Chris Pittas is making waves in the screenwriting circuit, most recently with his thriller feature Scorpions which has garnered him placements in various prestigious contests and fellowships. He also made a short called Art Kills, and is currently in pre-production for his indie feature called Scars. We caught up with him to discuss his strategy in building a screenwriting career.

Scorpions is a film about “bad mothers going off and doing what they want, make really bad choices, and be the anti-hero(one),” is curiously the stuff the film community is seeking.

Chris cut his screenwriting teeth writing shorts and TV pilots. He also wrote numerous plays through college. Scorpions is the first feature he wrote. Like all good stories, writing what you know was the mantra he worked by. “It’s personal. It was based on my mother and me.”

What if we were the absolute worst versions of ourselves?

Fortunately, Pittas clarified that many events in Scorpions were fictitious – neither has killed anyone or anything as of yet. “Almost all the scenes that weren’t a crime, were based on real life,” he added. Writing an anti-aspirational, anti-heroic script was an authentic way to deal with his childhood trauma. It speaks to a truth. “Mothers don’t have to be morally upright people.” Scorpions was his way of processing unresolved issues. Fortunately, they made progress in reconciling some of their issues. Curiously, mama Pittas was a devout feminist and one the few females accepted into Harvard Law School.

Chris fictionalized the truth in his story by drawing upon other films such as The Grifters. However, he describes his key writing influences as coming from the Coen brothers and David Lynch – “people who live in the dark and the funny.”

Pittas hesitated to define his screenwriting style. It boils down to the more scripts you write, the more you hone your screenwriting voice. “Defining my brand feels weird to me,” he confessed. It starts with defining your preferred genre. “It’s about finding who you are within that. What do you keep coming back to?” It’s more than just defining your tastes. Paradoxically, he likes comedy, but doesn’t watch a lot of it. He uses comedy to break the tension in the dark, intense moments in horrors and thrillers. It’s no so much that he loves some of those terrifying moments, but asking himself why he found them funny in the first place.

On a broader level, Chris explores themes of right and wrong and nature versus nurture. Are people born bad or do they become that way? “Are narcissists responsible for their actions or are they just go-getters?” These are questions that Chris keeps revisiting.

Pittas normally works with script consultants and sends out pages for feedback. “Scorpions was different. Because it was such a personal story, it poured out of me in three weeks.”

Typical notes refer to ensuring that screenplays adhere to standard industry format. Didactic notes that slavishly adhere to guru talk, such as an act break having to occur on a certain page are rarely helpful.

Character motivation is a common source of feedback for Pittas. This is more helpful feedback because it demonstrates that something that is clear in his mind is not so clear in the reader’s. It’s also actionable.

He tests the viability of his scripts by entering them in reputable screenwriting competitions. He also recommends getting the additional feedback if it’s available. “A lot of feedback is conjecture and opinion, but some of it is actionable.” There’s a skill required in delineating the two. Then he reworks his screenplays and sends them to more competitions to measure the subsequent improvement. The industry is small and readers often discuss scripts that made an impact on them. Networking and getting your work out there is essential. “Anyone you meet can potentially help you with your career.” He also mentions the value of social media to establish and maintain industry connections. “Twitter amplifies your signal to other executives and boosts your visibility.” Attending festivals is also helpful. “You’re constantly practising and fine-tuning your pitch.”

There’s also value in letting scripts lay idle for a few months and returning to them with fresh eyes and an improved writer.

What Is Success?

Chris Pittas has recently “levelled up” and secured literary representation. Scorpions caught the attention of one manager who couldn’t immediately sign him, so he referred him to his current management. Is management a career goal? Only insomuch as it opens doorways to get your movies made. Agents and managers are certainly helpful, but some successful screenwriters only engage them once they become established and need them to make deals. “Representation isn’t the goal. It’s a tool to get you to the goal.”

Landing representation is a veritable milestone in anyone’s screenwriting career. The next goal in Chris’ career strategy was getting paid. All the work you put in improves your craft, so huge pay checks are reasonable to expect in time. “My goal is to make my living from my writing.”

“I see career strategy as panning for gold. It’s not a lottery and it’s not a typical competition.” The best scripts don’t always gain the most traction. “It’s also a combination of skill and luck.” That’s why it’s so important to be in the places most likely to be attracted to your work.

Pittas also advises against collaboration in the early stages of your writing career. These are your formative writing years when you’re experimenting and developing your style, so collaborating too early can inhibit the process. Early collaboration can also deflect or diffuse your ideas. “Trust and believe in your ideas without interference.” Later on, you might become part of a single creative mind and work with multiple writers.

Screenwriters, especially TV writers, don’t normally need to worry about elaborate bibles and pitch decks unless they are in sales negotiations. By all means, writers should have an idea of possible episode and season ideas to test the viability and longevity of their project. Writers should focus most of their time on writing. “Bibles and decks are marketing devices more useful to producers than writers.”

Chris currently has three active projects in development. “Scorpions is optioned. I also have two hour-long pilots being reviewed by my management.” Management notes differ slightly from screenplay feedback, although there can be overlap. Managers can request a pass aimed at specific producers or other talent to aid the packaging process. He also has three other features and two other pilots in the pipeline.

Pittas has aspirations for his career. “I’d like to be a showrunner in fiver years. I’d like to be a creator or co-creator on a TV series.” He’d also like to direct the occasional feature during his spare time. “I’d like to eventually become Ridley Scott and do whatever I want artistically and leave my mark on the world.“