Welcome to Writers' Room

​Writers’ Room is Rowan University’s very own screenwriting workshop for short films, features, and episodic series! Created by Cinema Workshop as a subsidiary for those interested in screenwriting, Writers’ Room is a place where people can table read scripts and give feedback, while also teaching the rules of screenwriting and storytelling, developing upon ideas of fellow writers and their projects, and giving a chance for members to act out a multitude of characters from these scripts. Ever since its creation, Writers’ Room has been one of the club’s longest running workshops.

I had the opportunity to meet up with the current co-runners of Writers’ Room, Brett Allen and Juliana (Jay) Oliveira, to ask them some questions concerning their experiences, histories, and personal favorite moments while being a part of Writers’ Room and seeing how it grew since they first joined.

What's your name, year, and major, and what initially led you to Writers' Room?

Brett: My name is Brett Allen. I’m a senior Radio, Television, and Film major, and I am one of the co-runners of Cinema Workshop’s Writers’ Room. 

To put into perspective, I’ve been part of Writers’ Room when it was temporarily called “Writers’ Zoom”. All jokes aside, it was my Freshman year that I joined both Cinema Workshop and tried to attend as many sessions of Writers’ Room as I possibly could. Then at the end of my Freshman year, I was elected as one of the new co-runners of Writers’ Room with my friend and alumni, Ethan Strohm. Ever since we started running Writers’ Room, the structure of it changed almost immediately. Whereas Writers’ Room prior was very casual on bringing in scripts and more focused on viewing television and film to study great writing, our Writers’ Room set bringing in scripts as a must, holding table reads and giving feedback. It wasn’t all there yet, but the soil was now laid out. 

After another election, I remained as one co-runner with a new one to work with, my friend (and also Ethan’s friend) and also alumni, Daniel Latch. Where the soil was first laid, Dan and I grew it together, setting into motion what Writers’ Room would be today; a well oiled machine manned by the folks that would bring in all their stories, talents, and ideas to the table. At the end of the year, we not only created a guidebook for future co-runners to follow and edit, but the election process for co-runners now became individual interviews, where the current co-runners and an E-Board member of Cinema Workshop chose a new co-runner instead. Since I still had one more year left, I had the pleasure of seeing this process through, and choosing my new co-runner, my friend (and not alumni yet!), Juliana Oliveira (or just Jay for short), the first Writing Arts co-runner of Writers’ Room. She has done nothing but carry that same talent and efficiency that Ethan and Dan brought to the table, and I can’t give her anything but praise. 

Today, Writers’ Room is vastly different from when it initially started, but it has definitely grown, and I have been more than honored to see it blossom into something greater in the three years I’ve been a co-runner.

Jay: My name is Juliana Oliveira (but everyone calls me Jay). I’m a sophomore Writing Arts major, Film and TV Studies minor, and I am one of the co-runners of Cinema Workshop’s Writers’ Room.

During the process of applying for college, I randomly came upon my desire to pursue a career in the film industry. At the time, I had no idea why or what I could do, but it was something that I just needed to try. I started out going to Cinema Workshop’s sister club, RTN (Radio Television Network), but I found that their projects didn’t quite align with my interests. 

It was there that I was first advertised to Cinema Workshop, and Writers’ Room by extension. I considered the possibility of a career in screenwriting; it combined two of my major interests at the time. But I had yet to actually gain experience in screenwriting. So, I started attending Writers’ Room. Being around all these wonderful creative people and seeing first hand how to pace and format scripts allowed me to enter the screenwriting landscape for the first time, and discover that it was just another genre with which I really enjoyed working. I have always been a writer, so I had simply found another skill to add to my toolbox. It just so happened that it was a skill that I really enjoyed using.
​
What does the creative process mean to you, and how has that connected with Writers’ Room?

Brett: For me, the creative process is a great love/hate relationship; you learn to hate what you love, and love what you hate. It’s a constant battle of questioning, re-drafting, throwing a multitude of ideas at the wall to see what sticks, what doesn’t, and what you want to rip off the wall and stomp into the ground. If there’s anything that this process has taught me about writing, it’s that nothing will work if you don’t work with yourself and with others. And that’s what first led me to join Writers’ Room during my Freshman year.

Jay: For me, the creative process is never the same, whether you’re comparing two people or two projects. Personally, I have never had the same creative process twice among all my projects. What I think is most important about the process, and something that I lacked in the early days as a writer, is a community aspect. Peer review is so beneficial for all creative work, and this is what drew me to Writers’ Room in the first place. I had heard of Cinema Workshop previously, but once I found out that they also hosted a writing workshop, I was hooked. I was in search of a place where writers could share their work and receive meaningful feedback, and Writers’ Room was just the place.

Do you have any particular moments that stand out to you since being in Writers’ Room? Why have they stuck?

