Christopher D. Ford is “Robot & Frank’s” screenwriter, the 2012 Sundance Winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. He’s previously written short films and television series; “Robot & Frank” is his first feature.

DFI: What inspired you about writing a film about a thief and a robot?
Ford: It’s about the robot, the robot and the old man. I knew they had to have a project together. I was looking for a job that you’d retire from, something kind of cool like an international chef and I realised that this is going to be boring. I decided to go all the way and make him a cat burglar, which would definitely be interesting to watch. At first it was kind of a joke that I would do that. When I had a look at it, it created so many situations with his family and many problems came out of that.
At some point, we want the robot to come back to life and wake back up at the same time he’s doing something illegal and wrong. There’ more tension in that.

DFI: Someone mentioned in a comment that the film is like teaching your grandfather how to use a smartphone. Is that your vision of the future?
Ford: It’s kind of my vision of the present. Everyone of our age kind of relates to trying to show a parent or someone how to do something on the computer. So I pictured someone of our age living in the future, now we’re elderly and it’s happening to us. We don’t know how to work this robot and it kind of freaks us out. Then our kids are frustrated so we’re getting a taste of our medicine.

DFI: How did you work on the film with director Jake Schreier? What was your involvement during the shoot?
Ford: Jake very kindly allowed me to come to the set every day, and we’re all friends so I was really collaborative. I was lucky and I got to keep an eye on what he’s trying to make, there’s so much to think about when you’re directing, so many elements. So I was making sure that we’re telling the story exactly as it should. It was very helpful.

DFI: Was it different to work on a feature than your past works?
Ford: It was harder all around; it was longer and challenging to hold what you had to do in your head… 114 pages of a script. We just had to rely on each other more to make the whole work or else we wouldn’t do it right.

DFI: Are you currently working on any new scripts?
Ford: I am working on a script for Jake to direct. It’s another kind of science fiction and concept. It’s a small indie movie about a character, about relationships, and real human stuff with a science fiction element in there.

DFI: What script do you consider the best ever written?
Ford: That’s a hard one. Scripts are a weird format; it’s not a finished thing, it’s more like a blue print. I don’t know if a bad script could be a good movie, but a good script could be a bad movie. The stock answer to your question answer is Casablanca. I also like all the scripts by Charlie Kaufman ; he’s one of my favourite screenwriters.

DFI: What challenges do you face as a screenwriter?
Ford: The hardest thing is that you have a blank page; you’re just kind of trying from scratch. Even though the screenplay is easier than a novel for instance, it’s impossible to hold the whole thing in your head at one time. You have to break it up in pieces and to make sure that each piece is perfect. And you hope when it’s shot, that it all works. But there’s no guarantee until you’re out there shooting it.

DFI: What do you want to say to young filmmakers who want to specialise in screenwriting?
Ford: Write a lot, just keep going. What’s tricky and hard about screenwriting is that you can write a bunch by yourself but you still haven’t quite done the full experience. You need to write and then you need someone to go make it. So that you know when you write a scene saying ‘we’ll figure it out later’, when you shoot it’s a disaster. Just to do that over and over and over.

DFI: Any tips for our audiences in the way to approach the screening of “Robot & Frank”?
Ford: Just believe in the robot. Believe the robot is real. Listen to Frank Langella, let him hypnotise you through the movie because he’s really good.

The film is screening in Katara DFI cinema. For screening times and booking information, please visit here.