We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vincent Edwards a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Vincent, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?
I would have to say, that would be Stephen King. One of the most masterful writers of horror and suspense.
I learned how to adapt to the characters that I was making up as I was writing them by reading his books. That not every story I wrote was going to end the way I thought it would and allowing my imagination to be free.
Mostly, I learned that even some of the greatest writers had their moments of wanting to give up. Where they ended up questioning themselves and thinking that they would never make it.
Listening to the story of how he began and how many times he was rejected by Publications. To think that one of the greatest writers of our time, the master of horror and suspends himself. Almost was never published let me know that the fight as a writer is a hard one but well worth it.
Vincent, 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?
I’m from South Jamaica Queens, New York City. Growing up, I never was really into writing except poetry. I mostly use poetry as my release to express myself. I was never really confident or expressive and writing gave me that outlet that boosted me and to speaking my thoughts.
My mother was very gifted in songwriting, poetry, and singing. Where I mostly thought I got my talent for writing. That was until I learned my grandfather. Was a literary professor at a college. He had a fondness for writing.
I found myself through the years. Growing from poetry, to novels, and falling in love with storytelling. It became an overwhelming passion. That I never wanted to stop.
A few years later after five novels. I found myself looking towards another challenge and wanting to write Scripts. Which is completely different from writing a novel and came with his own sets of challenges.
Once I was able to figure out things and how to structure Scripts. I wanted to share my knowledge because of how hard it was to find the information on how to write. I decided to come up with my own writing the society, call the Melanated Writer Society. It is a society of creative and masterful storytellers.
They are all script writers, and do a wonderful job as award-winning screenwriters. Such as myself.
This amazing talent was very much earned. By having so much disbelief in what I could do, I understand here today looking at what I have done. It was an amazing thing within itself.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I remember the first time started script writing. I didn’t much about how to structure a script. I remember joining film freeway and entering film contest for script writing.
There isn’t much information out there about script writing and how to do it without going to a film school to learn it.
So every time I did enter a script writing competition I lost. Not knowing that my structure was completely off. I started to think that my stories weren’t any good.
I had lost 19 straight times and wasn’t even selected once. Until one day one of the film festivals was kind enough to give me feedback. They let me know that the story was amazing but I didn’t know how to script right.
From that point on I spend day and night praying and learning anything I could about script writing. It was like God opened the door and showed me everything that I needed to see.
The very next time I enter the film festival. I made it to the semi-finalist in the frestigious Los Angeles Film Awards. And later found out I won honorary mention for best first time screenwriter.
I asked one of the coordinators of the festival if they could give me any direction on anything I did wrong. He had gave me wonderful feedback. From that moment on it led to me winning 77 Awards and script writing.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I truly want to be part of the independent films and television to win an Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe.
I want to really push and open that door for every one who wants to get into film and television. That isn’t in the Hollywood industry and still make their mark in film and television.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9931587/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/Thevincentedwards
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082536181267
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCp7JhpdWuFgHsotcGXcEx7Q
Image Credits
Vincent Edwards