Member Spotlight: William Fletcher

I first learned how to screenwrite while studying Film and Television at JMC Academy Brisbane in 2016. The first short script I wrote was a 10-page script called "Hit The Highway". It was an ambitious idea to have a crime-drama road trip movie as a short script; I had to end the script with "To Be Continued" because 10 pages was nowhere near enough to fully tell the story.

I’m currently working on my friend Jason Wingate’s first feature film trilogy for his company, Cinetorium, “Aussie Spies.” The trilogy follows the story of a top-secret Australian surveillance association as they uncover a science-fiction mystery. It will also introduce the character of Dr. Simon, an Australian teenager with Autism who aspires to be a scientist.

My personal favorite story I have written so far is “Trapped Inside”, the first short film I made for a mental health advocacy company I work for called MYND Initiative. It follows the story of a young woman called Grace who has Schizophrenia and is studying Philosophy at University and is taught Solipsism, a belief where you don’t believe anything is real outside your mind. After forgetting to take her medication. This becomes a delusion, and Grace begins to have psychotic voices telling her that nothing is real outside her mind and that she is trapped inside her own mind. I made the short film because I had a similar experience about 10 years ago and I wanted to make a film that gave a better understanding of what it’s like to suffer from a psychotic illness and how damaging toxic beliefs can be.

Yes! SoCreate has definitely shaped how I write my projects, since it has an AI engine that visualizes the scene you are writing, it will help put a better picture in your head of what the scene will look like. It also gives you a picture of what your characters will look like which is also a great help.

I continue to watch movies that better help me understand the three act structure and how to tell a powerful story with a strong emotional payoff with complex characters whose goals, viewpoints and emotional states change over time and the course of the story. I will also read books about screenwriting and filmmaking and visit places that give me creative inspiration like, parks, gardens and theme parks like Warner Bros. Movie World.

I will usually write a character treatment to develop the personalities and viewpoints of the characters in my story, as well as write a story treatment before I start writing the actual script. When I start writing the script, I will notice that a three-act structure will start to naturally unfold and I will follow it until it reaches its natural conclusion. That is how I finish the first draft, and I will keep on refining the story until I’ve reached my 10th Draft and lock it as final after that.

I will usually go for a walk or sit down and listen to a meditation, music or watch a movie. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have a chat with my friends and family about how to find a way forward.

The most challenging part of my writing journey so far was finishing my first feature script “Hit The Highway”. It was challenging trying to find the right way to write a powerful and satisfying conclusion. It took me several months to write the conclusion of the screenplay that I thought was emotionally satisfying and made sense.

What I love the most about SoCreate is that it visualizes your story using AI and is able to share your story with other people passionate about scriptwriting for no additional charge beyond the subscription.

Yes. Writing and directing “Trapped Inside” and writing “Hit The Highway”.

Directing “Hit The Highway".

Just give it a go. I would highly recommend joining SoCreate to share your screenwriting works to be seen and shared by other people as well as having it reviewed, and advice and opinions shared.

The best piece of advice I ever received when it comes to writing is just keep going. If you hit writer’s block, don’t give up, simply give it time and keep going until your project is complete. Anything is better than doing nothing and giving up.

Sure! I was born in Brisbane, Australia in 1997. I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when I was three years old and had intense special interests in theme parks, movies, elevators and trains when I was a young kid and still have these interests today. I always felt like I was different from other people and didn’t have many friends as a kid, but I had a caring and accepting family who accepted me as I was, which I am so grateful for. As I became a teenager, I had a few more friends that I liked to goof around with, but I became very interested in filmmaking when my high school introduced a Film and Television class in Year 11 in 2013. I really got into the class and was so interested in filmmaking history and our teacher was so passionate about teaching all different kinds of filmmaking techniques as well as history and iconic directors. I was grateful for having such a passionate teacher and thanked her for inspiring me to begin studying it at Mt Gravatt TAFE in 2014 alongside my final senior year at school. I went on to graduate from the TAFE course in June 2016 and then went on to study a Bachelor of Film and Television at JMC Academy Brisbane from June 2016 to December 2018. While I was in my final trimester, I met Jason Wingate who was studying alongside me in our Graduation Film class. I didn’t make a Grad Film at the time since I had severe writer's block and had no ideas for a Grad Film at the time, so I decided to help Jason on his Grad Film called “Monstrous Mystery”. He took me under his wing and introduced me to his developing film company called “Cinetorium”. I have been by his side ever since and he is the best friend I have ever had.

Growing up and being an adult on the autism spectrum has definitely influenced the types of stories that I write. I plan to write autistic characters in my future scripts who rebel against the norm and break down conformist culture and aren’t afraid of being judged for being themselves and not conforming to what society expects them to be. I want to write stories where people are celebrated for being who they are.

I would just like to say if you are struggling to have your stories being heard, I encourage you to keep going no matter what. Keep writing, keep on moving and never give up. I know just how hard it is finding work in the creative industry in these times, especially in Australia. But if you keep on doing what you love, usually something will find you without you having to find something yourself. Keep on going and never give up.