An interview with talented award winning filmmaker Darren Burch.

What's your background? How long have you been writing/making movies?  And what made you choose to get into screenwriting/filmmaking?

I’m actually a first-time filmmaker at 63 years of age, having retired from a 30-year career with the Phoenix Police Department after serving four years in US Army Intelligence.

Upon retirement, I lived out a childhood dream of both writing a book (I wrote a true-crime trilogy based on many of my homicide investigations) and becoming a filmmaker by adapting one of the stories in the books into a short film to pitch to Hollywood as a feature film project.

I have always had a deep love affair with films, for as early as 5-years old, I would sneak out of bed late at night after my mom went to sleep to watch classic Universal Horror movies in the living room. And I never gave up on my boyhood dream of making a monster movie, which this true-crime story is certainly that - a real life monster story.

What screenwriting/filmmaking training have you received? And what were some of your biggest breakthroughs?

I purchased some screenplays and read several books on “How To Write a Screenplay”, but it was my decades of experience as a young man in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s making super-8 films that helped me the most in fulfilling my dream.  I had become very comfortable and skilled in the editing process of celluloid film, so much so that I found the digital evolution of filmmaking today is actually much easier and based on many of the same principles, but the film editing software of today is far more accommodating to make an elaborate film today.

What's the title of your script/film you entered, and what's it about?

Our short film, “In Monster’s Hands” is a true filmmaking collaboration between myself as the producer, author, and initial screenwriter and a seasoned director (half my age lol) Christopher Sheffield, who agreed to helm the book adaption with a major overhaul of my screenplay. He then directed my true-crime story with genuine care and dignity, as the story is a brutal one about a homicidal, sexual predator targeting elderly couples in brutal home invasions attacks.  The story is the true account of my two-year investigative journey across the country to bring this real life monster to justice.

Where do you look for inspiration and what inspired you to write this script?

My inspiration was the victims, Hazel and John Durnavich, whom I encountered first among a long list of victims across the country. There tormented last days haunted me well into my retirement and I wanted to tell their wonderful love story of a 60-plus year marriage that should not have ended violently by this monster.

I’m hoping that telling their story, along with the stories of the other victims, will help educate a community to the growing problem of violent crimes against the elderly, and in the process save lives.

What was your experience with our festival? What did you like most about your experience?

The festival was a family event for me, my wife (of 40 years), and our daughter along with our grandchildren, all drove together to Tucson and enjoyed the city attractions befire attending the festival.

Most of all, we enjoyed so many inspiring films that had a wholesome nature, which was a welcomed improvement from other festivals that weren’t as focused on family values.

Lastly,  I want to say, “Well done!” to the festival organizers, and heartfelt “THANK YOU” for screening our film and giving my family a most precious memory that we will never forget.

What are you working on now, what have been your biggest victories, and what do you plan on writing/producing in the near future?

I’m actually already in production of another short thriller film with a social message of importance, but this time, it’s a fictional account about the true medical condition of Sleep Paralysis Demon that is plaguing the nights of a police officer who is suffering from PTSD related Night Terrors, and who is also experiencing a horrific downward spiral during his days due to his addiction to alcohol.  It’s a lot to cover in a 14-minute film lol.

Any advice for those about to dive into their first feature-length screenplay?

As a novice myself, my only advice is to write about something that you know, and ensure it’s a story that gives meaning to your passion. For me, it was a story about a detective, who was guided out of the darkness of PTSD by the light of the Lord, and eventually was able to stop a homicidal, sexual predator.