Interview: Screenwriter-Director Spenser Cohen and Producer Anna Halberg

In December 2011, writer-director Spenser Cohen sold the action-thriller spec script “The Driver” he wrote with Zach Luna. In November 2012, Cohen sold the action spec script “High Value Target”. Then in January 2013, Spenser sold another spec script: “Pantheon”. A writer who sells 3 spec scripts within 2 years is someone we need to hear from, so I’m pleased to present my interview with Spenser and his producing partner at Six Foot Turkey Productions Anna Halberg.

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

Part 1: “Spenser and I cover a lot of bases for two people, but we’d like to expand our company and continue building out on all platforms, film, television, digital and we’d be ecstatic if we could have a company that even remotely resembles Bad Robot.”

Part 2: “I deconstructed movies like “The Sixth Sense,” and “Aliens.” I’d have the script in front of me, and I would watch the movie and see how the writing translated. I learned more from doing that than I did in any class.”

Part 3: “People always say, write what you know, and I think it’s, write what you know emotionally. Sometimes I’ll start with a story, sometimes I’ll start with a character, but ultimately, it always comes down to character.”

Part 4: “I love a character whose deadliest weapon is his words.”

Part 5: “I’m a workaholic, so it doesn’t matter if I’m in my car, or whatever I’m doing, I’m always, always thinking of ideas.”

Part 6: “The rules of how you get noticed or how you get your work seen are really nonexistent anymore. There isn’t a right way to make it in this industry, and I think that’s exciting.”

Please stop by comments to thank Spenser and Anna, and ask any questions you may have.

Spenser is repped by WME and Energy Entertainment.

Twitter: @IAmSpenserCohen / @AnnaHalberg

Six Foot Turkey Productions website here.