An interview with John Sankitts, Jr.!
As usual, I have been lucky enough to connect with some amazing creators out there, and I have to add yet another one to the mix! Say hello to John Sankitts, Jr. – writer, filmmaker, author, and more!
Hi John - thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who John Sankitts is.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer? I knew when I was in Film School in 2001 writing my own stories gave me a sense of individuality and protection from ridicule so writing scripts was my initiation into writing. But in 2008 when I wrote a piece for a magazine as an editorial submission, they loved the piece I wrote on a artist and offered me a job writing for their Music and Sports magazine named G.O.A.T magazine.
You have written Memoirs of an Island Boy and for G.O.A.T magazine. How did you develop the ideas for your stories? Which are your favorites? My father always spoke on his time on St. Croix Virgin Island as a small boy, he always recited them, they were funny. I wanted to immortalize his stories forever, so I took all his stories, embellished them a little for a more humorous impact and wrote the book. My favorite story is when he was running from the landlord land he trespassed on.
In addition to being an author you have also done some film work like Letter of Circumstance and now working on Paintings on the Wall.
Which projects were the most fun to develop? The Painting on the wall TV series is the most fun to develop.
Which were the most challenging? Paintings on the Wall, it’s a complicated TV Crim Drama series.
What are your plans long-term for your writing and other projects? I am currently researching for a comedy film. It’s a full feature 93 pages long. I’m stuck on page 12.
Do you have additional/different works in mind? Yes, I look to join a few film festivals, have a short film in mind about a Girl auditioning for a talent show but has no way of getting there on time. She finally does auditions in the restroom while a judge is currently using it! Funny sort.
As an author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my books. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your works? I use social media, I use the Airlines to see if they can offer my book on their planes. I also use word of mouth. I use Hootsuite that can post a link to my book on a schedule time every day to all social media platforms. I also join author groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, also Group Me Author groups.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into John Sankitts – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work? Hi I’m John and I’m your future Boss, welcome to the team. They will say, “Is that right?” I’ll respond with yes, let me show you why, and Ill quick play my trailer to my TV series…works sometimes…lol…In regards to the book, I always have a copy with me, it takes careful coordination, but if I see my objective going into a elevator , I will hand them the book and tell them, Its for you.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your completed works? Oh God no…once it’s done, it done as per day in a book. A screenplay though, well it has not done till you get an offer.
Where their ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include? For a book no. But for a screenplay, it’s had to place an idea because it usually leads to developing the idea and back story, more work, and may change the course of the narrative.
I have an 8 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to carve out your ideas? Usually believe it or not Ideas come to me right before I actually about fall asleep, sometimes I get ideas in my sleep and if I’m somehow able to wake up I jot it down and in the mornings I attend tot it.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind? When I look at my bank account and it says “you have .45cents available.” That’s when I say, I need to get this writing done. But mostly its spontaneous, especially if ‘m looking at a movie and get an idea.
Find John Sankitts on his linkedin profile! https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsanki...
Hi John - thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who John Sankitts is.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer? I knew when I was in Film School in 2001 writing my own stories gave me a sense of individuality and protection from ridicule so writing scripts was my initiation into writing. But in 2008 when I wrote a piece for a magazine as an editorial submission, they loved the piece I wrote on a artist and offered me a job writing for their Music and Sports magazine named G.O.A.T magazine.
You have written Memoirs of an Island Boy and for G.O.A.T magazine. How did you develop the ideas for your stories? Which are your favorites? My father always spoke on his time on St. Croix Virgin Island as a small boy, he always recited them, they were funny. I wanted to immortalize his stories forever, so I took all his stories, embellished them a little for a more humorous impact and wrote the book. My favorite story is when he was running from the landlord land he trespassed on.
In addition to being an author you have also done some film work like Letter of Circumstance and now working on Paintings on the Wall.
Which projects were the most fun to develop? The Painting on the wall TV series is the most fun to develop.
Which were the most challenging? Paintings on the Wall, it’s a complicated TV Crim Drama series.
What are your plans long-term for your writing and other projects? I am currently researching for a comedy film. It’s a full feature 93 pages long. I’m stuck on page 12.
Do you have additional/different works in mind? Yes, I look to join a few film festivals, have a short film in mind about a Girl auditioning for a talent show but has no way of getting there on time. She finally does auditions in the restroom while a judge is currently using it! Funny sort.
As an author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my books. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for your works? I use social media, I use the Airlines to see if they can offer my book on their planes. I also use word of mouth. I use Hootsuite that can post a link to my book on a schedule time every day to all social media platforms. I also join author groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, also Group Me Author groups.
This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into John Sankitts – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work? Hi I’m John and I’m your future Boss, welcome to the team. They will say, “Is that right?” I’ll respond with yes, let me show you why, and Ill quick play my trailer to my TV series…works sometimes…lol…In regards to the book, I always have a copy with me, it takes careful coordination, but if I see my objective going into a elevator , I will hand them the book and tell them, Its for you.
As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. Is there anything you would go back and change in your completed works? Oh God no…once it’s done, it done as per day in a book. A screenplay though, well it has not done till you get an offer.
Where their ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include? For a book no. But for a screenplay, it’s had to place an idea because it usually leads to developing the idea and back story, more work, and may change the course of the narrative.
I have an 8 year old son, and structuring time around him can be challenging! I’ve lost count of the times he nearly pressed the delete button on something I was working on…how do you find time to carve out your ideas? Usually believe it or not Ideas come to me right before I actually about fall asleep, sometimes I get ideas in my sleep and if I’m somehow able to wake up I jot it down and in the mornings I attend tot it.
Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind? When I look at my bank account and it says “you have .45cents available.” That’s when I say, I need to get this writing done. But mostly its spontaneous, especially if ‘m looking at a movie and get an idea.
Find John Sankitts on his linkedin profile! https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsanki...
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