Interview - Screenwriter Adam Stone

Adam Stone is the writer of HYDRA, a Hollywood Genre Action Screenplay Competition winning screenplay: After losing his brother in a failed mission, an ex-Navy Seal gets hired by an International Counter-Terrorism Agency to accidentally discover their ties to his loss, dirty agenda and becomes their worst nightmare.

We spoke with Adam about his background as a screenwriter.

How did you first become interested in writing?
I have always been a daydreamer and a storyteller. Twelve years ago, I decided to take control of my own destiny and began writing short films. Over time, that passion grew, leading me to create feature screenplays like Hydra and several others.

Years ago, when my employer—a major airline—organized a film festival, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to take a chance. I decided to give it a shot, and I’ve never looked back. In just 10 hours, I wrote a short film, surprising myself with how much I remembered from my BA in Arts, English Literature. Since then, I have written several short films for filmmakers, competitions, and even for myself to perform as an actor and fight choreographer.

Who or what inspired you to write this particular story?
I once had a daydream about meeting Stallone and working alongside him. He has always been my biggest inspiration and role model, especially after writing Rocky and creating his own luck. With him in mind, I wrote a short film that gradually evolved into the international concept Hydra.

Before I knew it, Hydra became a novel, and I’m now developing it as a TV series. The more I wrote, the more the story expanded. Its unique concept has the potential to open doors for future sequels with a global appeal.

What movies or filmmakers would you consider your greatest influences as a screenwriter?
As I mentioned before, Stallone has had a huge impact on my life—shaping my passion for fitness and film. Beyond him, the films of the '70s, '80s, and '90s played a key role in shaping my vision and fueling my early daydreams.

Directors like John Woo, Christopher Nolan, Antoine Fuqua, and Coppola, among others, deeply influenced how I see films on the page. There’s something about their visual style and storytelling that has always captivated my imagination.

How much planning and outlining went into your process of writing this script?
After a few failed attempts, I realized that planning and outlining are the key to finishing a screenplay smoothly. In one of my feature scripts, I hit roadblocks twice—once around page 45 and again at page 65. I had to step away from it for a few months, reassess, and carefully outline the story before successfully completing another action thriller.

Over time, I not only embraced outlining but also started to enjoy the process. Writing teachers like Eric Edson influenced the way I approach planning, and I’ve found great value in resources like Michael Hauge, Save The Cat, The Screenwriter’s Bible, and many others that have helped shape my craft.

What advice would you give to aspiring screenwriters who are working their first script?
I would tell them to write down their ideas and not be afraid to combine them or reshape them into something fresh and unique. I’d also emphasize the importance of planning—outlining the story, writing a treatment, a synopsis, and detailed character breakdowns whenever possible. The process may seem overwhelming at times, but nothing compares to the feeling of typing "Fade Out" and seeing that big, satisfied smile at the finish line.

For anyone interested, tell us a little more about yourself
I am also an actor and martial artist with a background in security, which has greatly influenced how I shape characters in my screenplays. This experience allows me to bring authenticity to action sequences, character motivations, and the physicality of their roles.

Congratulations to Adam Stone on his winning screenplay!