Matt MacBride

What initially drew you to screenwriting, and what keeps you passionate about the craft?

I got hooked on screenwriting when I took a bachelor’s degree in creative writing a few years ago. I have a background in technical writing so I found the concise nature of screenplays suited me far more than writing lengthy descriptive ‘purple prose’. When I’m writing I imagine what would be showing on screen and I find transferring that visualization into words succinctly is both challenging and stimulating.

Can you walk us through your creative process when developing a screenplay?

I’m a planner and, for a feature length screenplay, I start by writing, and then editing, a short story, or even a novella, to use as a detailed overview. I write the story in a series of short scenes which I can then cherry pick when I adapt into a screenplay.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories, and how do you decide which ideas to pursue?

I’ve never had a problem coming up with ideas and have several notebooks full of jottings and brief synopses for stories. There is always a notebook and pen by my bed and I often wake up in the morning to find some scribbled notes that I have no recollection of writing! While studying for my degree we practiced various inspirational techniques such as freewriting and clustering but I’ve never felt the need to use them … yet. As for deciding which ideas to pursue, it’s always down to what I’m excited about writing and feel is in some way unique.

What has been the most rewarding project you've worked on so far, and why?

I would have to say a drama screenplay I wrote called ‘The Andalusian Hemipode’ about a terminally ill man trying to reconnect with his estranged son. The story interweaves three love stories involving multiple flashbacks to the 1960s and incorporates some scenarios which I found extremely emotional to write.

Screenwriting can be a tough industry—how do you handle challenges and setbacks?

When I began screenwriting I knew that the chances of ever getting a spec screenplay produced or even optioned were minimal so I don’t take rejection too seriously. My incentive is the enjoyment and sense of achievement I get from writing, together with the kick of doing well in contests, and occasionally winning an award.

In your experience, what makes a screenplay truly stand out to industry professionals?

After I completed my degree I took a short course on ‘the business of film’ and it was a real eye-opener as to how films are financed and produced. The course included interviews with film lawyers and financiers and what came across was the number one priority is a safe return on their investment. They don’t want experimental or even originality, they look for new takes on proven concepts. So, industry professionals should be looking for screenplays that build on past successes that the general public will pay to see, because (unfortunately) the film industry is primarily a business and must generate profits.

Are there any particular themes or messages you always strive to include in your work?

No, and I usually find that my themes don’t evolve until I finish writing. Strangely, when I look back at the screenplays (and prose stories) I’ve completed I can see that almost all contain elements of romance even though I have no interest in romance as a genre.

How do you see the future of storytelling evolving, and what excites you most about it?

As we know, the future of fiction writing is threatened by AI. My fear is that we’ll be swamped with bland ‘run-of-the –mill’ films churned out by AI to a format predetermined by those aforementioned financiers. However, as filmmaking becomes cheaper, using smartphones etc., I believe the indie film industry will grow and provide an outlet for real screenwriters. Bearing that in mind, I intend to write more short ‘contained’ low-budget screenplays in the future, aimed at the indie market.

What advice would you give to aspiring screenwriters looking to break into the industry?

I can’t give advice about breaking into the industry because I’m still trying! However, I would say always write what you love and enjoy. It’s impossible to predict what type of scripts producers will want in the next few years, so you might as well just have some fun, enter contests, and see where it leads.

What's next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or goals you're excited about?

I’m currently writing a novella about a zombie uprising on a dystopian mining planet, so it’s a genre blending mix of horror, action and sci-fi. The twist in the story is that the zombies are the good guys, oppressed by a tyrannical corporation. As soon as I’m happy with the novella I’ll adapt it into a screenplay. That should keep me busy for most of 2025.