Eric Glawe Distills Prohibition Era Gold

Eric Glawe is an accomplished and prolific screenwriter based in Long Beach CA. He writes across several genres, but leans towards fantasy and history-based projects. His historical one-hour dramatic TV pilot, Gin Mill, took top prize in Filmmatic's Season 9 TV Pilot competition. Some insight into a busy and talented screenwriter below.

1) How long have you been writing Eric?

I have been writing formally and professionally since 2013. However, I’m sure as many have

said before me, I wrote short plays when I was a kid. My neighborhood friends and I would

perform them in the basement and in my garage during the summer. That’s a big reason

why I became an actor before being a screenwriter.

2) What screenwriting training have you received?

Back in 2013, I took a Summer Session program at UCLA which paved the way for me to

apply for their MFA program. In 2015 I was honored to be accepted into the MFA

Screenwriting Program at UCLA and I graduated in 2017. My background in theater and

acting started me with some very loose training in character study and plot as well and I am

currently part of a writers group that helps me continue to hone my craft through notes and

feedback.

3) What writing habits work for you? Do you write in short or long shifts, at scheduled

times?

I write during my lunch breaks at my current job, which is usually about 45min to an hour.

On my regular days off I write for longer shifts which can be anywhere from 3-7 hours,

depending on my stamina for the day and how much my day job has taken out of me. I also

think a lot about my ideas and story arcs throughout the day so that when I sit down to write

it is simpler to transfer my thoughts into my outline and/or pages.

4) What is your current day job, and how does it influence your writing & project choices?

I currently work in Operations and Creative Visual Merchandising at Tiffany and Co. I’ve

come up with original ideas based on my day to day that are relevant, fun and full of drama!

Working with and encountering many different types of people on a day-to-day basis colors

my awareness of people to create some fleshed out and faceted characters and situations.

Not only that, my day job fuels me to keep going and push forward to apply for and find a

position in the film industry.

5) Our judges loved your edgy one-hour TV drama "Gin Mill", how would you describe the

project to our readers?

I’d describe “Gin Mill” as a Prohibition Era drama based in Chicago about an angsty young

man who has fled from his life in a small farming suburb and in order to survive and make

some sort of mark in the world, has taken up with the Irish North Side Gang. It’s a bit of

Boardwalk Empire and Peaky Blinders mixed with dysfunctional family drama elements of

August: Osage County.

6) How did you form the concept for "Gin Mill"?

A few years ago, I went back home to Chicago to celebrate a family milestone birthday. I

was catching up with my Aunt and reminiscing about my Grandpa Carl (her father) who

died about ten years prior. I have a lot of fond memories about my Grandpa and since he

grew up on a farm in Northern Illinois, wanted to write some sort of script about farmers.

Knowing that the idea would probably be more sleep-inducing than anything, I mentioned it

to my Aunt and she told me a story. My Grandpa had told her that when he was growing up

on the farm, his father would constantly tell him to stay away from the neighboring farm.

Eventually my Grandpa asked why and was told it was because the neighboring farm

distilled alcohol for the Chicago Mob. I felt like that was it! To incorporate a Mob Story,

focusing on the Irish with the Italians in the background, and mix it with the story of a

dysfunctional family drama.

7) What are you working on now? What do you plan on writing in the near future?

I just finished a Christmas Movie Script that I am revising and getting feedback on to share

with directors and producers. In the near future I plan on beginning a horror/thriller feature

and also begin outlining my dark comedy based on my experience in luxury retail.

8) Where would you like to be writing-wise, and industry career-wise, in 3 years?

I currently have an optioned screenplay about the life of Disney concept artist Mary Blair

called “Small World”, which is very dear to me, that will hopefully be in the production or

post-production phase. I would also love to have a manager and/or agent, be working on

more of my own work and writing on a TV series.

9) Any advice for those about to write their first TV project?

Watch as much as you can and learn what is relevant and compelling right now. But also,

just as important, examine the TV series that are your favorites and use the “whys” to help

inform you on what it is you are passionate on and want to write about. Learn the structure

and the ways in which to keep your audience engaged but make it exciting for you and close

to your own delights.

Congratulations once again to screenwriter Eric Glawe, our Season 9 TV Pilot Awards Winner. All contact and script requests for Eric will be forwarded to his attention.