[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: What are the first steps you take when writing a thriller?
Jason-Shane Scott, Screenwriter: With a thriller there’s always going to be a villain, at least one, usually just one, so I narrow in on that motivation of that character because that’s what’s going to make the whole story believable. If people actually believe this person was willing to do this for this reason and if that’s justified, even if it’s just to themselves or is the audience going to buy that. I like to start there.
Film Courage: What are the big beats of a thriller?
Jason: Like any other story we need a setup, we need a very strong inciting incident, why is this happening now? It used to be when I started writing them we were okay seeing both sides of the story of the villain and the hero but now a big beat is usually revealing the villain.
Having a very strong midpoint where things take a turn and move in the opposite direction.
We need a very big climatic scene. It needs to end in a big climax with the villain and the hero and of course the hero wins, well I guess not always, but most likely.
Then we do need a bit of a happy ending usually for the hero which is kind of ironic right.
Film Courage: If there wasn’t those elements then it would be like a horror movie?
Jason: Yeah, I think the main difference between a horror movie and a thriller is motivation, for certain characters, every case would be different. But I think with thrillers you usually have someone doing something for a very strong reason that they believe is right, where maybe a horror movie you might just have a crazy…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
With a career spanning over two decades, Jason-Shane Scott has become a dependable and recognizable name in the entertainment industry worldwide, amassing over 85 professional film and television credits. His versatility as an actor spans a broad range of genres-from drama, where he has starred in countless thrillers, to comedy, embracing roles from sitcoms to lighthearted Christmas rom-coms. Jason’s journey began in daytime television, where his role as Will Rappaport on One Life to Live earned him two Soap Opera Digest Award nominations and a Daytime Emmy nod. Jason-Shane has also quickly made a name for himself as a versatile and dependable screenwriter in Hollywood, seamlessly transitioning from a successful acting career into writing. In just a few years, he has achieved an impressive level of success, having written over 15 produced films with several more in development-a testament to his talent and work ethic. Scott’s filmography covers a wide range of genres, including thrillers, romantic comedies (from festive Christmas favorites to heartwarming everyday tales), and psychological dramas.
His films have reached audiences across nearly every continent, from South America to Europe, Asia, and beyond, finding homes on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Max. Notably, Staged Killer, which he wrote and produced, earned him a Telly Award and held the number one spot on Netflix in America for over two weeks in 2020.
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