So that the producers have the maximum information about you, who are you?

Dennis Manning, Living in Wilton Manors, FL with my partner of 34 years. I am the Board President for the non-profit Plays Of Wilton https://www.playsofwilton.com/  I write music and lyrics, play acoustic guitar, have 6 screenplays under my belt. I am the Director of Customer Experience for https://www.ghostbed.com/

 

How many years have you been writing scripts?

Writing scripts about 10 years; writing music 50 years

 

What was your first experience writing a screenplay?

2018 I wrote the music and lyrics for the international hit “Now & Then” www.nowandthenmusical.com this is a stage play; I wrote the first screenplay “The Shaft”

 

Did you study at a film school or did you learn on your own?

Undergraduate in English and Marketing; MS in Training; learned the rest through life experiences.

 

Have any of your scripts ever been filmed? If so, could you explain to us how you feel and if you are happy with the final result?

No, none filmed…yet.  My screenplay “The Shaft” is currently with a film studio in LA and a director has been assigned.  Now working on funding the project. 

 

Any anecdotes you can tell us about the process of writing the script?

When I was writing “The Substitute Wife” I was not sure when I started writing where it would end up.  Then I had this revelation about a movie within a movie.  Respectfully I surprised myself with that ending and I love the final scene with Claire. 

 

If you had an unlimited budget. Which actor and actress would you hire for this project?

• Claire – Emma Stone

• Bryce - Jake Gyllenhaal

• Loraine - - Emily Blunt

• Thiago – Dominic Cooper

 

Your favorite movie?

“All About Eve”

 

Tell us 3 filmmakers you like.

Hitchcock, Richard Curtis, Robert Zemeckis/Bradley Cooper

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What is the scene that has impacted you the most?

The twist that Loraine is alive and the unraveling of Claire.

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If you could remake a movie, what would it be?

“Heaven Can Wait” – They were all great, I would love to see Dominic Cooper in the lead role and Margo Robbie as the love interest.

 

What do you hope to achieve with this project?

Bring a searing Hollywood Film Noir to the screen. 

 

Do you have any other projects going on?

• The screenplay “The Shaft”  is currently with a LA studio, so hoping that this continues through the process

• I am working on a new screenplay feature “The Woman On The Bench” and I wrote the opening song (I think this will be a movie with a few songs) and I am very excited where this story is going (almost finished)

• My Third musical collaboration with Ronnie Larsen, “A Shonda the Musical” just finished a World Premiere sold-out run last week

• You can see other project and works on https://www.danforthmusic.org/

 

Thank you for this opportunity to detail some of my thoughts and interests and background!  That means a lot to me.