Interview with Screenwriter Paul Sargia (THE TATTOOED BLONDE)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Paul Sargia: When incriminating evidence points to Jon, a Connecticut psychiatrist, as the main suspect in a tattoo artist’s murder, his freedom hinges on the one person who knows the truth, a mysterious tattooed blonde who’s been appearing and disappearing in his life.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

A drama with a twisty thriller ending and a touch of romance.

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

Because it’s satisfying pure entertainment with characters who show a lot heart, despite going through some difficult times. It will leave the audience guessing who the killer is right to the end which adds to the suspense.

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

Pure entertainment.

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

Casablanca — It’s a great story, and also has a great message about putting the priorities that are closest to your heart above the ones that are only dictated by your head.

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

I completed the original draft Within a few months, then tweaked it with the help of a screenwriting editor, Erin McMullan, sometime after that. And just prior to submitting it to this contest I made some more minor changes.

7. How many stories have you written?

I have written eight screenplays (7 are original stories, one is an adaptation of a book), besides the first one which I call my practice script, which I fooled around with for about 15 years before moving on.

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

Hands down, a song few people know about by a group few people have heard of. I just feel it’s magnificent. WORD OF GLORY by the StarScape Singers under the direction of Kenneth G. Mills. Many, many songs tie as my second favorites.

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

This only obstacle was a good one. I really didn’t have an overall picture of how the script would go. I just spontaneously or, I guess you could say, intuitively went in different directions creatively with the scenes, not knowing how it would end until it just seemed to come together like a puzzle.

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

Besides improving myself as a person on this planet, which I spoke about in a previous interview, I love well made films (especially foreign and independent ones), keeping myself healthy with proper diet & exercise, following my favorite sports teams (the New York Yankees & New York Giants), and, of course, music, which enhances the soul when it’s the right kind.

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

It’s so easy to enter contests after all your scripts, and accompanying info, are input on your page. It’s also very easy to update all of that.

12. What influenced you to enter the festival?

What’s good about it is listening to the actors do the readings. It gives you a better idea of how your dialogue sounds. It definitely helps one to improve that aspect of your writing

Watch the Screenplay Reading: 

CAST LIST:

Sharon: Miriam Capper
Sal: Ted Powers
Narration: Elizabeth Rose Morriss
Dennis: Gabriel Darku
Jon: Sean Ballantyne