Fallen – a Star Wars story is about Bixel, an exJedi who’s left the order to start a family on a distant planet. An unexpected visitor arrives and disrupts the peaceful life he’s struggled to create.
At it’s heart it’s about understanding that character and integrity, not uniforms and dogma are what make a hero.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Fantasy and Science Fiction, and of course Star Wars, which should be a genre in and of itself.
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
I believe it would start a dialogue about patience, caring and the people we call heroes in our society.
I think Star Wars has always been very progressive in its themes. Even the prequels were filled with subversive plot lines and thought provoking ideas – it was the story of a corrupt government working with a corporation to create an endless profitable war. The original trilogy was about fighting against the establishment. And just recently THE LAST JEDI’s true villain was toxic masculinity.
FALLEN continues with these themes. It is allegory of the over-reach of the Police, which is unfortunately happening around the world and in our country. Jac Pale believes himself faultless and is emboldened by his status a Jedi. Like a police officer who believes his uniform should illicit veneration, he is incapable of seeing the situation with Bixel and his daughter correctly. He then attacks and punishes instead of guiding, protecting and giving aid.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Exciting and heartbreaking.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
ehhhh – it’s probably STAR WARS. But I promise I am into way more than that.
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
The story and themes were with me for sometime. I wrote and edited it in about two weeks.
7. How many stories have you written?
I’ve written a feature film, THE JOURNAL OF 2ND LT. ISAAC BANGS. It’s a action / horror movie that takes place in Manhattan during the American Revolution. I’m working on a few shorts. THE ALGORITHM takes a science fiction bent on the dangers of following religious dogma blindly. The others, ISSUES vol 1 and ISSUES vol 2 – are about a psychiatrist whose clients are superheroes. Vol. 1, like FALLEN, is about how integrity of character makes a hero – not fancy costumes and powers. Vol. 2 is a sweet love story of two superheroes struggling with social issues and the hazards of secret identities. ISSUES has a great deal of comic book art that I have drawn myself, under the nom de plume – BIXEL BOONE.
I have also got another Star Wars short, about smugglers figuring out the political climate of the galaxy after the first DEATH STAR has been destroyed.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Currently – YOUR LOVE by THE OUTFIELD. Music is always a big part of my artistic endeavors. YOUR LOVE is having an influence on ISSUES vol 2. It was DUEL OF THE FATES from THE PHANTOM MENACE soundtrack for FALLEN.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
“Showing not telling” – writing behavior. It is something that, being a new writer, I’m currently struggling. I’ve a treasure trove of ideas and I’m just learning to turn them into screenplays.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I am also an actor and an artist. I have been an actor in NYC for many years. Some years ago I was diagnosed with leukemia, which set me back a few years in my career. Fortunately, I am 100% back and have beaten it soundly. After returning to show-business, I realized I wanted to explore new ways to tell the stories running around in my head.
I am also a senior dog adoption advocate. And My wife and I have a 12 year old poodle named Vanilla Bean.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
Great – I love it. I’ve got all the deadlines stashed away so I can submit all the screenplays I am working on for next year’s festivals.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I wanted to find a way to do something more with these Star Wars Shorts than just show my friends. So…honestly – I googled “fan fiction screenplay festivals”.
The initial feedback was amazing! it was so helpful and much more detailed than I expected. It taught me things about myself a writer that I don’t think I could have discovered elsewhere.
FAN FICTION Film and Writing Festival 