Interview with Winning Screenwriter Robert Dodrill (POLE)

 July 2018 Winning Sci-Fi 1st Scene Screenplay Winner.

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Robert Dodrill: A large part of the story is about discovering something that at first seems magical, but then realizing there is a darker side to everything, that sometimes beauty is only on the surface. Sort of like becoming an adult and seeing the truth about the “man behind the curtain.” There’s also a bit of trying to answer the question of if your intentions are good, but the road to get there is immoral, what does that say about you?

Premise: While studying Remote caves in northern Greenland, a team of polar scientists stumble upon the entrance to the fabled, and seemingly long abandoned “North Pole Village.” Inside they discover remnants of advanced technology, evidence of a terrible tragedy, and the gram realization that the Pole was sealed off for a reason.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Fantasy/Horror with a bit of Science Fiction

3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

I think it has those familiar elements of fantasy/horror that people enjoy and would draw them tonit, but it also has a twist where it is t the same thing we’ve seen a thousand times before. In the right hands I think it could stand out in the genre.

4. How would you describe this script in two words?

Exploring Legends

5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Jurassic Park.

6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

About a year and half.

7. How many stories have you written?

I’ve written a several produced short films and 3 unproduced original features on my own and 2 animated features as a co-writer.

8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

This is the song that doesn’t end from Lambchops.

Still hoping there’s an actually ending someday.

9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

I had to do a lot of research on Greenland exploration and the caves, and how these scientists might react to what they find. Before writing I connected with a real Polar climate scientist, who gave me a lot of valuable information about the industry and the area.

10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Filmmaking (which may be a cop out answer) I really enjoy directing, even though I wrote this with the intention of someone else filling that role.

Aside from that world, I spent several years of my early 20s as a pro-wrestler. Traveling to various Indy promotions around the mid-west and performing for small town crowds. I still miss it, but filmmaking has less wear and tear on the body.

11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?

I don’t believe I’ve ever had a single issue with FilmFreeway. It’s a really great platform for finding and submitting to festivals with ease.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

With the genre being Fantasy realm, I was looking for a festival that specifically deals with that, because I felt like any feedback I got would be coming from people who are fans of the genre as well as experienced readers.

Any feedback is valuable at some level. I always try to take feedback to heart, and never take it personal. Mainly because I realize that I live with the same story for months or years and so I think there is always your mind filling in the gaps. So something might be missing but you just don’t see it because your brain connects the dots for you. Getting feedback helps point out what needs work and what doesn’t. I was very happy with the feedback I got from this festival, gave me a lot of great points to go back and try to improve upon. As mentioned above I was even more interested because it was also coming from people who enjoyed the genre.

 

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

While studying remote caves in northern Greenland, a team of polar scientists stumble upon the entrance to the fabled, and seemingly long abandoned “North Pole village.” Inside they discover remnants of advanced technology, evidence of a terrible tragedy, and the grim realization that the Pole was sealed off for a reason.

CAST LIST:

Maisie: Amrit Kaur
Beckett: Dorian Shine
Narrator: Val Cole
Nicholas: Justin Darmanin
Sam: Jolly Amoako
Sasha: Zena Driver

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every single month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 3 times a month. Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com for more information and to submit your work to the festival.