Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to CJ. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

CJ, appreciate you joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

I have always loved reading and a good story. I tried my hand at writing a novel and then articles but still couldn’t find my niche. Then, I attended a Screenwriter’s Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico—my life changed. I discovered the art of screenwriting, and I have never looked back.

But from there, the journey was only beginning. There weren’t many online classes then, and I still worked full-time in the corporate world. I read many informative “How To” books by many of the industry’s greats, and I would read screenplays—lots of screenplays. Eventually, I found ScreenwritingU and have been able to hone my skills.

The books and the classes helped me to understand the craft of screenwriting, but I still needed to find my “voice” as a writer and discover my brand – I did – thrillers – thrillers of all kinds. Thrillers allow for mystery, suspense, and intrigue. And that’s where my ideas start – “What if…” I love to take something and twist it with a “what if” this happens or that happens.

From there, it is a matter of understanding the concept, building out characters, and creating a solid outline. For film, I prefer a four-act structure, and for TV, I follow a five-act structure.

The fun thing about thrillers is that I build in cliffhangers or twists and turns to keep the audience hooked on what comes next. I spend weeks on the outline and months writing to get a strong screenplay that I am ready to send out for review and market.

Understanding my market is key—who is producing films in the vein I write, what budget do they usually produce in, and is my project a good fit. Then, I send out queries, look to build relationships, and have a film produced.

CJ, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When I left the corporate world, I threw myself into learning screenwriting. The visual medium resonated with me. Telling a story visually is really true—you show what the characters are doing or feeling—don’t tell. How fun is that! I loved the challenge.

I specialize in thrillers for a couple of reasons. I love building mystery, suspense, and intrigue into my stories, and I like that a good movie will transport you to another world. I can transport my audience to another time or place, taking them away from their daily lives, if only for a little while.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One thing I have learned as a screenwriter is patience and resilience. Overnight success is 20 years in the making. I have been fortunate to have won awards for my writing and received “Recommendations” from outside consultants, which has led to my work being optioned several times.

As I said, resilience is necessary in the film industry. Not only is it hard for producers to raise the funds and sign the talent to get your film made. Over the past few years, the challenge has been compounded by COVID-19, which shut the industry down and impacted me as the producers retrenched.

As the industry recovered from COVID, it was back to the market to find a producer. Then, the industry was set back due to the strikes. Several producers and professionals have since left the industry, and the latest rounds of fire in L.A. have further challenged the entertainment industry.

Finding the right partner to get a film made is always a challenge, but resilience to keep coming back is key. There are a lot of “no thanks” along the road to the elusive “Yes, we’d love to work with you. I will keep going for that “Yes!”

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My reputation is built on my creativity, my ability to think outside the box for new ideas, and my willingness to collaborate with other industry professionals.

Staying true to my brand—writing thrillers—helps the industry know me and what I can bring to the table. Being open to suggestions for changes is key. Sometimes, a scene will need to be rewritten due to limitations like budget or scheduling. Being adaptive adds to my reputation as someone who will get the writing done.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cjknapp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjknapp11/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cj.knapp.56
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-knapp-316a4a1/
• Twitter: https://x.com/CjKnapp11