Interview (Part 2): Tara Tomicevic

My interview with 2021 Black List writer for her script “Thicker Than Ice.”

Tara Tomicevic wrote the screenplay “Thicker Than Ice” which made the 2021 Black List. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Tara about her creative background, her script, the craft of screenwriting, and what making the annual Black List has meant to her.

Today in Part 2 of a 6-part series to run each day through Sunday, Tara talks about two short films she wrote and produced, and how she discovered the true life story behind “Thicker Than Ice.

Scott: I watched both of your short films, “Muted” and “Cuddle Party.” Quite different films. That shows some range. The first one: “The Gladwells struggled to get the support of media and law enforcement when their teenage daughter disappears.”

The intriguing sociological hook there is that, they’re black, and their daughter disappears. Then there’s this White girl that disappears at the same time, and that’s the thing that the media gloms onto. It’s quite a provocative story, and reflective of our culture’s inherent bias. What was your inspiration for that story?

Tara: “Missing White Woman Syndrome.” I remember Brandi mentioning the term and not being surprised at all and me being shocked — just not believing it could possibly be a thing, and us having many, many conversations about it afterwards. So, her educating me, honestly, that’s where it was born. Let’s create something about this. Let’s start a conversation. Let’s put this out there in a creative way that will also send a message. It came from that term and us having polar opposite reactions to it.

Scott: It’s generated quite a bit of viewers on YouTube. I think it’s over 160,000 views when I checked it last night. Congratulations on that. Let’s talk about “Cuddle Party.” That’s a comedy. What was the inspiration for that?

Tara: It’s a dark comedy. That project I was not there at the inception of like I was with Muted. Matthew Irving Epstein wrote it and also directed it. I produced. When I came on board, he already had the script. We were getting the cast together at the same time. I know for him it was personal experience. He had gone to a cuddle party and wrote about his experience.

Scott: As a Showrunner’s Assistant on “Scandal.” Did that open some doors for you, open your eyes, or both?

Tara: Both. I was there for the last two seasons, which was lovely. It was such a well-oiled machine at that point that I just got the cliché of “getting paid to go to grad school.” It’s really what it was. Got to see the writers’ room and how television was made.

Also, most importantly, I figured out that that was the path that I was most attracted to — the collaborative nature of television. I couldn’t wait to get my chance to be in a room.

Scott: And here you are with a feature film script, “Thicker Than Ice,” that made the 2021 Black List. Let’s talk about that movie. Here’s the plot summary.

“Inspired by the true story of Hannah and Marissa Brandt, adoptive sisters and hockey players who put their relationship to the test as they vie for Olympic glory on different teams. Topranked Team USA and Korea’s first ever unified team.”

How did you learn about this story?

Tara: Research. I was looking for what I was going to write next. I was doing a lot of general research. I always gravitate towards sports. I gravitate towards family stories and stories of sisterhood and female friendships. When I came across Hannah and Marissa’s story, it was just a news article but it hit all my targets. I was like, “I wonder if I’m late to the party. I wonder if there’s been a movie already.” So I messaged Hannah on Twitter.

I was like, “Hi. You don’t know me. I promise I’m legit. Here are the things I’ve done. Has anybody ever approached you about writing a movie about you and your sister’s story?” She said no. They’d had a bunch of media coverage when they went to the Olympics together in ’18, but no narrative offers. I was like, “Oh. Would you mind getting on a Zoom with me? I would love to talk to you guys and see if you would trust me with your story.”

We got on a Zoom. They were just lovely and were very interested. That was that. My manager was very excited about the idea and loved it thematically just for the things that are aligned with me and who I am.

I started writing the spec with their blessing, and with them on board to answer questions, tell me stories, and get on the phone with me. We started group texting. I could just ask really simple, quick questions when I needed to. I talked to their dad on the phone. They were fully on board from the get go. Then I wrote the spec.

Scott: I’m curious to know more about your research. Was it more just an ongoing thing where you’re popping questions to them as you move along in the process?

Tara: It was a little bit of both. For me, the focus is the sisterhood. I definitely asked them a bunch of questions at the top about that. We had a couple of Zoom meetings where I had specific questions planned out, just in case I heard something that maybe sparked me in a different direction.

Then it was a lot of texts to ask for specifics, especially regarding Marissa’s experience in Korea. Once I knew the story that I wanted to tell, then it was running it by them to make sure that they approved and they thought it was worthy.

I asked for details, memories, sometimes with leading questions, like, “Tell me about your two best friends on the team,” and “Was there any conflict between the leaders of the team and the coach?” Really focused questions.

Here is the short film Muted which Tara acted in and produced.

Here is the short film Cuddle Party which Tara produced.

Tomorrow in Part 3, Tara talks about some of the research she did in adapting this real life story and the structure of the script which cross-cuts between two parallel storylines: the lives of two sisters leading up to the Winter Olympics.

For Part 1 of the interview, go here.

Tara is repped by Paradigm and Lit Entertainment Group.

For my interviews with dozens of other Black List writers, go here.