Meet Chris Pittas | Screenwriter & Script Consultant

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

Hi Chris, why did you pursue a creative career?
Short answer: I had no choice.

I’m not stupid (at least I’m pretty sure I’m not) but I never did good in school. Or well. This was in large part due to a portion of my brian being dedicated to coping with a succession of serious traumas during the first couple decades of my life (abuse, violence, self-harm, we can get into details over drinks sometime). Traditional, safe, “normal” paths to success, like getting a degree and finding a stable, comfortable career, were not an option.

Still far from rich or even financially stable, I can hardly say what it takes to be “successful” in the arts, but I know that for some of us, our pursuit of a career in the arts is an existential calling, not a choice.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since the only things I was good at was art, music and writing, which obviously no human can ever make money doing (because all art, movies, music etc. is made by magic elves in a fictional place called “Hollywood”), I resigned myself to surviving in the service industry. After decades of trying to convince myself that that would be enough, I had an epiphany/breakdown and realized the arts, like the CIA, Mafia or a cursed amulet, are something you can never truly get away from (you can run, but you can’t hide).

At rock bottom, I started writing again, focusing on screenwriting. With a work ethic I’d develop through years in the trenches at bars and restaurants, the stories I’d waited years to tell came pouring out. I wrote and produced short films, and worked on larger projects. Gaining recognition for my screenplays through major contests inspired me to go further. My thriller feature script “Scorpions” won awards, which got me work as a consultant and writer for other features and shorts. Reengaging in the arts through writing began a virtuous cycle of creative productivity, leading me back into fine art, and even music, forming a Hardcore Punk band (for the first time in 20+ years), “Total Failure”.

The punk ethos is burned into my identity. Turning pain, failure, horror and chaotic absurdity into art, that will entertain while challenging and changing perspectives, is always my intent, whatever the medium.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’ll start at legendary rock-n-roll-dive-turned-craft-cocktail-bar-turned-dive-again, Powerhouse, for happy hour. Since I just landed some big deal and money is no object, we’ll pop over to Jumbo’s Clown Room for a bit to throw a few hundred bucks at the lovely ladies. After that we’ll catch some death metal bands at Knucklehead, after grabbing the best damn Korean fried chicken sandwich in Hollywood at Jesse Boy next door. If it’s Saturday, we’ll stop by Bar Sinister for last call and hang out with my favorite bartender in the world, Kate, then head to an after-hours at [undisclosed location]. By noon you should be recovered enough (if not still up) to head over to cinematically historic Formosa Cafe for dim sum brunch and cucumber marys.

Around Hollywood we’ll contemplate our mortality at Museum of Death, enjoy life at Trejo’s Tacos and catch a movie at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Downtown, we’ll check out some sick street art at Beyond The Streets gallery and catch local and touring punk bands at First Street Pool Hall and Slipper Clutch. We can grab a roast beef (or lamb or pork) dip sandwich at Cole’s, cheap drinks at The Golden Gopher go across the street for the rooftop cocktails with a stunning view at Freehand and… hey keep up! We’ve only done Hollywood and DTLA! We still have the whole West Side to do! Not to mention Koreatown, LBC, Silverlake… How long are you staying for again?

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?
Massive shoutout to my sister Pilar Alessandra for encouraging me to write when I was at my lowest, and teaching me the ropes of screenwriting; my wife Christine and my dog Sheila for their love and support; and to all the great artists, filmmakers, musicians and creatives of every kind that can’t help but do this insane work one way or another.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Chris_Pittas