[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: What do you consider your first big break as a screenwriter?
Collin Watts, Screenwriter: I think it was probably getting Hot Seat made. Before that, I think it was placing well in a big screenwriting contest, getting some eyes on my project that way.
I had a short film that was in a lot of contests produced. That was great.
As far as career break-wise, I think it was getting Hot Seat made or this Western Calamity Jane, getting that made. Those were all nice little things to keep pushing forward.
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Expanding a short idea into a longer screenplay on Eventbrite here.
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I haven’t reached my big goal yet of continuing to get some of my own projects made but I think it’s just appreciating the little wins along the way, whether you’re doing short films, it’s appreciating that and then working your way up and appreciating every part of the process.
Hot Seat’s been a nice confidence boost to see something of mine get made, to see something with great prestigious actors that’s been nice, absolutely.
Film Courage: Do you realize it at the time or does it take time to sink in, like this is a milestone for me and this is how the industry works?
Collin: I think sometimes we forget that even if you place in a screenwriting contest or you win a contest or you get a short film made, everything in film I think is hard.
Making movies is hard, making good movies is even harder. I think that even people who will criticize movies, no one starts out trying to make a bad movie. There’s so many elements and so many variables that it’s different when you create it, you put it on the page, there’s so many things that have to happen. You have to get so lucky…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).
About:
Collin Watts is a Los Angeles based screenwriter with a focus on creating genre films with a personal touch. Originally from Illinois, he is a graduate of Florida State University and the UCLA professional screenwriting program.
Collin began his career by writing several successful short films that premiered in over 30 festivals worldwide including “The Wretched” and “Sunnyvale” which both premiered at Screamfest Los Angeles. Four of his feature scripts placed in top screenwriting contests including the Austin film Festival, the tracking board top ten, and the Cinestory Foundation.
Collin wrote his first feature, “HOT SEAT”. The film was released theatrically in 2022, and starred Mel Gibson, Kevin Dillon, and Shanon Doherty.
In 2023, he wrote and produced “THIS LAND,” a topical horror film that was released on VOD from Terror Films.
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