NY Elite: Congratulations on being an ISC finalist. What does it mean for your work to be selected at the International Screenwriting Competition in New York?

Chris Goodenough: I feel humbled. Judging by the sheer magnitude of people that submitted their works, it’s truly an honor to be selected as a finalist.

NY Elite: Can you tell us about the work that you participated with at ISC? What is the story about?

Chris Goodenough: Dystopia is the story of a young girl, Callie, the first person to become pregnant in over 100 years and her race to escape the clutches of a world health consortium bent on using her for their experiments.

NY Elite: Can you tell us yourself and your artistic talents?

Chris Goodenough: I’ve been a writer since I was a child. To me, there is a joy to creating worlds and teaming them with interesting characters.  

NY Elite: What scripts have you written so far?

Chris Goodenough: I currently have a dozen or so feature scripts in the works as well as a handful of shorts films.

NY Elite: Top 3 favorite projects that you have been involved in?

Chris Goodenough: The Lull (my first film ever produced), The Last American Vampire (currently in production) and Grey Man (my first episodic TV series).

NY Elite: What type of scripts do you want to write in your career?

Chris Goodenough: Stories that immerse the viewer in worlds they might not experience otherwise.

NY Elite: As a writer, what is the most important aspect of building a character?

Chris Goodenough: The characters need to be flawed in one way or another. To me, it’s in those moments when they are truly challenged, that the characters come alive.   

NY Elite: What projects are you currently working on?

Chris Goodenough: A number of short films are in the works at present as well as a full length feature film, First Comes Death.

NY Elite: Do you express yourself creatively in any other ways?

Chris Goodenough: I like to consider myself a builder, whether it’s a prop for a movie or a Native American Indian longhouse.

NY Elite: What advice would you give to someone who wants to have a career in filmmaking/writing?

Chris Goodenough: Just write. Put pen to paper and don’t lift it until you have a finished draft. Then, write it again.