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We're pleased as punch to report that noted local filmmaker (and friend of ours) Brian McDonald was just down at the Austin Film Festival becoming an "award-winning screenwriter." Saturday, October 21, he won the Science Fiction category of the AFF 2006 Screenplay Competition with his screenplay "Graverobbers."
(Technically, since his short film Whiteface won audience favorite at the 2001 Slamdance, he's already award-winning. But this is newer.)
Known in the industry as a "story" guy, he's been teaching a 6-week seminar on story construction for Pixar this fall, so last week he flew from Austin to Seattle, back to Oakland, then back to Seattle, which is where we caught up with him last Friday afternoon.
Us: So tell us about "Graverobbers."
Brian: It's not really a science-fiction story. It's more of a drama with supernatural elements. But they didn't have that category. It's about a man who remembers a tragedy in a past life, and becomes so obsessed with it that he almost destroys his present life. It's about living in the here and now.
Us: (aside to audience) We asked for your benefit, because we went to a reading of the screenplay at Hugo House over the summer. We know all about it.
Us: (out loud) So what was the Festival like?
Brian: It was pretty cool. Lots of panels with professional screenwriters. Shane Black, Chris McQuarrie. Lawrence Kasdan was there. Sydney Pollack. Peter Hyams. I was nervous waiting to see if I'd win or not, so it was hard for me to have fun. I got there Wednesday night, and they announced the winners on Saturday.
Us: And then what happened?
Brian: I don't remember. I think...I think I went to lunch. They had an awards luncheon, but I was too nervous to eat there, so by the time I got the award I was starving. I had Mexican. Can't go to Texas and not have Mexican food. I remember I had to give a speech. Sydney Pollack was right there in the front row, staring at me. That's nervous-making.
Us (inspecting the heavy wood-and-metal award): Any trouble getting that on the plane?
Brian: I thought there might be, but no. I think I wasn't the first winner to come through. I just told them it was a trophy. People are always pretty excited to see a trophy.
Us: So now what?
Brian: Now either someone options the screenplay, or I decide to raise the money to make the film myself.
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Oh boy, I've seen this guy at Victrola a lot. He is an insufferable gasbag, always with a script in his hand to say "Hey! look at me!" God, I hope he moves to LA so he can not make it there, instead of not making it here. At least in LA he won't stand out so much. That place is full of insufferable gasbags.