Brett: One moment that has really stuck with me in Writers’ Room, and it’s something relatively recent, was getting a special guest to speak not only for Writers’ Room, but for Cinema Workshop in general. Over the summer, I created an account for this website named Stage 32; a social media/forum site that catered to sharing thoughts, ideas, and more about every bit of the film process. It’s a place that I made a multitude of great connections with, and one of those connections was Sabrina Parra, a self-employed script consultant that worked in the industry. During the late summer and into this past Fall semester, we discussed our pasts, why we decided to pursue screenwriting and script consulting, and then I told her about Writers’ Room and Cinema Workshop. I can’t underestimate how gracious she was in wanting to lend her time to call in for Cinema Workshop and give the members the opportunity to ask her anything about her career, the film industry, and what advice she had to offer. 

Although this was an event that happened more or less outside of Writers’ Room, it was still an event attached to Jay and me that we had the capability to carry out on our own and bring to the forefront of Cinema Workshop after months of preparation, coordination, and scheduling. It’s something that I don’t think I would have ever considered if I either didn’t take the route that I did, or never became an active participant and co-runner of Writers’ Room. Having Jay by my side for this event tremendously helped me out in alleviating pressure, with the reassurance that it would all go well with our questions prepared, are times aligned, and the members there to take in all that Sabrina Parra had to say. For me, knowing that outside of scripts, we’re able to make something like that happen, just showed me how much Writers’ Room has evolved and what more it can do outside of our meeting times.

Jay: At the end of my first semester as co-runner, I was able to sit at the front and dictate the ideas of the members as we wrote our group script. When I wasn’t typing, I was looking out to the room to see who was raising their hand, or who might have been thinking of an idea. Surprisingly, at some point, everyone had something to say. It was the kind of unity and community that makes Writers’ Room what it is, and it was almost cathartic to experience that first hand. There was no pressure, and everyone seemed to be having a good time doing something creative with the people they had bonded with throughout the semester. It’s the environment that I hope to be able to continue to foster during the remainder of my time as co-runner.

What is a script you’ve read in Writer’ Room that you haven’t gotten out of your head? Why?

Jay: We have seen the pilot episode of Blood Chronicle by Riley Murray go through several drafts in Writers’ Room, and although it’s been a while since I’ve had interest in a complex fantasy story, this particular script, introducing a fantastical world and the story of a young man becoming unwittingly involved in a plot to kill god, kept me hooked through every draft. I was excited to see it every time, curious about what feedback was taken and used, and what next steps might have possibly been taken. Riley has been one of our most avid attendees, and his dedication to both feedback and submissions is incredibly admirable. I hope to see the second episode of Blood Chronicle soon so that the story may continue. 

Additionally, I have to shout out Starchild by Grace Fox and Juliette Hunter. The very first Writers’ Room I attended was the week of Halloween during my freshman year, and because the projector wasn’t working, the hours were dedicated to helping Grace and Juliette brainstorm ideas for their script, in which the titular character traverses the universe in search of her mother, meeting friends and learning lessons along the way. That was when I realized that Writers’ Room wasn’t dedicated to the peer review part of the writing process; it could be so much more. I am proud to say that I was there to see that script being brainstormed, all the way through to its production. I watched it come to life through nearly every step, and I am so proud of everyone involved and the final result.

Brett: There have been many brilliant scripts brought into Writers’ Room over the years, and it’s truly hard to only choose one that’s stuck with me. If I’m permitted, I would like to highlight three pieces that have stood out to me during my tenure. 

The first piece that comes to mind is a short script called Cherry Sorbet (written by Daniel Latch), “…a young man who observes how death permeates life around him in order to face a critical juncture”. Aside from being set in only the walls of a convenience store, Daniel's greatest strength is subtlety, carefully laying out the interactions and events that occur in the store which reflect the protagonist’s unspoken turmoil throughout the story. It’s visually brilliant, and the characters that surround the protagonist are wonderfully written to stand out on their own and indirectly assist the protagonist to come to his decision. 

Next comes Starchild (written by Grace Fox and Juliette Hunter), about the inventive and curious Starchild who travels the stars in search for her mother, meeting new friends and enemies along the way. Before it was produced into the beautifully constructed puppetry feature for Cinema Workshop, it started out as an amalgamation of ideas on a whiteboard in Writers’ Room. In an odd sense, it was the first script that I really saw come to life in Writers’ Room, starting out as a string of ideas big and small, and later formed into the small, yet grandiose script which captured my attention not only for its inventiveness, but heart as well. 

Then finally, there is All the World’s a Stage (written by Devin Burton), an episodic series about the hijinks and missions of a theater company heist crew. Technically it was multiple scripts that Devin brought into Writers’ Room, but each episode exemplified great character writing, a consistent flow of action and comedy, accented by that small blend of discomfort and world building that took it all home. The show essentially became an insider part of Writers’ Room, where every instance someone asked what they missed in Devin’s newest installment, it would most likely be met with a, “you had to be there for it”. 

Even with these three scripts as highlights, I can’t stress enough how creative every member in Writers’ Room is. There’s no script left unturned or forgotten, and I know I’ll be checking in on the members of Writers’ Room and asking how far along they’ve come with their projects.

​
​What hopes do you have for Writers’ Room and for Cinema Workshop in the future? And how would you wanna go about the next step towards that?

