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Interview with writer Stefania Ventome

SHORT BIO OF THE WRITER:

My name is Stefania and  I am a freelance writer, passionate about cinematography, anthropology and history. I studied foreign languages and I graduated in 2014 with a diploma in Philology.  I love to write fictional stories and short film scripts and I wish to broaden my knowledge and to study cinematography and documentary filmmaking. For me, writing means challenging myself, my consciousness and the world we live in. It goes beyond time and space and creates new universes that are born from the depth of my mind.


  • What is the first story you ever wrote?

The first story I wrote was called The Passenger and was about a teenage girl watching the trains and people go by in the main train station of Bucharest. I wrote it in my early adolescence, when my fascination with traveling, train stations and their stories began to take shape. It is more or less a static story, focused on the inner thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, while she is waiting for her friend on a scorching summer day.

  • Growing up, what movies or stories inspired your creative passion?

It is difficult to say, as there have been numerous stories and movies that have shaped my world. Some of the most important are A Clockwork Orange (both the book written by Anthony Burgess and the film directed by Stanley Kubrick), Donnie Darko, V for Vendetta, The Sixth Sense, The Dreamers and Blow Up.

  • For an unknown writer, what is the best way to get their screenplay seen?

In my opinion, consistency, patience and perseverance are vital virtues for any unknown writer who wishes to get their screenplay seen. It is quite difficult for me to offer advice regarding this topic, considering I am an unknown writer, but I would recommend everyone to follow their passion, write and send their work to magazines and publications they consider relevant.

  • What experiences from your life influence your characters?

I think that the extraordinary sometimes lies in the most ordinary things, so everyday experiences can influence my characters and inspire me to create stories. Also, I realized recently I am very much influenced by events and people I meet when traveling. It might be that these people and events evoke some sort of mystery that fascinates me.

  • Can you explain your character development process?

Usually, I start by imagining the character while portraying one of the scenes I consider most important for the story or screenplay. I need to have this visual image and from there I can further develop the character.

  • Do you write bios before you start writing?

To be honest, not really. I do that sometimes, but my creative process is usually a bit disorganized and I sometimes skip this step.

  • How emotionally involved are you with the characters you create?

I definitely feel emotionally involved with most of the characters I create, especially when the theme of the story is psychological. Of course, it depends on the story, on how much time I spend on it and on what (or who) inspired me to create that character.

  • What are your thoughts on structure?

Structure is important for every story or script, although I do not follow very strict or classical writing structures. For me, the overall emotions, setting and vibe are more important than keeping a very clear structure. In the end, a story should evoke a feeling, a mood and there are many creative ways that can help a writer do that.

  • Do you outline before you start writing?

In the beginning, definitely. Nowadays, I don’t rely much on the outline, although I might create one, just to keep me focused on the development of the story.

  • What is the most important aspect of building a great character?

I think that complexity is the most important aspect of building a great character. Just like in real life, people are more than good or bad and I try to avoid these categories and limitations. Characters, just like real people, are complex and dynamic and I always keep that in mind when developing a character. The complexity of our psychological nature is essential in creating realistic characters with whom the readers and audience can empathize.

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