Interview with Screenwriter Mark McKee (POSTHUMAN)

Matthew Toffolo: What is your screenplay about?

Mark McKee: After eight years on the run from a deranged doctor intent on studying him due to his startling visions of the afterlife, a teen boy finds himself in danger of being experimented on when his father is killed and he’s returned to the custody of his estranged mother.

2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Science Fiction/Horror and a dash of Thriller.

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

There was a great catharsis in developing Posthuman because it allowed for me to creatively confront the very same demons I encountered as an adolescent that didn’t quite “fit in” while growing up in a southern town where the highest of aspirations involved an athletic pursuit. Films that confront these demons (especially in the horror genre) typically skew them in a way that leaves the viewer with either an ambiguous OR negative ending. I wanted to erase that notion and create a protagonist that (while flawed) is able to overcome his personal and family demons and utilize them for the betterment of others. Make no mistake, Bruce is angry and while that manifests in his relationship with his mother, the evolution of their relationship creates a compelling narrative that highlights the brokenness of both individuals and allows them to acknowledge and accept each other for both who they are AND what they’ve done.

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

Imaginative/Visceral

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

Batman (89)

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

The draft submitted for the contest took three months to complete. Following the advice of reviewers after the contest win, I began work on the “final draft.” Once completed (so close), the story will have taken about nine months.

7. How many stories have you written?

Four screenplays and too many short stories to count.

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

God’s Away on Business-Tom Waits

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

My wife and I had our son in March 2019, so the navigation of insomnia, anxiety and career proved to be quite difficult. Thankfully, screenwriting was a healthy outlet that allowed me to communicate my anxieties through some particularly horrific scenes.

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

I have a smattering of things that I’m passionate about, so let’s just list a few.

1.) Comic Books: If quarantines took place in comic book shops, I would be enjoying this lockdown much more.

2.) Action Figures: Really…any high-end collectible with a Batman logo attached to it.

3.) Running: Two marathons and countless hours of story building in my head.

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

I love how intuitive the system is, and having the ability to register for multiple contests under one platform makes Coverfly my go-to choice for contest registration.

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

The feedback being included in the cost of the package was quite enticing. While I did not know if I would win at the time, the prospect of seeing a performance of a piece of my screenplay from professional actors definitely finalized the decision for me.

Watch the Screenplay Reading: 

 Follow his death and resurrection, a boy is hunted by a mysterious government organization hell-bent on learning the secrets of the afterlife.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Allison Kampf
Darren (M): Allan Michael Brunet
Bruce (M): Geoff Mays
Elderly Woman (F): Mandy May Cheetham
Nurse (F): Cassandra Guthrie
Clerk (M): Steve Rizzo