We had the good fortune of connecting with David Barbeschi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Because I love storytelling! Before I could talk, I was thinking up scenarios when playing with my toy T-Rex and pitting it against my cow plushie to form what was – in my head – a clash of titans. Years later, I’d imagine sequels to Star Wars and Lord of the Rings with the help of action figures. That’s what got me interested in filmmaking and why I eventually decided to become a screenwriter; it’s a job that allows me to tap into that creative side to pour my emotions into a tale, then share those emotions with an audience.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a screenwriter. My job is taking my clients’ real life experiences and turning them into scripts. For both these and my own scripts, I draw inspiration from my international background, which allows me to combine the cultures I’ve been raised in to make scripts that reflect those values.

When I write, the characters I craft are, in some way, various facets of myself.
Lucky Jim from “Pawns” is the ‘big brother’ figure with a constant smile who tries to raise morale and cheers the troops. Eli from the script “White Crow” is a brother trying to be there for his sisters after being absent for a while. Harry, from “The Big Rant” is an immigrant working hard as a writer in Hollywood.
It was a bit of a journey to develop this style of writing because of my producing background. I used to think of screenwriting in terms of “what sells?” but the scripts that resulted from that mentality were lacking. My mentors taught me to write what I love. So I tried that on, for size. I wrote swashbuckling scripts and infused the characters with storytelling motifs that resonated with me… and I’m happy to say that this resulted in multiple award-winning and nominated screenplays!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the stops HAS to be Priscilla’s Coffee, baby! That’s where I have all my meetings, nowadays, their coffee is excellent and it puts any clients I meet with in a great mood. Same for Porto’s Bakery, they make the best scones you’ve ever tasted.

Hangout-wise, the Warner Bros Studio Tour is always a fun time, and cruising through Downtown Burbank is a nice way to spend the afternoon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s just so many people whose input and help got me to this point. When I was younger, I liked to imagine that I’d have a list of ten people that I could thank when I won an award, but I’m realizing more and more that on that day, the signature music cue will play me off before I even get halfway through the list! So be it the personal relationships such as the ones with my family and friends, or the professional relationships, sometimes both (looking at you, my dear mentors from the New York Film Academy and fellow screenwriter friends!)… all these bonds have shaped me, helped me grow, learn and improve. Thus, I’m grateful to them for any success my screenplays or films garner, and any opportunity I receive, because it’s never just “my” success, it’s the result of what I’ve learned via these bonds.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yatra_film/

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8198477/

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