Interview with Screenwriter M.V. Montgomery (DON-JOHN’S DISAPPOINTED MAM)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your script about?

M.V. Montgomery: It’s a contemporary “Christmas Carol” featuring a Trump-like central character as a retired Scrooge who receives three visits from the ghost of his Scottish immigrant mother.

2. What genres does your script fall under?

Drama, black comedy, political satire.

3. Why should this script be produced?

It holds up as topical satire but is also intended as a celebration of Scottish language and culture. It could be a holiday episode of “The President Show” or SNL, or be staged live as part of a Gaelic festival.

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

“Dead brilliant.” Dead, because the title character is a ghost.

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

Citizen Kane. The opening of “Don-John” is an homage to Welles’ movie, featuring a dropped glass and the same spoken word: “Rosebud.”

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

It has been a light, on-and-off revision of a couple of months, primarily to reformat “Don-John” for stage, screen, and TV. The script has won honors in all three of these categories.

7. What obstacles did you face to finish this script?

No real obstacles, but I had to include a disclaimer that “Don-John’s Disappointed Mam” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to actual presidents living or dead is purely coincidental.

8. What influenced you to enter the festival?

I was pleased with the performances for my script “Punker and Prophet,” which had been entered earlier this summer through LGBT Toronto. And I was interested to see what your ensemble cast might do with “Don-John,” too, since WILDsound seems to have no shortage of Scottish actors.

9. What were your feelings on the script reading?

Although the opening stage directions were missed, overall, I was quite happy with the result. I thought Mandy May Cheetham handled the central character’s difficult brogue fairly well, and I appreciated many of the artistic choices that she and John Leung made on the spur of the moment.

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

I’d say the Minnesota Vikings, but that passion runs hot and cold.

Submit via FilmFreeway:

CAST LIST:

Mam: Mandy May Cheetham
Narrator: Adrian Currie
Don John: John Leung
Rosa: Anjelica Alejandro