Aspiring writers learn from Hollywood’s best at SBIFF
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A chance to learn Hollywood magic from the best in the biz. Aspiring writers and movie fans packed the Lobero Theatre to listen to a panel of those who write and direct what we see on the screen.
"Avengers: Endgame" writer Christopher Markus said, "Writing was clearly the driving force in our lives."
Educating and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers are among the goals of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The festival held a panel with writers from "Toy Story 4", "Little Women", "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood", "Avengers: Endgame" and "The Farewell".
Isaac Wright is from Santa Barbara and is trying to make it as a writer in Los Angeles. He said, "You know they've worked hard for years and they've done it on a big scale. And so I really want to come and get inspired by that. And what was their secret? How did they keep going even when they got their scripts rejected? Even when they got turned down, even when people said their ideas were not that good."
Young writers Isaac Wright and Julia Kupiec, who both have moved away from their hometown of Santa Barbara, came to pick the brains of some of their heroes, especially Greta Gerwig.
"Just heading about her process would be really great," said Kupiec. "Because it takes this one amazing incredible film, that we've all seen and seeing about how she actually went about creating it I think will maybe give me a little hope for what I can do in the future. You know, it's all a learning experience."
Oscar-nominee Gerwig said it was getting the screenplays from failed acting auditions that helped her writing process.
"It was this way on the page and then it became that way," said Gerwig from the stage. "I feel like I actually learned what is a screenplay that they say, 'yes you can make this movie,' by auctioning."
A common theme these powerhouse writers shared was hard work and collaborating with other like-minded people.
Your next chance to learn from a panel will be the women’s panel next Saturday morning. You can view the SBIFF program here.
The young director Kupiec premiered her film “Not For Sale” Sunday night at the Arlington. Both Wright and Kupiec said the SBIFF inspired them to chase their dreams in Los Angeles and New York City.
