Interview With Glen
Doyle
Interviewed by Jenna Glatzer
Glen is both a published author and a produced
screenwriter. He divides his days between his writing and his martial art pursuits. The 3-time Canadian Kung
Fu Champion had his first book released last year, 'The Martial Artist's Way.'
His script 'SOMETIMES A HERO' has finished shooting and is in the final stages of post
production. Film One Productions is expecting the film to be released this winter. Glen is
currently in negotiations with Film One with another script and hopes to be in pre-production by the
beginning of summer.
Quite an interesting background you have! What
inspired you to add screenwriting into your already packed martial arts career?
My inspiration... my father. He said that if you're good at something, or you love to do something... then
you can make a living at it... and if you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life.
Well, since I was a kid, I've loved to write. I'd write stories, poems, anything with words. So when I
started my martial arts career -- I had visions of doing movies (Bruce Lee influence). I wanted to be in
the films, but I just seemed to have more fun making up the storylines.
So, the more I researched the film industry, the more I realized screenwriting was
where I wanted to go. I enrolled and studied Screenwriting at Ryerson University in Toronto.
Martial arts led you to train and choreograph several people-- including television and film
actors. While on film/TV sets, what kinds of lessons did you pick up about screenwriting?
First, I learned that once the cameras start rolling, the writer is at the bottom of the food chain. They
don't want them on set, they don't tell them very much with regards to the scenes being shot, and a lot of
times I've seen entire sections of nicely written dialogue tossed because the actor wants to 'do' the
scene from another perspective.
But I also got to see writers have to come up with quick changes, new plot points, or entirely new
characters at the drop of a hat.
The other thing I learned... in the film industry, from the director to the producer to the actor...
EVERYONE THINKS THEMSELF A WRITER. They all have their own takes on the story, scene, or character. As the
writer, you have to absorb all these outside suggestions and make the proper changes to the script
without losing your vision or plot of the story.
You credit the director, Jalal Merhi, for getting SOMETIMES A HERO produced. How did he come
to read the script?
The script was forwarded to him by Executive producer Lanz Boglander. Lanz had read a couple of
my other scripts in different genres, liked the writing, but wasn't interested in them. When I told him I had a
drama based script, he had a read, forwarded it to Mr. Merhi, and away we went.
You were also the martial arts advisor, fight choreographer, and artistic director for the ice
skating sequences. Did this help you to hold onto your vision of this script?
Very much so. But Mr. Merhi was very open with me, and let me have control of all the rewrites and on the
spot scene changes. He knew I had an extensive background in both the martial arts and the skating
world, so for those sequences he let me have a lot of input.
I was very lucky.
Any particular reason why this was filmed in Victoria, B.C.?
Incentive financing from the B.C. government.
How long a road has it been for you from the day you began screenwriting until filming actually began
on your first produced script?
I finished my screenwriting studies at Ryerson in
1988. 'Sometimes A Hero' was shot in Nov/Dec 1999.
Wow, looking at the dates now it seems like a long
time... but it doesn't feel that long.
How did you keep going despite the inevitable rejections?
I started boxing when I was four. Fighting is not just physical... it's mental and spiritual. My father
was a great teacher and taught me to NEVER run away from trouble. He'd say, 'If you run away from them
today, you'll run away from them tomorrow, and then you'll be running for the rest of your life.'
So, a rejection is just like a schoolyard bully -- he's only a bully if he stops you from doing your usual
routine... don't let him.
What's one thing about screenwriting you wish you'd learned earlier?
That everyone one will add something to the script you've written. I used to think that their could only
be one 'chef' in the kitchen... and I think I may have come off as a little arrogant... but now... I look at
my scripts as... the more chefs in the kitchen, the better tasting the stew.
Where and when will your film be released?
From what I understand, it will be premiered at Cannes.
Do you believe it's important for a writer to "write what s/he knows?"
I think so... writing from strength gives you the experience you need to later on... to write in areas
you're not so comfortable. I look at writing like martial arts... instinct is much better than
memorization or robotic techniques... instinct is a natural strength, writing about what you know is an
instinctual thing.
Describe the experience of hearing the words, "We're going to produce your script."
My first thought: "I wish my Dad were alive right now so I could call him and tell him." Then, a strange
sense of calm settled and I went home. It took about 3 days before it set in, and I was like a lion in a
cage... pacing... wondering when, where, who, and how much.
Was the script rewritten significantly from your original draft?
The core story never strayed from the original... but some characters were added, some taken out, and
some 'action' sequences were also written in. If you read the original, it was 100% drama... the shooting script
had more basic action sequences.
Any books, films, or scripts you think all new
screenwriters should read/see? (Besides yours, of course, which we all promise to see immediately
upon release. :)
Though I have my own style of writing, I learned some
key points and practices from 'The Screenwriter's
Bible'. Good format habits and story layout practices.
The rest I believe comes from inside the writer, no
book can teach you, or give you a writer's soul.
Anything further you'd like to add for the screenwriters
you've just inspired (or made insanely jealous)?
There is luck involved. Meeting the right people, getting your script to the right people... but NONE of
that matters if you give up or let someone convince you that you're no good. WE all are living, breathing
beings with tales to tell... the way you write and promote your script is the only way you can get people
to hear your story.
NEVER GIVE UP... NO MATTER WHAT!
Find out more about Glen and his film by clicking here: http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/GlenDoyle/.
You can also e-mail Glen at byyon@yahoo.com.
