FAN FICTION Screenplay – SPINACH RUN (Popeye), by Neil Chase

Watch the February 2017 FAN FICTION Screenplay Winner.

Winning Screenplay – SPINACH RUN
Written by Neil Chase

CAST LIST:

NARRATOR – Ursina Luther
POPEYE – Philip Krusto
BLUTO – Casey Estey
WIMPY – Geoff Mays
JUAN CORTEX – John Lester Phillips
SEGAR – Sean Ballantyne

SYNOPSIS:

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Tasked with capturing a nefarious chemist, Navy SEALs Popeye, Bluto, Sweet-Pea and Wimpy find themselves at the mercy of an infamous drug lord.

Get to know the writer:

What is your Fan Fiction screenplay on the cartoon “POPEYE” about?

Spinach Run is a fresh take on the Popeye universe, where four Navy SEALs (Popeye, Bluto, Sweet-Pea, and Wimpy) are sent to a South American jungle to capture a wanted chemist and recover a sample of his experimental toxin, code-named Spinach. Their mission goes sideways and they’re captured by the chemist’s employer, a notorious drug lord, who decides to use them as guinea pigs for the toxin.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Popeye’s been around for almost 90 years, and through all that time, he’s been portrayed pretty much the same way. This is a completely different way of seeing the characters we all know and love, while staying true to who they are at heart.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Action, thriller.

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

Probably Star Wars.

How long have you been working on this screenplay?

It took me about three days to write it. Once the initial idea came to me and I started writing, it came pretty fast.

How many stories have you written?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid, so it’s hard to say how many short stories there have been. That said, I’ve written a dozen feature screenplays, numerous short screenplays, and I’m awaiting publication of my debut novel.

What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I always wanted to try my hand at fan fiction, so I thought I’d take a crack at a character that’s not so mainstream, yet one that’s still recognizable.

What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

None that I can think of. It was a fun experience from start to finish.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

My other passion is acting, which actually helps me to be a better screenwriter, as I’ve learned where to focus in terms of dialogue, action lines, and so on. I try to write the kinds of scripts I would want to read as an actor.

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

The Fan Fiction Festival is well known, and seemed like a perfect fit for this script. It was a great way to gauge if I was onto something with my take on a classic character. I’m so glad to have entered, not only for the win, but for the fantastic feedback. It’s good to see the script’s strengths and areas for improvement. This was a fun script to write, and I’m grateful for the useful advice to make it even better. Thank you for the great notes!