Interview (Part 5): Jennifer Archer

My interview with the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner.

Jennifer Archer wrote the original screenplay “Into the Deep Blue” which won a 2022 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Jennifer about her creative background, her award-winning script, the craft of screenwriting, and what winning the Nicholl Award has meant to her.

Today in Part 5 of a 6-part series to run each day through Saturday, Jennifer talks about what it was like to win the Nicholl and news about her script set up as a movie project.

Scott: I don’t want to give away the ending other than to say it is a happy one. In fact, when you type the final words, we always say fade out the end. You typed “THE ^VERY HAPPY^ END.” What were you feeling when you typed that? I was imagining what feelings might have been going through when you managed to type a very happy end.

Jennifer: Joy, relief. You know that, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ song, the ukulele version? I heard that in my head. It felt good. It felt joyous.

Scott: In Hollywood, you have to earn it. In order for these characters to do this, they have to earn one. You do feel like they have earned it. These two do deserve to be together.

Jennifer: They really do.

Scott: Job well done.

Jennifer: Thank you.

Scott: More congratulations for you. Let’s talk about the Nicholl experience. Maybe walk us through the whole, “Oh, you made the quarter final, semifinal, final, then the Nicholl week.” What is all that like?

Jennifer: It was so crazy. I didn’t think anything would come of entering. Even this experience is so crazy because I would always read your interviews with the past winners. Last year, I was reading your interviews, and I remember being so depressed and thinking, “That’s never going to be me.” And here we are. This whole experience is so surreal.

I would keep getting the advancement notifications, and I didn’t think anything of them. I’d think, “OK, well, that’ll be the last one.” I didn’t even tell anyone until the quarter finals, then I told my parents, and I said, “But I won’t make it past this, so don’t get excited.” Then it kept progressing, and I’m still so shocked.

Scott: Did you do the whole LA thing?

Jennifer: I didn’t, because I was pretty sick at the time. I was unwell throughout the final calls. I remember before the final call, you have to spend a few hours on Zoom in a waiting room.

I was like, “Mom, I don’t think I can do this.” She said, [laughs] “Yeah, you can,” and I said, ”I’m going to fall off the chair. I’m going to pass out.” So, I was feeling horrible, but it was awesome. [laughs]

Scott: That’s a metaphor for writing there. It can be a joyful experience, but also…I’m glad you’re feeling better and you’ve got even more to feel better. I’m reading the trades a couple of weeks ago and they’re going to make your movie.

Jennifer: Yes! So excited.

Scott: Sabrina Carpenter, terrific young actress. I remember seeing her in Emergency at Sundance last year. She’s going to star as Fiona. You’ve got a director. They’re going to film it in the UK. Is that right?

Jennifer: Yes.

Scott: What was that like?

Jennifer: Really exciting. Sabrina is such a powerhouse of a performer. She’s amazing. I see so much of Fiona in her and she’s going to crush it. So excited!

Scott: This is what I tell my students. I say, “Unless you’re writing Marvel movies or Star Wars or whatnot where the spectacle is the star, you’re writing scripts that you hope actors will respond to those parts.” I joke with them I say, “This is why characters are so important. Care. Actors. You want the actors to care about your characters.”

This is a good example where she read the script and responded to Fiona. Now you got a movie in the making, so good luck to you on that. I look forward to seeing that happen for you. Let’s jump to a few craft questions if you don’t mind. I’d be curious to see how you track some of these things. How do you come up with story ideas? Is there any set process? I imagine it’s more intuitive for you.

Jennifer: It is. It’s completely intuitive for me. Usually when I’m working out, or driving, things will pop into my head and I write them down.

Tomorrow in Part 6, Jennifer shares some tips on the craft of screenwriting and gives advice to aspiring writers.

For Part 1 of the interview, go here.

For Part 2, go here.

For Part 3, go here.

For Part 4, go here.

For my interviews with every Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting winner since 2012, go here.

For my interviews with Black List writers, go here.