trouble spots, and make difficult changes?

B.D.C.

Message edited by: Brian on Nov 21, 2009 1:22 PM

I had this great discussion with Shia Labeouf on the set of Wall St. 2 here in NYC. I told him here, it's different getting a project, such as a treatment moving forward, but at least you have more access to indie production than in L.A. for submission. What do you think?

In your new film 'Everybody's Fine' there is one main character who meets many other characters. I have written a screenplay based on my experiences as a young Australian girl in Italy and the characters I met (mainly prospective boyfriends). It's about an Australian in a 'social jungle', a new world, and a bit out of her depth, but how do I avoid it seeming to be too much about the main character and her reactions...or doesn't that matter if the script is powerful enough? (And how do I market it as a novice?) Thankyou.

Did you feel obliged to honor Tornatore's original film/story structure or was your intention to create something different, using Stanno Tutti Bene as a source of inspiration?

Waking Ned Devine is a beautiful film and you obviously had oodles to do with that as writer and director. How much did the fact that you wrote and directed the film affect the final outcome? I know the film industry does not value the screenwriter as much as it should, in theater for example the writers intention is law, but screenplays get filtered through one person after another, often completely changing the writer's intention. Do you get more control over keeping your story they way you intended it as opposed to a writer who does not direct?

Message edited by: Tara on Nov 22, 2009 7:12 AM

Hi Kirk,
When you were writing, "Everybody's Fine", did you have Mr. De Niro in mind for the lead?