We recently connected with Rudy Salas and have shared our conversation below.

Rudy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Overall, I am happy being an artist. However, that artistic happiness does not fall into place easily. I do acknowledge that being a true artist is a double-edged sword. The artistic realm is a habitat where people purge their emotions whether they are positive or negative. Some artists are tortured souls. These specific artists suffer from depression, anxiety, discomfort, etc. They must feel these negative emotions in order to purge them into their artistry and earn self-fulfilling accomplishments. Aforementioned, being a true artist is a double-edged sword.

A regular job is something that all artists need. Steady income and a schedule bring balance into an artist’s life. We all have the capabilities of being an artist with our creativity. However, we must also understand the parameters of reality within our lifestyles. In the long run, this sense of stability makes us better artists. A regular job schedule makes us prioritize our free time. That limited free time makes us create more impactful art we long to generate.

Rudy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

First and foremost, I am a screenwriter. The art of storytelling through written words is my craft. I find it fulfilling to have the ability to paint pictures with the words that seep from my imagination.

I am proud of my screenwriting because I am the sum of my influences along with my personal experiences. That combination generates my unique voice. The more I write, the more I see that.

I had a wild imagination as a child. The 1990s were my haven. The X-Men Animated Series would be blaring off the television screen. Alice in Chains would be seeping from boombox speakers. In my hands, I would have a Wolfman action figure square off against a Dracula action figure upon a backyard dirt mound. As I soaked in all of these influences, I was soon writing and drawing comic books in a tattered spiral notebook. I had stories about runaway mutants that battled monsters all to the tune of grunge music.

As I matured throughout the decades, so did my stories. Maturity gave me a perspective of the world and the art of storytelling. In my mid-twenties, I wrote Apples, a feature-length drama that revolves around a disfigured little girl who learns to accept herself while aiding her mutant friend to a night of normality on Halloween. That screenplay spawned from my experiences of being an outsider and my adoration for Marvel Comics’ X-Men. Later, I wrote Of Wolf and Man, a feature-length horror screenplay that centers on a young man with a mission for animal conservation is fused with a wolf after his affections blossom for the mad scientist’s daughter; now he must battle to retain his animalistic empathy and sense of humanity. The origin of that screenplay was rooted in my love of animals and the Universal Monster Films. Over time, I managed to create a portfolio of ten feature-length screenplays along with four short-length screenplays. All of them showcase the reverence of my influences and project my distinct voice as a screenwriter.

Aforementioned, I had a wild imagination as a child. I like to say that I still do.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

What drives my creative journey is building a bridge with an audience. The sense of relatability is what keeps me going. I want filmgoers, readers, and/or fellow artists to relate to the stories I convey. Empathy, sympathy, and relatability through art are real. I felt that when I saw Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky. I related to the underdog story of Rocky Balboa. I felt that when I saw James Cameron’s Aliens. I empathized with Ellen Ripley’s intent to overcome her fears, fight, and regain her sense of parental duty. I felt that when I saw Paul Verhoevan’s Robocop. I sympathized with Alex J. Murphy for returning from the dead and regaining his sense of humanity. All the emotions I have felt through art, I want to convey and garner with my own audiences now. I want my audience to know that they’re not alone in their struggles. I showcase that struggle and triumph through my storytelling.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Two writers that have impacted me are Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore. Their sense of character development, plot piecing, and world-building are superb. They have constantly conveyed what it means to have grounded and relatable characters that are bigger than life. I usually use a musical analogy to convey their influence upon me. I compare Alan Moore to the British Heavy Metal band, Motörhead. Neil Gaiman, I compare to the British Heavy Metal band, Iron Maiden. I want to be Metallica, an American Heavy Metal band influenced by Motörhead and Iron Maiden.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.phantomboom.com/
• Instagram: @rudyharlans
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rs.jd.5
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-h-salas/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RudyHarlanPhantomBoom
• Other: CoverFly Profile: https://writers.coverfly.com/profile/writer-af1b2c810-72509

Image Credits
Rodolfo Salas Lars Struck Patricia Chavez