Today we’d like to introduce you to Gérard Maurez
Hi Gérard, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Bordeaux, in the south-west of France. Very early on, I was influenced by american series and movies (especially George Lucas and Spielberg productions) and I wanted to learn about this craft as much as I could. I attended classes and seminars (Robert Mc Kee’s Story and Bill Johnson’s A Story Is A Premise), and in 2005 I settled down in Bangkok, Thailand, where I got my first writing assignements (commercials, sci-fi animes…). I worked in Bangkok for 6 years and went back home in 2014. Between 2016 and 2022 I wrote two indie movies (Sandow,UK; and Useful Idiots, Thailand). During the Covid Pandemic, I questioned myself and set out to write my own features specs. I have at present time completed 5 feature screenplays, most of them anticipation thrillers. I also wrote an indie feature drama whose plot is set in Thailand. Three of theses scripts are waiting forthe get go by major productions in France.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was never a smooth road! I compare my life to a Robert Ludlum’s novel: many, many small painful steps and stages form the whole plot. My path isn’t the one of a sprint runner, it is the one of the marathon runner! First, it took me quite some time to find my inner voice. The first half of my life was about initiation: I had to learn american-style screenwriting, I had to perfect my written English language, I traveled a lot to find myself…and I struggled trying to find the right people. The other problem is that I never really felt in tune with French Cinema and its too often “small scope”. I always preferred american cinema, and I had to write this way. I found support and understanding abroad first. But now things are slightly changing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialized in the “Hero’s Journey” film structure. I was really eager to learn everything about this. I love this structure: “a struggling main character is involved in both an internal and external journey. The purpose of this journey is to fulfill a story premise related to a universal need.” This kind of story can have a very powerful impact on audience and can provide meaning to people.
I have now a real challenge: to have my scripts produced. If some are, I would have been able to write american-style screenplays for French productions. I would be really proud of this.
