Interview done by:
Paula Burr
Paula Burr
Filmmaker and author Ted Geoghegan (born August 10, 1979 in
Beaverton, Oregon) grew up in Great Falls, Montana, attending
private and public schools and studying film extensively. He attended
The University of Montana in Missoula, Montana and attained a
degree in English Education. Geoghegan is best-known for his work in
the horror and science fiction film genres.
Beaverton, Oregon) grew up in Great Falls, Montana, attending
private and public schools and studying film extensively. He attended
The University of Montana in Missoula, Montana and attained a
degree in English Education. Geoghegan is best-known for his work in
the horror and science fiction film genres.
Posted on:
Januray 29th, 2007
Januray 29th, 2007
HF: Hello Ted! Great to chat with you again. Thanks for giving us your time here
at Horror-Fanatics we really appreciate it. Lets jump right into it. Can you tell me
about yourself, how was growing up in Great Falls, Montana?
TG: Great Falls is a very conservative military town in central Montana. My
childhood there was great, but when I was old enough, I realized it wasn't really
for me. I had gone to Catholic school there, as well, which may have assisted in
my current morbid lifestyle!
HF: Can you tell me a bit about your education? You studied English at the
University of Missoula, how did you come to find scriptwriting?
TG: I was writing a book on horror filmmakers and decided to write a portion of it
about German director Andreas Schnaas. I looked up some info about him online,
found that he had an official site, and decided to contact him. He was so
appreciative of my interest and impressed by my writing skills, he hired me co-
author his first English language screenplay, Demonium.
HF: Did you ever further your education after working with Caroll O’ Conner?
That sounds like an interesting experience; can you tell me about that?
TG: I feel like I am furthering my education every day, but the time I spent with
Caroll was so unbelievably inspirational, I can’t possibly describe how much it
helped. He was a true artist and I will be forever grateful that I got to spend some
of his last months learning from him.
HF: You completed your first screenplay, and had it turn into a major motion
picture at the age of 20. I bet this was exciting. Can you tell me more about this
experience? What did that mean to you at such a young age?
TG: At the time, it felt like I had hit the geek jackpot. Not only was I writing this
screenplay, but I had been asked to come to the set in Rome, Italy, for filming.
Most folks in the film biz know that screenwriters don’t usually get to hang out
on-set… especially on low budget films – so I felt like I was living a dream.
HF: Now at the age of 27, you have written 5 scripts and are currently working
on another (Don’t Wake the Dead). Can you tell me how you come up with your
ideas and how they get from your head to the paper, you seem to have an ability
to write quickly, and effectively?
TG: I make it a point to write at least one thousand words every single day, even
if I’m just blogging at my MySpace or writing e-mails. It keeps me going. And as
for ideas… I’m overflowing with them. If I could theoretically write a screenplay a
day for the rest of my life, I truly believe I’d never run out of steam.
HF: For other writers out there can you tell us please, what kinds of problems do
you encounter in writing? Ever get any blocks? How do you sustain your pace and
flow? How do you get unblocked?
TG: I’m fortunate that I don’t suffer from much writer’s block. I know that it helps
a lot of people to have an outline, but I personally don’t do that. I always know
where my story is headed, but once I create the characters, I find that they begin
to write themselves. By the end, I always get them into their intended situation…
but sometimes it’s through an alternate route. I like that. I feel more “real” to me.
HF: I have noticed that all of your scripts are horror and science fiction. Do you
prefer one over the other? I guess monsters vs. aliens?
TG: I’m a big horror fan and always will be. I like sci-fi, but it will always take
second-fiddle to horror. I think I’m really just a geek at heart, so if I ever have
the opportunity to write horror, sci-fi, or fantasy, I won’t pass it up. It’s what I
live for.
HF: Out of the scripts that you have written is there is personal favorite?
TG: I have a script called Dry Rot that I particularly love, but I think I might be
alone in that. Although its written very well, it hasn't gotten a lot of praise in the
industry. I think it’s because it doesn't offer anything too “new” – which everyone
wants right now. It’s basically a ghost story/Night of the Demons-rehash, but I
love it. The day I win the lotto, I’ll fund the whole damn thing myself just to see it
made. Horror fans would have a blast with it.
HF: Who or what inspires you to write the scripts that you do?
TG: My biggest inspiration has been a writer named James Gunn, who started out
with Troma and has since gone on to massive critical acclaim after writing 2004’s
Dawn of the Dead remake and writing/directing ‘06’s SLiTHER. I’ve read
everything he has done and I can’t express how much I love his style. He’s 100%
of what I aspire to be… in both talent and character.
