RUTH EARLY
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RUTH EARLY

What inspired you to write a script rather than a novel or short story?
I wrote the script while enrolled in UCLA’s Professional Program in Screenwriting. The idea came while I was evacuated from my home during the fires in LA earlier this year and I felt that it was suitable for the screen because there was a lot of cinematic potential.

Was there a specific film, TV show, or personal moment that first made you say, “I want to write like that”?
The very first movie I remember watching was ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’. I must have been about Four Years old. I vividly remember watching the opening scene, enjoying the animation and then when it pulled back to reveal the studio and all the humans who were creating the movie, I immediately understood that movies were creations and I knew that that’s what I wanted to do when I grew up - create stories for the screen.

What’s your writing routine like? Do you follow a strict schedule, or are you more intuitive about when and how you write?
I don’t have a strict schedule. Every now and then I try to impose one on myself but my self discipline is my weak point. Mostly, I’m driven by passion and when I get stuck into a writing session, I tend to just stick with it for as long as I can. It can lead to some very late nights.

When you're starting a new script, how do you shape your ideas? Do you use outlines, beat sheets, or dive right into scenes? What inspires your scripts? Characters? Plot? Theme? Action?
I always outline to start with. That doesn’t necessarily mean the finished script ends up being what I planned at all. My outlines are very fluid.

How do you handle writer’s block or those inevitable moments of self-doubt?
That’s a good question. I spent a long time not handling self-doubt very well and I didn’t pursue writing as a career as a result. That was a large part of my decision to do the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA. That’s helped me a lot with not just the craft of screenwriting, but also recognizing my own strengths and weaknesses, and trying to overcome those negative moments.

What tools—software, methods, rituals—do you consider essential to your writing workflow?
Final Draft is essential but other than that, I change things up a lot, depending on the project and resources available. I’m still a big fan of pen and paper.

Do you write with production realities in mind, or do you let the creative vision lead first and adjust later?
It’s a mixture of both for me. For Embers, I was vdery conscious of how large a budget would be required, so I tried to contain quite a bit of it. From feedback I’ve received, though, I think the re-write will include bigger, more dramatic – and expensive –  set pieces which I’d initially tried to avoid. I think in a perfect world, a writer should be able to write without limits, but the reality is that this is often a roadblock to getting your script in front of decision makers.

When a scene isn’t working, what’s your go-to strategy for fixing it? Rewrite, workshop, walk away—or something else?
I’m fortunate to have some very clever and trusted friends who give excellent notes.

How many scripts have you completed? How many have you started and not completed (we all have those)...and why are they still unfinished?
I have completed three scripts and I have another that I once considered finished but since completing my studies, I now see why it never made it into the hands of enthusiastic producers. That one is getting a re-write very soon.

Have you earned recognition in this or other competitions? What’s your strategy when submitting your scripts, and how has contest feedback shaped your work?
This is my first award and I can’t say I have a strategy when submitting scripts. For this one, I was just mindful that my story is uniquely Californian so I wanted it to reach local people interested in telling a local story.

Have you done anything at this point to promote yourself or your writing (besides entering online contests)? If so, how would you gauge the effectiveness of those efforts?
I haven’t done any self-promotion. I’m so early in my career, that my point of entering competitions was to both get feedback on my writing but also to hopefully receive introductions to Industry people who may be able to offer further guidance.

Have you pitched to producers or taken meetings yet? What have those experiences taught you about the business side of screenwriting?
I haven’t had any meetings yet so I haven’t learned anything yet. This is why I’m excited about winning this award and hope it will help me progress.

What do you see as your greatest strengths as a writer? Your greatest weaknesses?
My greatest strength is my passion. When I love what I’m writing about, I am really dedicated to my story. My greatest weakness is my lack of self-belief.

How do you balance your writing with your “day job”?
It’s difficult, but I always prioritize carving time out or at least scheduling ahead so that if I know one week is going to be really busy, I’ll make more time over the next week or two.

What message or emotional response do you hope audiences walk away with after experiencing your work?
With Embers, I want people to walk away asking questions about the role of,incarcerated women in the CalFire program, but more importantly about the social and political concerns surrounding modern day slavery, prison politics and corruption with
the Prison system.

What are you working on right now the world needs to know about?
I am planning another draft of Embers, and the next project I want to write is set around the building of Waterloo Bridge in London – which was built by women during WWII.

Where do you see yourself five years from now as a screenwriter—and how do you plan to get to that place?
I very much hope to have had at least one film produced at that point. My preference would be for that to be Embers, though I am also having conversations about another script at the moment. I plan to continue writing and refining my scripts, to take any
available opportunities to receive advice and guidance. I am in the process of looking for representation and see this as a key step in developing my career.

What advice would you give to any aspiring writer hoping to follow in your footsteps?
The best choice I made for myself to date was to to the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA. I found it perfect for helping me to prioritize my writing time and schedule accordingly. I also found the workshopping element invaluable for sharing
ideas, feedback and peer support. I’d highly recommend it to anybody who has the opportunity to participate.

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