Tatchell & Jennewein Inspire Screenwriters

Guest post originally published on Vancouver Film School's Blog (Friday, November 4, 2011)

During the recent Writing for Film & Television Two-Weekend Intensive, VFS played host to two special guest speakers: alumna/Oscar nominee Terri Tatchell and Advisory Board member Jim Jennewein.  

The Two-Weekend Intensive was a chance for aspiring screenwriters to experience a barrage of screenwriting tools, techniques, and exercises.  Some attendees responded by saying “the instructors are wonderful” and that it “exceeded every possible expectation”.  We hope the weekends were the beginning of something much bigger for everyone involved. 

Guest Post by Paul Donnett

Even for students who’ve mortgaged an arm and a leg to come to Vancouver Film School, stuffing a Friday night with one more teacher, not matter how “wafer thin”, can be a tough sell.

Just ask writing department head Michael Baser, who could be found at any given time peeking around corners and classroom doors like Kilroy on the days that Hollywood screenwriter Jim Jennewein (October 21) and District 9 co-writer Terri Tatchell (October 28) came to town, inviting us to attend if at all possible.  I mean, honestly, what could these two tell us that we hadn’t already heard, in one class or another, every day since orientation?

But good speakers aren’t stupid, and neither (usually) are the ones that invite them.  (You’re welcome, Michael.)  Speaking plainly about some of the challenges writers face in the film industry, from writing high concept comedy that sells to navigating the Hollywood food chain just to get a script read, Mr. Jennewein clearly understood how to make his Friday night presentation worth our time.  With writing credits that include Major League 2, The Flintstones, and Richie Rich, Jennewein briefly reviewed the basics of story writing before moving into a dynamic discussion of the rules of comedy, why some comedies work and others don’t, and the importance of getting inside the heads and hearts of our audiences.

Academy Award nominee Terri Tatchell brought a profoundly human vibe to a presentation that was less lecture than conversation, this one with teacher Kat Montagu in an engaging exchange straight out of Inside the Actors Studio.  Opening up on the real-life balancing act of writer as parent, Tatchell also talked about projects past, present and future, including the upcoming adaptation of Amanda Hocking’s Trylle Trilogy and the full-length feature Chappie, currently in development with husband (and 3D Animation & Visual Effects grad) Neil Blomkamp (Elysium).

In her disarmingly down-to-earth manner, she somehow managed to make the ego-crushing work of writing and film production feel not only doable, but eminently worth it.  It was like sitting and having coffee with an old friend.  An old friend with an Oscar nod and a loft on Granville Island.  Sigh.  One day. 

In both cases, Jennewein’s and Tatchell’s, it wasn’t their information so much as their inspiration that made coming out worth it.  Even if we had heard some of it before (and we had), it was still hugely motivating to hear a fresh spin coming from experience in a world we’re all training madly to enter, while being encouraged to respect the needs and demands of our own humanity.  Next time a speaker comes to town, go if you can, even if you think it’s just “more of the same”.  There’s a good chance it won’t be, and you never know what lights might get turned on in the process!