Kevin B. Ploth

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

I have been drawn to the art of storytelling since a very young age. It comes from my family and our diverse history. Then my parents (who celebrate fifty five year this week on August 8th) both artist and buisness minded individuals who inspired the love for Shakespeare, Cervantes, Brontë, Twain to Maya Angelou. My passions are my drive and what gives depth as well as soul to how I craft a story whether is is fictional, journalistic or profanity. Human drama is always and should be at the core of any story.

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

It starts with waking dreams(from hearing a song or seeing something outside triggers visions and scenarios that then set me to putting it down), even to a incident in my life or a conversation to what I heard in the media. Then I start to bubble and draft notes then put it all together. I struggle very very much with severe dyslexia so the task is a battle. I am always running uphill on everything. Even working on your questions. I get it done where others don’t.

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

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

They all are and the fact that three are completed and outing the world in a short time creating my production company is alone impressive. No company in history of Television or Film can say that. Plus the Laurels and legitimate awards now on IMDB make all the difference and prove what I have always known. I am so egged to get GIANT done so that we now have four things to be proud of.

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

Keep running up hill! Stumble and fail but learn, grow and overcome the obstacles. As a veteran we would say while in service “Does the Task meet you or you meet the Task!” I always meet the task head on! There are a lot of people who will miss inform or think they know better. They don’t know anything not even the ones that “make it” (a slim three percent (3%) actually break out and bar others.) I share and give a unknown concept in Hollywood or the industry as a whole.

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

Well first let’s be clear on these so called “Professionals” they are about a bottom line…profit so what “they/them” deal as a “stand out” not so good. Good examples the failure of “Snow White”, to Marvels disasters and so on. While “SINNERS” was a nice change but still had predictable outcomes. For me standout is not seeing it coming or the traditional “tropes”. I was honored this year to judge in a festival FABA and play host in another Greenpoint Brooklyn’s 14th annual Film Festival that kicks off this week. So I got to see and weigh in on some unique projects that “industry professionals” would pass on. So in the end it has to be different with roots grounded in good mythology or Joseph Campbell or anthropologist David Maybury-Lewis (Millennium: Tribal Wisdom & the Modern World)…said “Story’s always story’s that’s who we are!”.

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

The human condition is for the most important not agendas or political or DEI nonsense. Reality is that any where you go there is good and bad. The bad cares not what you do, sell, own…it will take you less than what you have on. That is the reality. It is how we transform and transcend is the story in either direction.

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

I am a big fan and lover of technology but we need guard rails to keep bad actors at bay and better leadership in the unions and the graft/over spending on the self imposed value or worth has to stop. If you need more then five thousand dollars a day to survive and eat your trash in world. I and my fellow veterans, first responders, nurses and teachers take a lot less to allow all to be where they are. A lot less.

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

Break it! Kick it and do it your way. There is always anaudience and do it for you and not the “allusion of fame”. Tell the lie of life and stay grounded and connected to mankind.

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

A lot is up on the horizon. From the two books I mentioned above to an expansion of “Shadow Docket” a micro short done in black and white. Now people want it as a full feature. Plus working with others on some fun frivolous shows… “STUNTED” created by Larry Gress and “KEAL KEVIN” created by Doug Marcaida and my self.