Janna King is a screenwriter-author-playwright with produced credits in TV movies and drama series. She has written original and adapted TV and film projects for various producers, studios and talent, and her YA novels The Seasonaires and its sequel Malibu Bluff were most recently optioned by Blumhouse Television. In addition to her live action credits, Janna has written animated films and TV series for the likes of Disney Junior, WB TV, Sony and PBS Kids. Janna has also directed plays, music videos and award-winning short films. She is currently a Writers Program instructor at UCLA Extension and volunteers with the creative youth organization 826 National.
This Summer, Janna is teaching Fade In: Foundations for Screenwriting. Here is what she had to say about the course!
Why do you enjoy teaching this class?
I believe that everyone can write! That might sound overly optimistic but I’ve always believed it. Teaching gives me the opportunity to encourage creative passion. The entertainment industry is tough so my goal is always to inspire writers to come from “Why do I want to write this screenplay?” instead of “Will this screenplay sell?” The most successful screenwriters are those who write for themselves first and the industry second. That being said, there are definitely fundamentals that are deal-breakers when trying to sell a screenplay. My goal is to prepare writers to delve into screenwriting with as much information to support their creativity as possible.
Why this medium?
I started out writing movies, and because my journey has been long and winding, I’ve ventured into other areas as well (TV, animation, plays and novels). But I always come back to longform because screenplays tell a “life moment” story in one fell swoop. Screenplay structure and formatting are efficient – I call it a word puzzle. Puzzles are fun! The best part of screenwriting for me is watching the movie in my head as I write, which happens when I’ve created strong foundational material like an outline and character breakdowns.
How would you describe your teaching style?
1. Interactive (Discussion and collaboration are crucial to me)
2. Entertaining (I have a good sense of humor and am, according to my two kids and some students, goofy)
3. Open (I’m only one writer, so I welcome new ideas and theories – there is not a perfect way to write)
4. Encouraging (I call myself a creative cheerleader)
5. Enthusiastic (I am so stoked when writers are excited about their work)
How is each session structured?
I will go over concepts for the first part of class, with examples of films, screenplays and foundational materials, and we’ll discuss. Then we’ll do some writing exercises to inspire some foundational material for the writers’ potential screenplays. We will do some “table reading” and give generative feedback. Thoughtful, respectful and encouraging feedback is super important in my classes. I believe you can give a constructive note and frame it positively, approaching other writers’ work with curiosity instead of criticism.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I have written many different types of movies – from true crime to Christmas to animated children’s films. Some are original and some are “for hire,” but I always infuse pieces of myself in the characters which helps me tell a grounded story, even if it’s about a gingerbread boy. My most natural writing voice leans towards dark comedy because I need to find some humor in challenging times. I’m also a parent (my twenty-something daughter is my sometimes co-writer) so family – blood and chosen – are inspirations. I’ve also written about loss and heartbreak in my life, which has really saved my life many times.
What would you want each person to leave with from taking this course?
I hope that the writers leave with a strong sense of their potential original screenplay: the concept, the characters and a story arc. I want them to be comfortable with basic screenplay structure, armed with resources and exercises to move forward with their writing. Most importantly, I hope that they are inspired to keep going because writing FADE OUT and THE END is very satisfying!
Where will you be teaching/telecommunicating from?
Portland. I’m new to the city and am in love with it. There is so much to do, and the food is amazing. It’s also a dog haven and I have two silly pups who love it, too.
Favorite movie? Screenwriters?
My most recent favorite film picks are CODA, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, THE MENU, THE SOUND OF METAL and BANSHEES OF INISHERIN. I also love documentaries. I’m a fan of Nicole Holofcener, Martin McDonagh and Guillermo del Toro, to name a few writers who are also directors. I never used to say “I want to direct” but now I’m doing it and it’s ridiculously fun (challenging but fun). Writer-director-producer-actor Micheala Coel is a genius, though I’m waiting for her to write a film – I watched the series I MAY DESTROY YOU three times.
