Bradley M. Look, LISP Short Screenplay FINALIST

LISP Short Screenplay FINALIST, A PACKAGE OF DREAMS BY Bradley M. Look

1. Can you please tell us about your and your daily life?

I work in my normal “day job” as a Journeyman makeup artist on features and television series (i.e., Captain America: The Winter Soldier, all the Hunger Games, Thor, Star Trek: First Contact, Santa Clause 3, Star Trek Enterprise, The Fosters, etc.). However, when I’m not doing makeup, I write as ideas come to me.

2. How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write?

When not doing makeup work in the industry, I will work on different stories – sometimes bouncing around on several at a time. I’m constantly jotting down story notes to myself for later use while on set. Normally, I like to write late at night after my husband has gone to bed and the phone isn’t ringing. Working in front of the computer, I let the ideas take me wherever they want. It’s then usually the next day when I re-read the night’s writing that I’ll go back and begin re-writing to smooth out the material. What usually inspires me to write is a “what if” idea or seeing something that piques my interest.

3. How does it feel to have your work recognized?

Submitting a script to a festival and then waiting can be nerve-wracking. I constantly doubt myself. Winning can be great, but ultimately having your script produced is the best compliment a writer can get. That’s what I’m hoping for with my short animated script, A Package of Dreams.

4. What is the best thing and the most challenging thing about writing a Screenplay?

Of course, the best thing about writing a screenplay is that a script reader gets the material so that it will get pushed along. It can be disheartening when you get an analysis and it’s obvious from their comments that they don’t understand the concept. It can also be apparent from the reader’s comments that they were the wrong person to critique your work. But, when a reader appraises your script and gets the material – it’s wonderful! That’s the challenge that I’ve faced with readers who don’t understand what a horror host is, even though many people who have read my short script got it immediately.

5. How did you come up with the idea for your LISP selected story? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

The initial idea for my short script started with me jogging past the Grand View Cemetary (the oldest Cemetery and Mortuary in Glendale) and as it so happens, located right across the street from where I live. One day, while exercising, I noticed a UPS truck entering the cemetery to make a delivery. Watching this rather odd occurrence, started the wheels turning in my head. Who from the great beyond would be expecting a package? And so, the seeds of an idea were planted. The concept would ultimately be, A Package of Dreams.

I first started working on my short script right after the Pandemic hit last year, causing a shut down of the entire entertainment industry. At that I was working on Nickelodeon’s Danger Force. So like many other people, I had plenty of time on my hands, which was perfect.

6. Can you please give us a few tips about writing a Screenplay?

Being around the industry, as many years as I have, I never knew that there was a difference in script formatting – spec versus shooting. I’ve always shooting scripts on every show I’ve ever worked. Over the years I’ve probably have read hundreds of scripts from feature to television episodic. So the biggest mistake I made when sending out my initial script was that it was written as a shooting script – and not spec. Then I found out that Dr. Format, David Trottier, wrote a book just about this called, The Screenwriter’s Bible. Boy, did I feel like an idiot?

7. What is the best thing and most challenging thing about competitions?

The best thing is that many people are seeing your work. My old boss on the Star Trek series, the great makeup artist Michael Westmore, told me after reading my story – submit it to as many festivals as possible to raise its visibility. So, to that end, I’ve been submitting to festivals around the world.

8. Lastly, do you recommend the writers give a go on LISP?

Certainly! Leave no stone unturned.