An interview with author Lance Dow

Lance Dow is a wearer of many hats: he's a producer, a director, a former head of development and foremost, an awesome author. In addition to the aforementioned juggling act that he likely endeavors on a daily basis, his works are also regularly considered by the studios and production companies alike. In addition, he's been read and considered by a Who's Who of box office stars and also has his works with the top agencies. In a nutshell, the guy knows what's goin' on. I'm lucky that he likes me!

We've talked about the book Lance co-authored, Soulstice: Luna's Dream, numerous times in my column, but today I'd like to put the spotlight on his new project. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a screenplay that's been put into e-book format and invites the audience into the world of the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Nikki Tiani: Can you share a little of Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

Lance Dow: Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a decade-long effort with many twist turns, highs and lows of bringing an engaging and entertaining major-motion picture on the U.S. military's Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy on gays and lesbians serving openly [in the military] and without discrimination. They'd otherwise be faced with expulsion if they were found out or outed with someone with an agenda. It was the worst of how the United States of America performed. Sometimes we get it wrong and then compound that with something a little bit evil even. This (Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy), as with slavery and other forms of discrimnation is in that same vein. When you can use evidence... even evidence as illegally obtained as you could get in order to prosecute your case... that's evil. Those were the rules in place under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

NT: What was the hardest part of writing this book?

LD: The book was easy! As we simply converted the screenplay into ebook form. Screenplays are a reading form somewhere between a graphic novel and a book and as an ebook they (screenplays) fit perfectly for a reading experience on all the computers and all the reading devices and smartphones. There is a large group of readers out there that actually love to read screenplays. I know, I do, and it was also how I honed my craft. The screenplay was very hard in the rewriting process as you are trying to please a lot of masters. I did over 200 rewrites of the screenplay over the ten years to get it where it needed to be. And... even that wasn't enought. The clock ran out with the actual recent repeal. But that's okay. That was the point of the film... to reach that end.

NT
: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

LD: Not really. Writing comes very easy to me and that's basically because I allow the characters free reign to tell me the story. The hardest part of being an author or writer for film is the business end. But it's part of the deal so you have to do it. Sometimes you run into problems with the story but it isn't anything that just continuing to write won't solve because then you can cut and paste and like a puzzle things magically fall into place that farther you are along. Editing is one thing I find challenging. I don't like it! But, I don't like others really to do it because they can screw up the intent and tone. I use lots of slang and street-language and that doesn't always compute with an editor steeped in the correct form of English grammar. An editor wouldn't last two seconds in the world of Jay Z or Lil' Wayne. You need a translator in their world!

NT
: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

LD: Well I have several types of authors because of what I do. For Books it would be Tom Clancy. I just love the movie feel and the sharply drawn characters and the constant ratcheting up of the tension. And the bits of humor he injects to make his characters believable. For screenwriting I love David Giler (Alien) for his brevity. It's a style I like but can't replicate. I tried. It didn't work for me. And more closer to my style is James Cameron. Reading his stuff taught me I could break all the rules with the only one being just to tell a compelling story with great characters. He's from Wisconsin as well so that's cool.

NT
: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

LD: I did for Don't Ask, Don't Tell in gathering all the material and meeting service members and hearing their stories and going to events to observe how they were and interacted with one another. For other things I've never had to travel. The internet is an incredible research tool that allows you to do all your background research and build on that. I get street names even. Find out how the neighborhoods look to get the vibe. For the Soulstice Saga... I plugged in ten things I wanted for the location of the first story and up came Crescent City, California. And that's where I built the beginnings of the saga. The rest is made up by the imagination.

NT
: Who designed this cover?

LD: That was done by Terri Tex of T2PR in Los Angeles. She's very talented in so many ways and we wanted a cover that told the story right on the cover. It's about the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy and the character driving the story is a medal of honor recipient that was being expelled for being outed as a homosexual in the U.S. Army Rangers.

NT
: Did you learn anything from writing Dont Ask, Don't Tell and what was it?

LD: I learned everything about the movie business as it was such a massive experience dealing with the very best of producers in Jerry Offsay, the former head of Showtime and all the major studios, A-list talents read my work... Dustin Hoffman, Jane Rosenthal for Robert De Niro, Don Cheadle, director Taylor Hackford (Officer and a Gentleman), Mark Ruffalo, Sean Penn, Michael Madsen, Bruce Willis, Liam Neeson... how awesome is that? And despite what I said earlier... and I didn't learn it as much as I know it... and that is why America is such a great country... and that's because we eventually get it right. Slavery, discrmination, immigration, Don't Ask-Don't Tell... we right the wrong. Sometimes it takes a very long time but we do it... and we do it because we are free and we know when things are wrong and people work hard to right them. In another country or society these people could be jailed for a very long time or simply vanish. Not in the United States. We have the right to assemble and keep making our points.

NT: Do you have any advice for other writers?

LD: Yeah... Write. Writers write and you get better with everything you write. Also... nobody else but you is right. It's your story. And there are a dozens of pathways to success, there is no one right path, or only one shot to get it right. You get lots of shots if you stay in the game and are nice to people. Be nice to everyone if you want them to read your material. I'm also a producer for film and television and I've had people submit me material and when I passed on it for whatever reason I've gotten three page email diatribes on how stupid I was - and several times I received threats of bodily harm from writers... not a good way to get future material read.

NT
: What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

LD: Let's see on my second screenplay I had some manager that was thinking about managing me send a script to someone experienced in reviewing screenplays... it came back marked in red comments on every page (not good comments) and about page 20 it read "can't read anymore of this crap!". But... SO WHAT! It's one person's opinion. LETHAL WEAPON was pulled out of a garbage can. And that same "crappy" script opened lots of doors with me. On books... I've been very lucky... we've had one bad review on the first Soulstice out of hundreds. My other little novella, The Butterfly Room, hasn't had a bad word on it.

NT: What's the best compliment you've received?

LD: Best compliment. Best compliment is always... "send me your screenplay or manuscript" to read by a producer, or someone's (talent) manager or agent and then it goes from there. I guess the very best compliment was director Taylor Hackford (Officer and A Gentleman, Ray) calling DON'TASK, DON'T TELL the equal of A Few Good Men. That's Oscar territory. And that's what we were reaching for with the film project. On Soulstice: Luna's Dream... check out the back of the book... there's a blurb that says "Sexy As Hell!". I like that one! (<---- Ooh, I said that!)

To review or buy the book, visit Barnes & Noble or Amazon. I read it in two sittings and firmly suggest you turn off your life and do the same.