Interview with Winning Screenwriter Cicely Wynne (REMEMBER KENT STATE)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Cicely Wynne: The Vietnam War, Kent State, violent student demonstrations. Sex, drugs, classic rock. One week in May 1970
that defined a generation.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Drama and Historical

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

Today’s youth are fascinated by the wild ’60s-’70s. This film takes the audience on an adventure that ends with a tragic war.
Younger audiences may reflect on the tragedy of their generation’s senseless wars – Iraq and Afghanistan.
Older audiences will love relieving their youth. At the same time, they will be saddened and, hopefully, motivated.

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

Senseless wars.

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

CITIZEN KANE.

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

Two years.

7. How many stories have you written?

I have five screenplays on InkTip.

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

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.

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

Although it was a critical week in the lives of so many people, most people forget so many details in 50 years.

Thank goodness for newspaper, magazine and book accounts.

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

The arts, political activism, dog and cat rescue, birding, travel.

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

Quite informative and efficient.

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

Love that the festival promotes women. The feedback suggested another rewrite. I revised it four more times.

Watch the Screenplay Reading: 

Margaret – Katelyn Varadi
Announcer – Geoff Mays
Narration – Norma Dawn Dunphy
Case – Sean Ballantyne
Lucy – Katelyn Varadi
Walter Kronkite – Shawn Devlin