Lance David Tate, LISP Screenplay Semi-Finalist

-When did you start writing? How often do you write? We want to learn all about your writing life! 

I found my passion for writing screenplays about six years ago.  A friend of mine bought me a copy of Screenwriting for Dummies and a journal and I wrote my first screenplay in it.  After that I went on to receive a MS in Cinema Production for DePaul University in Chicago.  There is were I honed my skills and developed my passion for screenwriting.  To date I have won Los Angeles Cinematography Award for Best Screenplay, an Honorable Mention at the Los Angeles Movie Awards, achieved Semi-Finalist status in the Shorts On Tap - London film festival, achieved Finalist status in the Los Angeles Movie Awards and Los Angeles Cinefest.  I have also been selected in the Hollywood BLVD Film Festival and the Los Angeles Television, Script and Film Festival.  I was also a Finalist in the prestigious BlueCat Screenplay competition.

-  How did you feel when you learned that you are a Semi-Finalist on The London Independent Story Prize? 

I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment.  I don’t write stories for awards, but it is always nice when your hard work gets recognized.

-  What’s the best thing and the hardest thing about writing a Screenplay? 

I would say the best thing about writing a screenplay is when you receive positive feedback from those who have read your script.  The worst part of writing a screenplay is the editing process because you will drive yourself crazy trying to take everyones critique into consideration.  You definitely have to reach a point to where you say “ok it’s done”.

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

I was having a conversation with a friend about how we individually grew up and he began to tell his story.  To say the least it sounded like a movie.  So, I decided to take some creative licenses with his story and The Incredible Mrs. Wilson was born.  It took me maybe three days to write it, then I didn’t touch it for three months.  After that I went back to it and spent maybe a week revising it.

-  Can you please give us a few tips about writing a short screenplay? 

I’ll tell you what I learned in film school about writing short stories.  That is to simply start your story right in the middle of the action.  Because you have such a short time to tell you story, your basically have to get in and get out.

-  Lastly, do you recommend the writers to give it a go on writing a Screenplay and LISP? 

I absolutely think writers should give it a go at a screenplay, it’s a  very different type of writing, but it would push your skills in a different capacity.  As far as LISP, this is a great competition to be a part of in more ways than one.  Also as a writer or screenwriter you should submit your stuff to as many film festival and competitions as possible, it’s a great tool for receiving feedback.