A Package of Dreams | An Interview with Bradley M. Look
A Package of Dreams is a feature script which tell us a story about a young man, who is pushed into working for a delivery service by his father and finds himself connecting with a hero from his youth in a supernatural way.
Bradley M. Look has struggled a lot before becoming a successful scriptwriter. Before the pandemic he had worked as a makeup artist and recently he is engaged in his upcoming project.
1. RSTMPA – Above all, a big congratulations on your victory! How do you feel about winning the RSTMP Awards in the Short Script category?
Bradley – It’s a great honor. I never really know how readers at the festivals will respond to my script, as the concept is a bit out there. It’s definitely not a traditional story.
2. RSTMPA – How did you come up with the idea to work on this specific genre?
Bradley – Believe it or not, the concept came to me while I was out exercising in my neighborhood. Directly across from where I live is the Grandview Cemetery. In fact, it’s the oldest one in the city of Glendale, California. Anyway, one day while passing the cemetery, I saw a UPS truck entering it. I began to wonder who on earth would be expecting a package there? This got me thinking and soon A PACKAGE OF DREAMS was born. Inspiration can come from some of the most unlikely sources…
3. RSTMPA – What were the biggest challenges you faced in writing this script?
Bradley – Giving the concept a heart that script readers would respond too. The story has many layers – at the center is my hero, Andrew Perkins, who since childhood has had a dream of becoming a horror host when he grows up. For those who don’t know, a horror host is a person who acts as the host or presenter of a program where horror films and low-budget B movies are shown on television. The host usually assumes a horror-theme persona, often a campy or humorous one.
Some of the festivals would send me comments from their readers. It became obvious to me, when reading their reviews, who had really comprehended the story and who hadn’t. Those who had really absorbed the story were very moved by it
Another challenge that I became aware of is that I was used to reading scripts that were shooting scripts. What I wasn’t aware of was that scripts submitted to festivals are spec. scripts and not shooting scripts. There’s a big difference between the two. So I made many mistakes along the way. Eventually I found out about David Trottier’s book, “The Screenwriter’s Bible” that’s all about writing a spec. script.
4. RSTMPA – How much time did it take to write the story? Is there anyone you would like to mention who has helped and supported you throughout the project?
Bradley – Initially I started writing the script back when the Covid-9 pandemic first hit in March 2020. My regular day job as a Journeyman makeup artist on the Nickelodeon series, DANGER FORCE, got shut down – along with every other Hollywood production.
First, I wrote a one-page treatment. From there I started fleshing out the story further. The script went though many drafts. Then one day, I decided to shift parts of the story around to give it better flow. So all told, an entire year went by. During the whole process my husband, Clayton would give me critical notes. This helped immensely.
5. RSTMPA – What drove you to become a screenwriter?
Bradley – Being an art major, I constantly find outlets for my creativity. My mind is always working on ideas – be it a painting, Photoshop, or writing. While working on the Borg makeups on STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, I thought a magazine article on how they were done would be fun to write. Getting permission from Rick Berman (the executive producer) allowed me to do it. A sixteen-page article was put together with many photos and submitted to an airbrush magazine. It got accepted immediately and became the cover story. That article got into the hands of Margaret Clark at Pocket Books. I was asked to use the same writing style from the article to create an entire book on the makeups of STAR TREK. A year later, I co-wrote the book STAR TREK: ALIENS & ARTIFACTS. Since then I’ve written dozens of magazine and Internet articles.
I’ve also written a pilot for a family friendly series titled, FRANK N’ BEANZ and a forty-five page treatment, MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.
6. RSTMPA – What advice would you give aspiring screenwriters?
Bradley – Don’t get so attached to your script that you’re afraid to rip it apart and make it better. Once the first draft is done, then it’s rewrite, rewrite, rewrite…
7. RSTMPA – Do you think script writing should be learned from some special courses?
Bradley – As a teacher myself, yes many inspiring writers may find classes on script writing very useful. Classes will help with the fundamentals, however classes can’t teach an individual how to be a creative thinker. That you either have or you don’t. It’s in your soul.
8. RSTMPA – What is your favorite genre? What do you prefer versatility or specialization?
Bradley – Generally I’m drawn to fantasy and science fiction story themes. Having worked on plenty of features and television shows in those genres as a makeup artist, I find that I relate well to that material. Having said that, I have worked on story ideas that are more contemporary and down to earth. I go wherever the story takes me.
9. RSTMPA – Any legendary filmmaker who work motivates you in a special way, or encourages you to do new ventures or writing scripts?
Bradley – First, screenwriter Steven Kloves really inspires me. His writing style is approachable and clean. James Cameron is another person who I admire a great deal. The futuristic artwork of Syd Mead always inspired me with his incredible concept artwork.
10. RSTMPA – What is your next project? Have you already started working on it?
Bradley – Currently, I’m writing another short animated script, The Séance. It’s more adult in theme. Set in London at the turn of the century, it features a well-known science fiction writer who delves into the world of the supernatural while doing research to write a short magazine story
