Timothy Paul Coderre

What’s your name and where are you from?

Timothy Paul Coderre, Vancouver BC, Canada

What’s the title of your screenplay?

Get Home

What’s the logline and how did you come up with the concept for your screenplay?

When a disillusioned American soldier deserts his unit in combat in North Korea and comes across a local woman hiding with her baby, these three unlikely travel companions begin the harrowing cross-country trek toward the coast and safety.

I spent 27 years in the military and deployed to conflict zones many times over the course of my career. Drawing from these experiences, I wanted to share my point of view and examine how even in the grandest of settings and circumstances, two people who could not be more outwardly different can still find their shared humanity. This is an anti-war movie meant to challenge conventional understanding of personal motivations and explores what can drive people to act selflessly when they themselves are in the greatest of peril.

Tell us about your history as a screenwriter. Where did your journey begin?

I graduated film school in February 2020 – this was my start at screenwriting.

What motivates you to be a screenwriter or filmmaker?

I have been a professional actor since retiring from the military and a life-long lover of film, stage, song and storytelling. I love being in service to the story – my own or another’s. Giving shape and voice to an idea and point of view is powerfully humbling and when done well connects us all. This drives me on.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered as a screenwriter and filmmaker?

My own insecurities – although this is fading with practice.

What’s the most important thing you want audiences to take away when watching your films or reading your screenplays.

Empathy for others – I hope to spotlight that we are more alike than our outward differences and conditioning might suggest.

Ideally, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Working full time as a writer/director in film and TV.

What’s your favorite film of all time? If you can’t single out a film, give us your top 3.

Glory

The Last Samurai

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

What’s your earliest favorite childhood movie?

Lawrence of Arabia

Who’s your favorite cinema hero?

Indiana Jones

Who’s your personal hero?

My father.

Cristian Xavier

What’s your name and where are you from?

Cristian Xavier from San Diego CA

What’s the title of your screenplay?

ASK: American Serial Killer

What’s the logline and how did you come up with the concept for your screenplay?

A copy cat killer turns himself in but will only confess to a true crime writer in hopes of making a name for himself. The concept started with a visual of a series of tattoos and how they related to a series of victims. That led to research and the concept growing into what it is today.

Tell us about your history as a screenwriter. Where did your journey begin?

My journey began as a producer on a short film called Blood Brothers while recovering from surgery that took me away from acting temporarily. Deep analysis of that script for improving it alongside the Executive Producer/Writer and the Co-Executive Producer. From there, I went to get my MFA in film production during which I expanded on my screenwriting and solidified my craft a bit more.

What motivates you to be a screenwriter or filmmaker?

I have always wanted to be part of the entertainment industry and friends of mine have called me a prolific writer while talking about other aspects, not screenwriting. That comment, paired with my experiences in graduate school and on sets, created an increased motivation to push for this.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered as a screenwriter and filmmaker?

The biggest challenges are always around time and money. As I am not a full time filmmaker or screenwriter, I split my time across my current full time job and entertainment industry work, including the need to strengthen my writing and consider budgets for any potential future productions.

What’s the most important thing you want audiences to take away when watching your films or reading your screenplays.

The one thing I’d like to have audiences take away from my screenplays is typically to question everything. No idea or philosophy should stand unquestioned and at times my writing includes subtle and not so subtle metaphors for some larger philosophies.

Ideally, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ideally, I would like to see myself as a full time writer but making a living well enough to support my family.

What’s your favorite film of all time? If you can’t single out a film, give us your top 3.

It really does depend… but off the top of my head: Spaceballs, Inception and Se7en.

What’s your earliest favorite childhood movie?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Who’s your favorite cinema hero?

I am not sure how to interpret this question so I will answer it in two ways: Martin Scorsese as a champion of film making and Michael Keaton’s Batman as a hero character in cinema.

Who’s your personal hero?

I would say that Stephen Hawking would be one of my personal heroes because of his overcoming personal/physical challenges and defying the statistics to live as long as he did, all while making a significant impact in his field of work throughout that long life of his.