Go Into The Story Interview: Jon Boyer

Entire series with 2013 Black List screenwriter.

From professional snowboarder to commercial director to Hollywood screenwriter, Jon Boyer has had an interesting journey taking him from Canada to Los Angeles. Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Jon about his background, his script “Free Byrd” which landed on the 2013 Black List, and his approach to the craft of screenwriting.

Here are links to the six installments of the entire interview:

Part 1: “I went all over the world as a pro snowboarder, competing, and filming snowboarding films. Serendipitously, it was snowboarding that led me into becoming a filmmaker.”

Part 2: “I have this whole thing now where I write when I’m developing a new story or a new script. I try to whittle it down so that I have this one sheet, a onepage thing of these very simple sequence statements.”

Part 3: “That lone guy that comes out, and does something, and he’s enigmatic. I just love that about Westerns. You don’t find that in too many movies these days.”

Part 4: “It’s really tough writing any story that doesn’t have that opposing character that’s the constant push-back. That antagonistic character that just stops you from moving forward.”

Part 5: “Once I land on an idea that I want to explore, I start with a premise statement, and it’s always a when, then, until track.”

Part 6: “I’d advise to not worry about breaking into Hollywood so much. Obviously, that’s your hope. But, if that’s your goal, I think you’re going to slow yourself down. I feel the best thing is just to try to hone your craft and learn the process of writing as best you can.”

Jon is repped by WME and Zero Gravity Management.

Twitter: @jonboyer.