Student screenwriters learn at L.A. expo
Friday, November 18, 2005
On Thurs, Nov. 10, Assistant Professor of Communications Jamey Durham and Professor of Theatre Jeff Barker accompanied six students to Screenwriting Expo 4, which was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Durham, who has an MFA in screenwriting, has written dozens of TV scripts, as well as four feature-length film scripts. He wants to continue to grow and learn as a writer. He first read about the screenwriting expo in Creative Screenwriting magazine.
Durham wanted the students in his screenwriting class to attend the expo because he thought it would be “an amazing opportunity for the students to hear firsthand from writers who are making movies that are shaping our culture.
“Film is the number one artistic influence on our culture, and L.A. is the center of that universe. To be a filmmaker, at some point you have to travel to this mecca,” said Durham.
Students Nicole Ubben, Vaughn Donahue, Amy Oelschlager, Kiera Fredericksen, Elayna Rice and Kailen Fleck attended the expo.
Over the course of three days, the expo offered 350 individual workshops, seminars and panels led by Oscar Award-winning screenwriters, as well as opportunities to pitch movie ideas to various producers, agents and managers.
Even though he is a theater professor, Barker was pleased to join the trip because he uses both playwriting and screenwriting books to teach his playwriting students at Northwestern.
“The two art forms are intertwined, albeit significant in their differences,” said Barker.
The students were excited to see some of their favorite writers and filmmakers speak at the expo. Among them were William Goldman (The Princess Bride), Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby), John August (Charlie’s Angels, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), David Koepp (Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds) and Joss Whedon (Toy Story).
“It was a great advantage to see a different angle of the film industry and hear from people who actually do that for a living,” said Fredericksen.
“I think we all benefited greatly from hearing the speakers and other screenwriters ask questions and discuss their professions openly and honestly. It inspired me to think about where my career in filmmaking might lead,” said Donahue.
By the time the expo was over on Sunday afternoon, the students had each gathered lots of information and left with plenty of notes and valuable tips.
“I can’t wait to apply the things I took away from the speakers. Since I’m so involved in film already here at NWC, I’m looking forward to using this new knowledge to further my abilities and hopefully produce better film,” said Donahue.
The group also got the opportunity to eat and visit with an actress and two teachers from the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, where Ubben, Oelschlager and Fredericksen plan on spending a semester next year taking classes and interning with a professional film company.
As the faculty and students reflect on their four short days in L.A., they continue to view it as a valuable experience that encouraged them to pursue their own writing projects.
As Durham said, “The most important part [of a movie] is the story. You can have the most amazing special effects, but if you don’t have a good story, you don’t have much of a film. You can shoot something in your backyard or garage and if you can tell a good story, you will have something special.”
Not only was the expo beneficial to students interested in screenwriting, but also to those with other interests.
“I want [the students] to be free to pursue what they are passionate about, whether it be screenwriting, filmmaking or being an elementary education teacher,” said Durham.
Donahue added, “If we took home anything from this trip, it was a greater respect for each other as screenwriters, artists, Christians and friends. It’s amazing what you can take away from those around you when you are more vulnerable, more out of your comfort zone than ever before.”
by Nicole Ubben
Published in the Nov. 18, 2005, Beacon and used with permission
Durham, who has an MFA in screenwriting, has written dozens of TV scripts, as well as four feature-length film scripts. He wants to continue to grow and learn as a writer. He first read about the screenwriting expo in Creative Screenwriting magazine.
Durham wanted the students in his screenwriting class to attend the expo because he thought it would be “an amazing opportunity for the students to hear firsthand from writers who are making movies that are shaping our culture.
“Film is the number one artistic influence on our culture, and L.A. is the center of that universe. To be a filmmaker, at some point you have to travel to this mecca,” said Durham.
Students Nicole Ubben, Vaughn Donahue, Amy Oelschlager, Kiera Fredericksen, Elayna Rice and Kailen Fleck attended the expo.
Over the course of three days, the expo offered 350 individual workshops, seminars and panels led by Oscar Award-winning screenwriters, as well as opportunities to pitch movie ideas to various producers, agents and managers.
Even though he is a theater professor, Barker was pleased to join the trip because he uses both playwriting and screenwriting books to teach his playwriting students at Northwestern.
“The two art forms are intertwined, albeit significant in their differences,” said Barker.
The students were excited to see some of their favorite writers and filmmakers speak at the expo. Among them were William Goldman (The Princess Bride), Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby), John August (Charlie’s Angels, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), David Koepp (Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds) and Joss Whedon (Toy Story).
“It was a great advantage to see a different angle of the film industry and hear from people who actually do that for a living,” said Fredericksen.
“I think we all benefited greatly from hearing the speakers and other screenwriters ask questions and discuss their professions openly and honestly. It inspired me to think about where my career in filmmaking might lead,” said Donahue.
By the time the expo was over on Sunday afternoon, the students had each gathered lots of information and left with plenty of notes and valuable tips.
“I can’t wait to apply the things I took away from the speakers. Since I’m so involved in film already here at NWC, I’m looking forward to using this new knowledge to further my abilities and hopefully produce better film,” said Donahue.
The group also got the opportunity to eat and visit with an actress and two teachers from the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, where Ubben, Oelschlager and Fredericksen plan on spending a semester next year taking classes and interning with a professional film company.
As the faculty and students reflect on their four short days in L.A., they continue to view it as a valuable experience that encouraged them to pursue their own writing projects.
As Durham said, “The most important part [of a movie] is the story. You can have the most amazing special effects, but if you don’t have a good story, you don’t have much of a film. You can shoot something in your backyard or garage and if you can tell a good story, you will have something special.”
Not only was the expo beneficial to students interested in screenwriting, but also to those with other interests.
“I want [the students] to be free to pursue what they are passionate about, whether it be screenwriting, filmmaking or being an elementary education teacher,” said Durham.
Donahue added, “If we took home anything from this trip, it was a greater respect for each other as screenwriters, artists, Christians and friends. It’s amazing what you can take away from those around you when you are more vulnerable, more out of your comfort zone than ever before.”
by Nicole Ubben
Published in the Nov. 18, 2005, Beacon and used with permission
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