Go Into The Story Interview: Leigh Cesiro and Erica Matlin

My interview with 2021 Black List writers for their script Cruel Summer.

Leigh Cesiro and Erica Matlin wrote the original screenplay “Cruel Summer” which landed on the 2021 Black List. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Erica and Leigh about their creative background, their script, the craft of screenwriting, and what making the annual Black List has meant to them.

Here are links to the entire 6-part series which has run this week.

Part 1: “‘This is what we know. Let’s set a friendship story in camp.’ From there it just took off.”

Part 2: “We were aware of the tropes in the movies. They came from somewhere and we had firsthand experience with them.”

Part 3: “Everything is heightened when you’re 16, then to compress it even more in camp, everything is such a big deal.”

Part 4: “We wanted this to be tight and move and were mindful of the real estate our story was taking up.”

Part 5: “If we were struggling within a scene, we would step out of it and re-outline little chunks of the script.”

Part 6: ”You have to accept that you will be bad in the beginning and keep working through it.”

Twitter: @leighcesiro, @eribmatlin.

www.leighcesiro.com

www.helloericamatlin.com

For my interviews with dozens of other Black List writers, go here.