Jay: As much as I love the way that Writers’ Room works now, I hope that in my final year, my new co-runner and I can implement some new practices to allow our members to get more personal attention, even if they aren’t writers or submitting scripts. Presentations are great, but it would be even better if we could put them into practice. Writers’ Room isn’t a class, but it is a workshop, and I feel as though the members should be able to come out of it with a new skill or new knowledge about screenwriting. 

As for Cinema Workshop, I definitely hope my new co-runner and I can create a more symbiotic relationship between Writers’ Room and CW. As a writing workshop, we could be so much more involved in the pre-production process, especially for the fests in the Fall semesters, so I’m hoping to figure out a way to better the process for those smaller productions.

Brett: If there’s anything that I would like to leave behind for Writers’ Room and Cinema Workshop, I would say to not give up on each other. Community, kinship, and kindness go a long way for people, and that’s what Writers’ Room and Cinema Workshop should be built on and uphold. I’ve had the privilege to be a co-runner for three years, and a Cinema Workshop member for four, and I can’t stress enough how the connections and friendships I’ve made along the way helped me realize the potential I have, as well as recognizing the potential others have as well. We’re all different in the ways we look, the ways we talk, the ways we think, and that’s something that everyone should embrace. Don’t cast each other aside and turn a blind eye to those who aren’t of the same mindset or experience. Without community, without people, there is no Writers’ Room, there is no Cinema Workshop, there is nothing. Cast out your lifebuoys and keep track of your crew; when a ship needs to make it back to shore, we need all hands to set sail in the right direction.

Is there anyone specific you’d like to shoutout for your time at Writers’ Room?

Brett: There are two people I’d like to thank for this… okay, it’s actually a group of six people and a person separate from Writers’ Room but bear with me on this… 

Okay before the group and the separate person, let me thank Writers’ Room first. To all the folks that have come in and out of Writers’ Room, those new and old, those who are there actively or only stopped by once, I’d like to thank you all. Without the people, there is no Writers’ Room, and it’s because of the people that I had the pleasure of co-running, the pleasure to see all of your passions and creativity on paper and on screen, and for bringing nothing but laughter, tears, and fun to my tenure here at Rowan. 

Alrighty, now onto the six people. Kyle Foor, Taylor Drake, Joe Pidgeon, Ethan Strohm, Daniel Latch, and Jay Oliveira, thank you all. Without any of you, Writers’ Room would have never been my second home, the place that I would learn, teach, and love the ropes of screenwriting; to take a deeper look at what’s between the lines and how it translates onto the big screen. I feel I sound like I’m on my deathbed writing this out, but you all mean the world to me, and have brought a greater appreciation not just for screenwriting, but for filmmaking and teaching as well from what you all have given to me. 

And lastly, I would like to give a great thanks to one of the professors here at Rowan, someone outside the RTF major; Professor Fera. Professor, if you’re reading this, and I’m sure I’ve expressed it to you before, but you have no idea how much you truly helped me during my Freshman year here. I was stressed out of my mind, juggling online schoolwork, personal life, and my first two shoots with Cinema Workshop all in one semester, and I was uncertain as to how I was going to get out of it with good grades and a good mindset. I felt the final straw that was about to break my back, but you caught it just before it did. You helped me see that asking for help was okay, that admitting that I couldn’t handle all that was on my plate wasn’t a sign of defeat. Maybe it was also the fact that your son is also in film that brought on another level of understanding, but nonetheless, you truly uplifted me from the hardships of not only being in a new setting, but a new mindset and work environment as well. Whether it be College Comp. II or Writing Children’s Stories, if I had to take those classes over again with you as the professor, I gladly do it in a heartbeat just for your wisdom and virtuous educational skills.

Jay: If I gave every name, the list would go on forever. Firstly, I’d like to thank my predecessor, Daniel Latch, who introduced me to Writers’ Room in the first place. He helped to create the environment that I came to love so dearly, and encouraged me to try out for co-runner as well. I want to thank him for the opportunity, and commend him for the legacy he left behind for me to fill. He’s a wonderful writer, and I hope to see his name on a world-famous script in the future. 

Secondly, I’d like to thank my current co-runner, Brett Allen, for welcoming me into the position. Not only was it an honor to be chosen for co-runner, but it’s been wonderful to work alongside Brett. He is insightful, accommodating, and he has made the transition into the position so much easier for me, so as excited as I am to continue with my new co-runner, I will certainly miss him, and I wish him the best. 

Finally, I’d like to thank all the active members of Writers’ Room, the people who are so adamant about showing up every week, the people who are confident enough to share their scripts, and everyone who has ever participated in Writers’ Room. It has been so fun reading their scripts and seeing all the ideas that they have, and nothing has made me happier than to watch them deliberate on a script and bounce ideas and feedback off of each other, forming bonds all along the way. I have truly had the best time co-running this workshop for everyone that attends, and the Room wouldn’t be the same without them.

Cinema Workshop’s Writers’ Room meets every Thursday in Bozorth Hall in Room 118 from 7:00 PM to 9:15 PM. You don’t have to be a writer to join Writers’ Room! We welcome all voices, whether you just want to give feedback, voice characters, or meet new people. 

Thank you again to Brett and Jay for the chance to interview them, and we look forward to seeing you all there.

Armaine Dela Cruz