Hopkins in Hollywood Panel Discussion: “Writing in LA - A Survival Guide” - SOLD OUT
Hopkins in Hollywood AEME Affinity Group
This event is SOLD OUT
Join the Hopkins in Hollywood AEME Affinity Group for a panel discussion about writing in its many forms. The City of Angels is a city of beauty, entertainment, big studios, and big deals -- and it's also a city of big challenges. At the heart of it all is the creative talent—including the writers. As a writer in LA, how do you hone your craft, get your first break, and get the projects that are in your sweet spot? Hear answers to these questions from our own JHU creative geniuses: writers from different parts of the industry who have it figured out. Join us as we discuss changes in the industry and talk about future trends. The evening will be an opportunity for great connections and discussion.
Panelists:
Paul Harris Boardman, A&S '89
Paul Boardman wrote The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) and Devil’s Knot (2014), both of which he also produced, and Deliver Us From Evil (2014), which he also executive produced. In 2008, Paul produced The Day the Earth Stood Still for Fox, and he did production rewrites on Poltergeist, Scream 4, The Messengers, and Dracula 2000, as well as writing and directing the second unit for Hellraiser: Inferno (2000) and writing Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000). Paul has written screenplays for various studios and production companies, including Trimark, TriStar, Phoenix Pictures, Miramax/Dimension, Disney, Bruckheimer Films, IEG, APG, Sony, Lakeshore, Screen Gems, Universal and MGM.
Cari Lynn A&S '97
Cari Lynn is a journalist and author. She wrote the newly-released book BECOMING MS. BURTON: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women, the memoir of criminal justice activist Susan Burton, which was called “stunning” in the New York Times, and has been featured on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Cari spent two years “undercover" on Chicago’s trading floors, the riskiest in the world, to research and write LEG THE SPREAD: Inside the Trillion-Dollar Boys’ Club of Commodities Trading (Random House). In THE WHISTLEBLOWER: Sex Trafficking, Military Contractors, and One Woman’s Fight for Justice, Cari wrote the true story of police officer Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz played Bolkovac in the film, The Whistleblower). Cari’s debut fiction debut was MADAM: A Novel of New Orleans (Penguin/Plume) about prostitutes, voodoo, and the birth of jazz in 1800s New Orleans. Her feature articles include profiles of Oscar nominees for Deadline Hollywood and The Hollywood Reporter, stories on healthcare and finance for Health magazine, medical journals, Good Housekeeping, and O, the Oprah Magazine; book reviews for the Chicago Tribune, and columns for Huffington Post. She’s also ghost-written and edited numerous books for high-profile authors.
Mark Swift A&S '93
With almost 20 years experience as a working screenwriter, Mark Swift (along with his writing partner Damian Shannon) has written in nearly every genre for every studio. In addition to writing "Baywatch" (2017) starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Zac Efron, they also wrote the box office hits "Friday the 13th" (2009) and "Freddy vs. Jason" (2003) and were the first writers on the animated hit "Shark Tale" (2004). They are currently working on a live-action prequel to the Disney animated classic Aladdin entitled “Genie”, the sci-fi action war movie “Starship Troopers” for Sony based on the novel by Robert Heinlein, and they are writing and producing “Tom Swift” for Paramount Pictures based on the beloved book series which began in 1910. They have also written a number of projects currently in development, including “Bermuda Triangle” with Sam Raimi attached to direct for Skydance productions,"Vikings" for Disney, and the 1950s noir "Hawaiian Dick" for director Frank Coraci.
Roger Wolfson A&S '03
Roger Wolfson, former Counsel to Senators Lieberman, Kerry, Wellstone, and Kennedy, credits the West Wing with his ability to break into the TV business. He's written for five TV series (Fairly Legal, Saving Grace, Law and Order: SVU, and the Closer, where one of his episodes helped earn Kyra Sedgwick her first Emmy nod). He’s sold eight pilots of his own, and is currently running a limited series at Crackle about international diplomacy. He’s also a criminal and civil rights attorney, with his Masters in creative writing from Johns Hopkins, and he manages a volunteer group of WGA writers who provide messaging, speechwriting, and video content for virtually all of the most prominent leaders of the Democratic party.