Screenwriting class shows 'everyone has a story to tell'

By: JOEL D. AMOS - For the North County Times | Monday, March 5, 2007 11:20 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO -- Seeking to replicate the camaraderie between writers of their native Boston, Escondido's Midge Raymond and her husband John Yunker began Metropolitan Writing Works in January 2006.

"There was such a lively literary community in Boston, so when we got here we thought it would be great to create one in North County," the former Boston University literature professor said. "Let's get writers together."

Fourteen months later, the Escondido-based Writing Works is adding to its curriculum. Garrett Chaffin-Quiray leads a premiere screenwriting workshop. Beginning Wednesday and continuing for six weeks at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Chaffin-Quiray brings his USC film school education, production experience and authorship to Writing Works' educational portfolio. "We were always hoping to bring in instructors that would add to our programming," Raymond said.

Chaffin-Quiray teaches film at Palomar College and first became aware of Raymond's writing group after seeing their flyer. "I was eager to plug into the same kind of community that Midge and John are trying to build. I was similarly looking for such a home," he said.

Teaching film at Palomar College allows Chaffin-Quiray to reach two distinct groups: traditional college age students and those in life's middle years learning new vocations. What he expects from his screenwriting class is his most diverse student population. "I think I'll see people that had this as a private interest and they want to do more with it other than just sit and write in their garage."

Imparting knowledge without the constraints of grades is a welcome creative change. "That removes me from the process of being the bad guy with A through F grades. Instead, I can be a collaborative personality and bring certain insights based on experience, observation and my own artistic tendencies. I believe with that as the only goal, it will lead to greater sharing and risk in the classroom without worry of punitive action."

In the first workshop, Chaffin-Quiray imparts the knowledge of what makes a screenplay extraordinary. "We seek to teach how to create screenplays with multidimensional components," he said. Many may have written screenplays for years, and others may have always wanted to, but they will share more than artistic vision in Chaffin-Quiray's workshop. "Those two sets of people are going to be equally rich from this experience."

Despite the advent of cheaper methods of filming and more ways to showcase filmmakers' work, Chaffin-Quiray said, reaching audiences is still elusive. "To create valuable good work is simpler than it's ever been. It is bringing people to screen storytelling much faster. But finding a mass audience is not any easier than when I was in film school. You still need to connect to a mass audience."

The USC instructors, Chaffin-Quiray said, fed an appreciation not only for the art form but for those who are passionate about film. "You realize that this thing you pursue is considered an important activity. It is worth your very best energy and inspiration, thought and work. You produce an appreciation that film is our modern medium. It is a wonderful privilege to be a part of that."

When she arrived in San Diego in the summer of 2004, Raymond envisioned an old-world writing group. What they are creating in North County is ever-growing. "With Garrett's great background in film, we are so lucky. It adds so much," Raymond said.

In more than a year, Raymond has found a new community for herself which thrives with creativity. "At Writing Works, we think everyone has a story to tell," she said. Launching Writing Works has allowed her to fill the void many writers experience due to the solitary nature of the craft. "As a writer it's hard to find community. We welcome writers at all levels because it makes for a richer experience for everybody."

On the Net:

http://www.metrowriting.com

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