Kathleen Rucker, London International Screenwriting and Film Festival, Screenplay Winner, 'Mark & Mary'

London International Screenwriting and Film Festival, Screenplay Winner, 'Mark & Mary' Written by Kathleen Rucker

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

My home is in Northern California. My husband is Hal, our daughter is Hannah (away at university in Boston), our dog is Daisy and the evil cat is named Poe, as in Edgar Allen. Days are filled with walking, eavesdropping, writing, procrastinating, eating, and reading, in no particular order.

When and how did you get into writing?

For many years I worked in film production. I was a producer of TV commercials. When the studio closed, I began writing plays. As much as I loved film production, I loved working in theatre. The immediacy and intimacy really drew me in. And as a writer, I can write anytime, anywhere. There is great freedom in that which was very useful as a mother of a very busy daughter.

How often do you write/create ideas? Do you have a working routine? And what inspires you to create?

I have a file on my computer called – Weird Things. When I find an interesting story, a bizarre quote, a fascinating portrait, bizarre dreams, anything that tickles my fancy, it goes in that file for inspiration. Often my plays are inspired my current events. I’m a newshound. So, news articles go into that file, too. And I’m a big fan of the prompt – What if?

How does it feel to have your work recognized?

It is hard enough to get a friend or colleague to read your work (I have learned to stop asking) so when an organization, be it a competition or a production), responds to your work, pop the cork, it’s time to celebrate.

What's the best and most challenging thing about writing a Screenplay? 

The challenge is to keep at it, keep writing, keep submitting, keep reaching out to your community, keep supporting your colleagues, keep listening, keep believing in yourself.

How did you develop the idea for your LISP-selected script? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

Mark & Mary is based on a play that I wrote about 14 years ago called Sultan’s Battery. About a year ago I reread the play and I thought it might make a fun and unique TV show. I wrote the pilot and the treatment. It was a challenge to write in a different medium but it was fun trying. Episodic TV is very different from a play. Now the next big challenge is selling it. Oy.

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

The most important thing for me is to find a story that challenges, scares and provokes me because I’m going to be living with it for quite a while. My plays usually take a year to finish so I better like my characters and the world that they live in.  

What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions and festivals? 

Anytime you put your work out there, your ego goes along with it. And you never know what the weather is going to be like. But to make the connections, to meet your fellow writers and theatre makers, and to get any response to your work makes it all worthwhile.

Lastly, do you recommend the writers submit to LISFF?

Being recognized by LISFF has been a great honor. I feel seen and supported. And some year I will make it to the actual festival! I want to meet all these amazing folks. What a lovely community.