Interview: Chris Roessner (2012 Black List)

Chris Roessner has made quite a journey to professional screenwriter. His debut screenplay “Sand Castle,” which made the Black List in 2012, is a compelling story that takes us into a world few have experienced: Post-invasion Iraq. It’s a world Chris knows well having served as a machine gunner during the 2003‑2004 invasion and occupation.

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

Part 1: “I’ll be honest with you, I think if someone told me in high school that I would be a poetry major, I would’ve probably punched them in the face. War does something to you, though. I got to USC with this new perspective but I felt lost. I was looking for something to help me put my war experience into perspective.”

Part 2: “If I could advise anybody writing their first screenplay I would say find someone whose opinion you trust, who’s invested in your story, and is willing to be a part of the conversation until you finish.”

Part 3: “The great thing that we discovered about war films in general is that you have lots of latitude in the length of the first act because when you sit down to watch a war movie you know that the shit will hit the fan at some point and you know people are going to die.”

Part 4: “If somebody else writes their version of the Iraq War and it gets made, then it would make perfect sense to me. Because every war gets its movie. Personally, I’m still waiting for the movie that defines my war.”

Part 5: “Know if it’s that independent, quirky comedy. Know if it’s that big, $200 million action film. Know the target you’re aiming for and let that guide you. Don’t let the fear of a one sheet or the fear of a trailer deter you from pursuing what you’re interested in. By all means, pursue what you’re passionate about. But know where it belongs in the marketplace.”

Part 6: “Anybody will tell you that being successful in Hollywood is, without a doubt, a war of attrition. If you don’t lay solid groundwork from the beginning, you really don’t have a shot.”

Please stop by comments to thank Chris and ask any questions you may have.

Chris is repped by CAA and Management 360.

Twitter: @PokeyMiraLoma.

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