Growing up, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by television shows and movies. I’ve always enjoyed unpacking sophisticated language and deeper meanings in seemingly innocuous dialogue. My parents always used to say I had a lot of fun hyper-fixating on movies I loved, but they didn’t realize that I wasn’t just focused on the entertaining scenes before my eyes but the small details in the background. They sparked my curiosity and inspired me to take a closer look at every word choice the writers made.
The first movie I remember watching with what I like to call my “writer’s eye” was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I have watched The Hunger Games franchise at least thirty times throughout my life, partly because of the intriguing world of Collin’s creation but also due to the hidden easter eggs that lay within the frames.
After being inspired by this movie in the third grade, I began writing in my free time. I would write about anything, from fantasy realms to eye-opening poems about the beauty in a silent world. I could escape into the world of my creation. I could be anyone and do anything. When I wrote, time stopped, and everything would feel a little brighter for a moment. I felt completely in control with a pen in my hand and a story to share.
Around the same time, two of my cousins were accepted into NYU’s film program. With this, I witnessed how quickly the film captivated and pulled them in. One of my cousins, Gabby, graduated from NYU with a degree in Film and TV Writing. From the day of her graduation, I wanted nothing more than to be like her.
Gabby’s journey in the film industry was both inspiring and motivating. She shared stories of the sets she worked on, the projects she was passionate about, and the goals she was determined to achieve. She spoke with the kind of passion that was infectious. Seeing her journey unfold made me realize that writing for film wasn’t just a dream—it was something I could chase, something I could make real. This drove me to shift my focus from creative writing to film, and she has been a guiding influence in my journey ever since.
During the summer before my senior year, I had the opportunity to study film writing at UCLA with around twenty other students. During this program, I learned the art of constructing a television show and how to write captivating scenes that evoke audience emotion. Above all, I realized that being a film writer is exceptionally hard.
There were many days when I debated if being a film writer was what I truly wanted to pursue, but someone said something that resonated with me ever since;
“The only thing standing between you and your dreams is the belief you can and the will to try.”
And that’s exactly what I intend to do.