HF: What horror film scared you as a child? Any defining film moments that you
carry with you today? Scary monsters that haunt you, make you laugh?
TG: The first horror movie that actually scared the shit out of me was Night of
the Demons. I think that’s why I cloned it a bit with Dry Rot. I had seen horror
films previously, but never any with that amount of gore. I couldn’t sleep for
days… but as time has gone by, I’ve come to cherish that film.
at Horror-Fanatics we really appreciate it. Lets jump right into it. Can you tell me
about yourself, how was growing up in Great Falls, Montana?
TG: Great Falls is a very conservative military town in central Montana. My
childhood there was great, but when I was old enough, I realized it wasn't really
for me. I had gone to Catholic school there, as well, which may have assisted in
my current morbid lifestyle!
HF: Can you tell me a bit about your education? You studied English at the
University of Missoula, how did you come to find scriptwriting?
TG: I was writing a book on horror filmmakers and decided to write a portion of it
about German director Andreas Schnaas. I looked up some info about him online,
found that he had an official site, and decided to contact him. He was so
appreciative of my interest and impressed by my writing skills, he hired me co-
author his first English language screenplay, Demonium.
HF: Did you ever further your education after working with Caroll O’ Conner?
That sounds like an interesting experience; can you tell me about that?
TG: I feel like I am furthering my education every day, but the time I spent with
Caroll was so unbelievably inspirational, I can’t possibly describe how much it
helped. He was a true artist and I will be forever grateful that I got to spend some
of his last months learning from him.
HF: You completed your first screenplay, and had it turn into a major motion
picture at the age of 20. I bet this was exciting. Can you tell me more about this
experience? What did that mean to you at such a young age?
TG: At the time, it felt like I had hit the geek jackpot. Not only was I writing this
screenplay, but I had been asked to come to the set in Rome, Italy, for filming.
Most folks in the film biz know that screenwriters don’t usually get to hang out
on-set… especially on low budget films – so I felt like I was living a dream.
HF: Now at the age of 27, you have written 5 scripts and are currently working
on another (Don’t Wake the Dead). Can you tell me how you come up with your
ideas and how they get from your head to the paper, you seem to have an ability
to write quickly, and effectively?
TG: I make it a point to write at least one thousand words every single day, even
if I’m just blogging at my MySpace or writing e-mails. It keeps me going. And as
for ideas… I’m overflowing with them. If I could theoretically write a screenplay a
day for the rest of my life, I truly believe I’d never run out of steam.
HF: For other writers out there can you tell us please, what kinds of problems do
you encounter in writing? Ever get any blocks? How do you sustain your pace and
flow? How do you get unblocked?
TG: I’m fortunate that I don’t suffer from much writer’s block. I know that it helps
a lot of people to have an outline, but I personally don’t do that. I always know
where my story is headed, but once I create the characters, I find that they begin
to write themselves. By the end, I always get them into their intended situation…
but sometimes it’s through an alternate route. I like that. I feel more “real” to me.
HF: I have noticed that all of your scripts are horror and science fiction. Do you
prefer one over the other? I guess monsters vs. aliens?
TG: I’m a big horror fan and always will be. I like sci-fi, but it will always take
second-fiddle to horror. I think I’m really just a geek at heart, so if I ever have
the opportunity to write horror, sci-fi, or fantasy, I won’t pass it up. It’s what I
live for.
HF: Out of the scripts that you have written is there is personal favorite?
TG: I have a script called Dry Rot that I particularly love, but I think I might be
alone in that. Although its written very well, it hasn't gotten a lot of praise in the
industry. I think it’s because it doesn't offer anything too “new” – which everyone
wants right now. It’s basically a ghost story/Night of the Demons-rehash, but I
love it. The day I win the lotto, I’ll fund the whole damn thing myself just to see it
made. Horror fans would have a blast with it.
HF: Who or what inspires you to write the scripts that you do?
TG: My biggest inspiration has been a writer named James Gunn, who started out
with Troma and has since gone on to massive critical acclaim after writing 2004’s
Dawn of the Dead remake and writing/directing ‘06’s SLiTHER. I’ve read
everything he has done and I can’t express how much I love his style. He’s 100%
of what I aspire to be… in both talent and character.
HF: What horror film scared you as a child? Any defining film moments that you
carry with you today? Scary monsters that haunt you, make you laugh?
TG: The first horror movie that actually scared the shit out of me was Night of
the Demons. I think that’s why I cloned it a bit with Dry Rot. I had seen horror
films previously, but never any with that amount of gore. I couldn’t sleep for
days… but as time has gone by, I’ve come to cherish that film.
