[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: What David Lynch advice do you incorporate into your writing?
Christopher Matthew Spencer, Actor/Producer/Filmmaker: You know, there’s a thing that Brian Cutler calls “sometimers” and sometimes I have lapses. I don’t think it’s age. I think what happens when you get older, and I’m not that old, I’m not suggesting that I’m old. I just feel that you start accumulating so much data in the brain that there’s a retrieval system right.
David Lynch has given a lot of advice that I made every effort to take to heart. The one piece that I really liked was his idea and I followed it for developing my first feature.
I developed a feature, which I don’t talk about the name yet because the name is kind of fun and you know the name because I gave it to you in a confidential note and you know what the name is, but I finished my first feature last year. It was quite a labor of love because it took a lot of energy to put that together. I first started with David Lynch then I worked with Anthony DiBlasi.
David Lynch would say you take some 3×5 cards or index cards and you write down a scene and then you start to develop a set of cards. You think in your mind what these scenes might be then you organize them into some kind of a story. Then when you’ve got whatever 76 dozen, five dozen scenes, you’ve got a movie.
That’s one thing that I listened to and I did do, but I used a computer of course. I used Final Draft 12. I used the program to make the cards because they have an aspect of the program where you can make a beat board and you can make index cards.
I met a lady that was a writer for Star Trek. She just used a legal pad. She actually never touched the computer. She had a secretary and she was working on a hit TV show so she had someone else retype everything. Whatever your system is, starting with the scenes, I found that to be much more powerful because you can just sit there and write scenes and write dialogue and all that but it doesn’t it doesn’t glue it together. It’s like writing a book, you start to lose track.
With David Lynch he suggested that you just make scenes and develop these…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
Christopher Matthew Spencer is a dynamic filmmaker with a diverse background, bringing a wealth of experience to the world of cinema. A U.S. Navy veteran and accomplished businessman, Spencer turned his focus to the entertainment industry, quickly making a mark as an actor, writer, and director. Trained at the prestigious Brian Cutler Actors Studio, he has secured roles in notable television series and commercials, while also contributing to voiceover and industrial projects.
His film directorial debut, “The Red Market”, showcases his ability to weave compelling narratives, further establishing his place in the industry. Spencer’s work in the horror genre, particularly his role in Anthony DiBlasi’s “Malum”, has been recognized by The New York Times, highlighting his versatility and dedication to his craft.
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