As a child growing up in the Chicago area, Joseph Anthony Francis loved the holiday tradition of his family driving through the snow-covered neighborhoods to view the Christmas light displays in people’s front yards. It’s no wonder, then, that as a writer, Francis always takes his audience for a ride they will never forget. Whether a heartwarming Christmas story or a compelling family saga, the work of Joseph Anthony Francis offers his audience the opportunity to get to know colorful characters in compelling conflicts.
From an early age, Francis enjoyed traveling to places far and wide by reading books from a diverse range of authors. However, no author had more influence on him than Charles Dickens, the author of classic works like Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and David Copperfield.
“Think about how cool it would be to leave behind a legacy of characters like Dickens did,” Francis stated. “Pip, Oliver Twist, Miss Havisham, Scrooge, Madame Defarge, Tiny Tim, Uriah Heep — these are names everyone recognizes, even if they don’t exactly remember the books they’re from.”
Known by some as “Screenwriter Joe,” Francis works to create unique characters in each of his works so that his stories are character-driven. “Some of Dickens’s best characters are his supporting ones. He surrounds the leads with quirky, unique characters with whom the reader connects. In that spirit, I try to create supporting characters of my own that not only play well off my lead characters but add layers and dimension to the overall story.”
Francis’s first Christmas film, Dash Away All, is currently in pre-production in Canada. It’s the heartwarming story of a country singer named Kelly Anderson who meets and falls in love with Connor Jamison while she’s a guest at his family’s inn. “It’s hardly love at first sight,” Francis teased. “They have to overcome quite a few obstacles, including grappling with their pasts, before they can move forward together.” In addition to the main couple, the screenplay features several supporting characters who have their own holiday adventure.
Similarly, his screenplays Sexy Santas, Yuletide Reunion, and Christmas Conundrum showcase characters that experience the joyful, and sometimes melancholy, emotions associated with the holiday season. It’s common for Francis’s holiday projects to feature multigenerational characters. “Christmas is about honoring traditions of the past and developing new traditions for the future,” Francis explained. “At that special time of year, families gather together to celebrate their loved ones, including those no longer with them. It’s appropriate and necessary to feature characters of different generations in our holiday storytelling.”
The importance of well-developed, memorable characters isn’t the only lesson Francis learned from Dickens. He also learned the importance of well-crafted cliffhangers. Because Dickens’s novels were released in installments, each ended with a cliffhanger to keep the readers coming back for more.
Soap operas and primetime serials employ the same technique to keep their viewers hooked.
Some of Screenwriter Joe’s fans have called him the “King of the Cliffhanger,” a moniker Franics embraces with pride. “To me, that nickname is a great honor. I love keeping audiences on the edge of their seats wondering what will happen next as my stories unfold with more twists and turns.” While cliffhangers aren’t essential to telling the story in a Christmas movie, they are indispensable when writing a dramatic TV series.
Raised on serials such as Dynasty, Melrose Place, and Revenge, Francis loves writing family sagas and soapy dramas. “Those shows were binge-worthy before binge-watching was even possible. Back in the day, viewers had to wait an entire week to find out what happened next. Now, some series are released a season at a time, so the cliffhanger takes on a bit of a different role,” Francis said.
Francis has penned several dramatic series, such as Windy City, Cortland Parkway, and Blood & Betrayal, which he is currently pitching to networks, streaming services, and production companies. “With all the craziness going on in the world around us, these serials provide a much-needed escape. The diverse characters and tumultuous plotlines engage viewers in a fascinating way, allowing them to at least temporarily leave the day’s real-life drama behind them.”
Francis’s projects have been recognized with awards from film festivals all over the globe. Having earned over one hundred fifty writing awards, Screenwriter Joe remains grateful for each and every one of them. “People always ask me if certain award mean more than others. The reality is that I treasure each one because they represent people that I’ve never met recognizing and celebrating my writing.” Francis’s first writing award came during his senior year of college when the University of Notre Dame presented him with its most prestigious playwriting award.
Recently, Screenwriter Joe has also jumped into the world of vertical dramas. He has written several dramas for vertical apps like SaltyTV and Playlet, including the popular series Faux Fiancé.
Visit his website for more information about Joseph Anthony Francis, his projects, and his awards.
