Interview (Part 6): Kevin Sheridan

My interview with 2022 Black List writer for his script Colors of Authority.

Kevin Sheridan wrote the screenplay Colors of Authority which landed on the 2022 Black List. I had the opportunity to chat with Kevin about his creative background, writing a Black List script, and the craft of screenwriting.

Today in Part 6 of a 6-part series to run each day through Sunday, Kevin gives some advice for aspiring screenwriters.

Scott: You may know if you’ve been reading a blog and whatnot that I tend to preach this thing on character‑driven storytelling. Begin with character, end with character, find the story in between. You have an acting background. I find that’s something that obviously actors would be naturally drawn to because they play characters.

Does the acting, your background, impact your screenwriting? Specifically, in terms of developing characters, is there a connection there?

Kevin: Who’s to say? I don’t know. I’m sure it plays a certain role in it. I’ve read so many scripts over my life and been studying it from a certain way, and I’ve had to verbalize these lines of dialogue and make them work. I’d like to think, in my heart of hearts, that the dialogue I write is something that comes off the tongue trippingly.

I’ve had the experience of when you get really good material, it makes it so much easier as an actor. Hopefully, I’m doing the same thing with what I’m writing. I’m making it easier on the talent.

Scott: Ultimately as a writer, if you want to get the project made, you have got to get credible actors attached.

Kevin: I’ve got to be better at that. I’ve got to think more about the business side of things. I’m still learning that, to incorporate that in my work. When you write, are you writing from feel, from your gut, from your head? Are you seeing it in your mind’s eye?

Scott: Absolutely. In fact, I tell my students the same thing. I say, “First draft, journey of discovery.” You’re just trying to get from fade in to fade out, learn as much…It’s not going to be perfect. You know that’s going to disappoint some of these other graduates, [laughs] but you put your head to the side and say, “Oh, it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

Then, I tell my students, “Every time you write a scene, don’t think, feel.” You need to be aware of where every character is in terms of their emotional state, and then, the protagonist, where they are in terms of their art. Then, just feel your way through that scene. The first draft, just try to get out of there, and get down to here.

If you can make people feel it just by this line, is resonating with what you were saying. If you can make people feel something…

Kevin: A thousand percent. It’s emotional from the outset. Like I said, there’s no better feeling. We’re talking about feelings, right…?

Scott: Yeah.

Kevin: …than leaving the movie theater, after seeing something that rocked you. Whether it’s Whiplash or American Beauty or Zodiac. For me, it’s like my whole body is vibrating, whether that’s from the emotional journey that you’ve just been on or the catharsis that you experienced.

That’s where the magic is. Really, it’s magic, because I remember this saying… Who was it? Maybe it was Tom Hanks who said, “Sometimes the Gods of celluloid shine down on your project, and sometimes, they don’t…” There’s magic there. For whatever reason, some films capture that magic. Sometimes, they don’t even realize that they captured that magic until it’s done. They look at the final cut and they go, “Holy shit.”

Scott: I agree with that. On New Year’s Day, I went to see The Apartment in a theater. It’s my favorite movie, 35‑millimeter print. You’re right. You see those movies, you come out of there and you just go, “Oh, my God. That’s just…”

Kevin: What are some of the movies that you saw when you in the theater that you were like, you came out vibrating?

Scott: Oh, you’ve mentioned Whiplash. The third act is incredible. The whole movie is great. You mention a lot, Being There. I remember seeing it when it first came out, and I was just like, “Oh, my God. I love how it was so…”

Kevin: There is no better ending to a movie.

Scott: I know. It’s so great. Network is another one that I saw was like, “God‑damn,” it meant a lot. I went to the premiere of The Shawshank Redemption. I remember walking out of there, sending an email to the folks at Castle Rock. Amazing movie.

Kevin: The day I saw Shawshank, I had missed school cause I was really sick. My mom rented it for me. And it blew me away. Whatever stomach bug I had… it cured me. There’s another movie I remember seeing in the theatre that really was so profound. It was The Station Agent. I remember seeing it and just being so moved by that.

Scott: Oh, yeah. Wonderful movie. Tom McCarthy.

Kevin: That’s what I want to do… create something like that.

Scott: Well, so let me ask you one last thing here. Obviously, I’ve really enjoyed being given the chance to talk with you.

Kevin: Me, too.

Scott: What advice do you have, like a film‑school student, or someone who’s out there in the middle of nowhere and they want to be a screenwriter. What advice do you have for them?

Kevin: Read scripts, watch movies, write, and be a decent human being. That’s all you’ve really got to do. I wish to God, I’d read more scripts when I was younger but it probably wasn’t my time yet. I was talking about this with an executive the other day, and I might be parroting something that I heard on some interview or something but… To a certain extent, we all have our taste. We start out a low level as we’re writing. We’re beginners. And it’s a matter of trying to build up your craft to match your taste, and it takes a while. It takes meeting with people too, who can elevate your work. If I was left to my own devices, I don’t think I would be on the Black List. I really don’t.

Luckily, I have good people around me who gave me good notes and pointed me the right way, and all that kind of stuff. People like Kay Foster who’s just been a guardian angel for me. Try to get a community going where you can get good notes.

It is also one of those things where I think people don’t talk about how much luck is involved. I’ve been in this business a really long time. I’ve had an incredible amount of rejection over my life. Just door after door slammed. I’d like to think that the one thing I’ve done right is… I’ve stuck with it. For better or worse, and I kept working on my stuff.

The material that John was able to send to Trevor after they met up at the taco truck, it was good enough for Trevor to want to meet with me. You’ve got to have those moments of luck come your way, but you’ve got to be ready for them when they do come.

For Part 1 of the interview, go here.

For Part 2, here.

For Part 3, here.

For Part 4, here.

For Part 5, here.

Kevin is repped by Bellevue Productions.

Twitter: @Sheridankevin

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