Stephen Hunt – Chef Boutonne, France

BlueCat: What movies do you watch to remind yourself that you love screenwriting?

Stephen Hunt: Shakespeare In Love – It’s funny, clever, imaginative, and has great sets/costumes. There are plenty of actors who I’d love to see delivering my lines.

Gladiator – Hans Zimmer’s music is fabulous! I also enjoy the David Lean style cinema photography and grandeur, unashamedly driven by box office ambition.

The Third Man – This is a movie that also has great music; it also has moody, atmospheric, and classic moments. I like that Calloway’s skulk in the shadow is betrayed by an enthusiatic balloon salesman. I also like that a wistful Harry Lime suddenly illuminated in a doorway with cat on his shoes – it’s movie magic on a shoestring.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Charles Laughton’s) – It’s a wonderful adaptation (I do adaptations). I also think that no hero has bettered Ezmerelda’s scaffold rescue.

Dumbo – For the brilliant crows who personify what it’s all about – entertainment!

BlueCat: What is your highest screenwriting goal for yourself?

SH: To be known for consistently good work.

BlueCat: What aspects of the writing process do you struggle with the most?

SH: Cleaning my scripts up. I’m a sloppy writer who, worse yet, is blind to his own errors. I loathe the ridiculous amount of time trying to find all my mistakes and despite that, some always get through!

BlueCat: What do you feel you do well as a screenwriter?

SH: I’m imaginative. People are usually surprised at my twists, turns, endings. I’m often told tat I write “page turners.”

BlueCat: What do you see is the biggest problem with storytelling in Hollywood?

SH: Ultimately, it’s accountants who decide what we see on the screen. After all, it’s show BUSINESS.

BlueCat: What screenplay have you written which you feel most proud of and why?

SH: Learning and growing matter to me so I like to think/kid myself that I’m evolving. Consequently, I always think the script I’ve just finished is the best I’ve ever written.