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? 

Dana Thomas Cronin: Honored to be a finalist and privileged ISC has opened this competition to pros and amateurs alike. The quality and the experience of the judging panel made winning meaningful and inspiring insofar as one thinks “they liked it”… first time and couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you ICS. 

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

Dana Thomas Cronin: “La Vie Absurde” is a biopic about the great philosopher, Albert Camus. The screenplay attempts to capture the essence of Camus, his incredible life and philosophy. On the way to winning the Nobel Prize, the tubercular unlikely Alegerian “pied noir” would fight nazi’s, love many, hate none, teach all, and live as best he could in an absurd world. 

To create a screenplay, aware of Albert Camus’ love of theater and the visual, was a particularly fun challenge. With a biopic, one must thoroughly check their research. Nothing wrong, no cheap exploitation, and everything accurate with a double, triple and even quadruple fact check (I hope I did Myth justice). This was exhausting but incredibly satisfying – what a trek!

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

Dana Thomas Cronin: Many passions but one love, writing.

NY Elite: What scripts have you written so far? 

Dana Thomas Cronin: Two copyrighted (“CB Artist” and “La Vie Absurde”) and four not quite ready to leave the kitchen. 

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

Dana Thomas Cronin: There’s so much…my hobby is reading. Generally biographies, history and also the New York Times archives. Just the everyday news stories of everyday people provides hundreds of interesting and compelling story lines. Mostly I’d have to say historical figures and moments. 

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

Dana Thomas Cronin: Pardon the “holistic” cliche but I feel good character develops from the many interactions (large and small) during the journey. The character’s dialogue, personal description, various environments, the light, the color, the tone, as well as how the “other” characters react, add to or subtract from the character’s development. With screenplays, I think showing is more appropriate… save the adjectives for book writing. 

NY Elite: What projects are you currently working on?

Dana Thomas Cronin: Four scripts in various stages. However, one project (almost completed) is “loosely based” on silent screen stars of  early Hollywood and the prejudices they worked under. There’s so much to show, but I find an amalgamation of personalities and characters makes for richer characters and storyline. 

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

Dana Thomas Cronin: Just starting myself but rejection in life, in business and no doubt here too, is not just likely but guaranteed. Bounce back and learn. Learn from mistakes, don’t repeat mistakes, and keep at your craft.