Line Rainville, a writer from Quebec, Canada, was called upon to adapt her novel on
Indigenous culture, which she knows well, into a TV series. She dreams of writing a sci-fi
series. Cargo is the pilot of Alpha Centauri, her first sci-fi TV series. Meteor is the pilot of
Promethium 2122, a work co-written with Franco.
Franco Pirrone, an Italian software developer and martial artist, grew up with science fiction.
Since the early 70s, he had the good fortune to witness the golden age of classic science
fiction movies and series. He loves to delve into technology and study space exploration
missions. Meteor is the pilot of Promethium 2122.
Hi Line and Franco, nice to meet you and thanks for granting us this interview.
Franco, how was born your passion for the world of cinema?
Franco: I was a kid when the national TV broadcasted the “Monday evening movie.” Quality movies are introduced by the speech of an expert. That was the start of a passion.
Line, what was your first story?
Line: A novel, under the title of Saisons Atikamekw, that was published in Quebec, Canada. I worked as a screenwriter to adapt it into a TV series for a Canadian producer.
Franco, what inspired you to become a screenwriter?
Franco: It was a strong need to express creativity and a love for good writing. Words can create beautiful, elegant sentences, emotions, and amazing worlds. I was exploring that in my mind before sleeping, for years. It was a sort of meditation for me. Intense dialogues, contrasts, and beautiful adventures came out of my mind and disappeared in the morning to reappear the following night in a creative journey. It was when I met my co-author that she recognized a seed that could germinate and spurred me she taught me to write in a structured way. I am very grateful to her for that.
Line, can you share a memorable moment from your career that had a significant impact on your growth as a screenwriter?
Line: I applied for an intense screenwriting training program where I had to present a pitching document, a script sample, and a fully dialogued script to qualify. I succeeded in qualifying, which had a significant impact on me. It gave me a critical view of my writing and encouraged me to improve. I learned a lot from this training program, and I am still grateful for the experience and all the people I met there.
Line, it is increasingly difficult to create something original. Where do you get your inspirations from?
Line: I draw my inspiration from my co-author, Franco, who provides me with numerous creative ideas. He is a treasure trove of resources to me, fuelling my imagination. I have discovered in his mind an endless wealth of interesting paths that I thoroughly enjoy exploring with him.
Do you have any specific habits that help you get into a creative mindset?
Line: I enjoy surrounding myself with various pictures, drawings, or objects that inspire me and are related to the story I am currently writing. My writing routine involves waking up very early, sometimes in the middle of the night, and settling in front of the computer with a cup of coffee and a bottle of water. I then ease into my writing process by selecting the story that interests me the most from the ones I am working on. If there is a lot of writing to be done, I can stay at it for many hours.
Franco, what do you think about the AI applied on the field of the screenwriting?
Franco: Well, the AI does not create the art, the emotion. The AI in screenwriting is more an Article aggregator that will not credit the sources. Having access to billion of articles, stories, synopsis, drafts, screenplays the AI Bots will get them, process them and provide as new creations. So applied to screenwriting the AI is almost stealing other people intellectual property. I hope there will be more soon more awareness on this technology and a more stringent regulation.
Line, what advice would you give an aspiring screenwriter?
Line: My advice is simple: write. Write a little bit every day, just a few sentences. Let yourself dream and enjoy the writing process. Allow the creation to build within you, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes or to start over. Rewriting is a natural part of the process, so don’t be afraid to erase and start again. When you receive feedback, don’t take it personally or judge those who criticize your work. Instead, use it to grow and improve. Let your craft develop and follow it wherever it takes you. Once you have created something, it will take on a life of its own. Treat it like a child and be there for it as it grows. In the end, your work will become bigger than you, and it will give back to you. Be proud of what you have accomplished.
Tell us about « Meteor ».
Line: “Meteor” is a collaborative work, born from the minds of two individuals who share a common vision and direction. It is a story that was written in unison, with a single voice and a unique perspective. For me, “Meteor” represents the rare chance to co-write with a kindred spirit and to create something truly special. This pilot episode of a passionate space drama and horror story results from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with someone who shares my creative vision.
What are your future projects?
We are developing several projects at different stages. We dream of being the screenwriters for at least one of our projects. We love science fiction, specifically all that is related to space. We are also developing intense psychological suspense and docudrama.
Any final thoughts at the end of this interview?
We think that your festival is very exciting. We enjoyed being part of it with different projects and will continue participating. Thank you so much for letting us talk about our work here.
RFA