Jillian
Coakley Middle School
Harlingen CISD
Harlingen, Texas
Co-Winner of Making the Connections Student Short Screenplay Contest, Middle School
"Mr. Sneerman Mystery"
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I am sitting in bed listening to music - No Doubt’s greatest hits, to be exact, and penning my "autobiography"; something most people do when they’re old and want to kick back for the last time, but, hey, you know.
I am 13, 14 in a couple of months, and an 8th grader at Coakley Middle School - almost time for high school - gasp, gasp. Most kids my age despise and /or loathe any writing that doesn’t involve notes to friends, but I don’t. I like writing anything, really, because I read a lot too. I could fill this entire paper with favorite books and authors. Anyway, I like to write anything, because I really get into it. I’ve never thought of myself as a good writer, but I won this contest, didn’t I? Hmm. That’s something. I write poetry, stories, school newspaper articles, and for the very first time, a screenplay.
I’ve been writing for as far back as I can remember. But writing a screenplay was different, a little harder. In an actual story, you can tell the reader exactly what goes through your mind, but in a screenplay you must rely on actions and dialogue to tell how they feel.
This isn’t turning out to be an autobiography. So, here are my stats:
Age 13, born in the Philippines; raised in Chicago, Illinois.
Favorite food: anything that swims and isn’t poisonous.
Favorite bands/artists: No Doubt, Evanescence, P!nk.
Hobbies: Listening to music, reading, writing, tv.
Family: 1 older brother, 1 younger sister, 5 younger cousins, 2 aunts, 2 uncles, Mom, Dad, and Grandma
School: National Junior Honor Society, Editor of School Newspaper, Student Council
Least favorite subject: Algebra
Most favorite subject: Language Arts
Biggest fear: Fear itself
SCREENPLAY Q&A
- Briefly describe the process of writing your screenplay. Tell us how you came up with the storyline and characters, and share with us any real life anecdotal information that may have inspired your story.
While writing the screenplay, I imagined myself as one of the characters and how the story would unravel if it were really happening to me. I really think teachers are very interesting - and seriously underpaid - to do what they do, which is to put up with us. The idea for the screenplay came from when I was younger and thought teachers lived in schools.
- If you could hand-pick the actors/actresses to star in a film based on your screenplay, who would you pick to play the characters?
The characters in the screenplay are all teenagers, and there aren’t that many good teenage actors/actresses. So, I’d get ‘The OC’ cast to play all the characters. Mr. Sneerman could be Christopher Walken, since he has that ‘evil’ look.
- Do you aspire to be work in the professional film industry? If so, do you want to be a screenwriter, or is there another career track that interests you more?
I never thought of going into the professional film industry, it had never crossed my mind. What I wanted to do was be a child psychologist because I like kids, but I always thought of writing as something I could do in my spare time.
- Who are your favorite writers/authors? Name a favorite book.
My favorite authors are: J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, E.L. Konsiburg, Caroline B. Cooney, Meg Cabot, Ann Brashares, Lois Duncan, Louis Sachar, Beverly Cleary, Andrew Clements, Dyan Sheldon, Laurie Halse Anderson, etc. I couldn’t possibly choose a favorite book.
- What are you top 3 favorite films and why?
My top 3 favorite films - that’s tough. I like ‘Dangerous Minds’ because it is inspiring and based on a true story. ‘Ghost’ is good because it’s sad and funny and has Demi Moore & Patrick Swayze. ‘Dumb & Dumber’ is a classic because Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are hilarious.
- What do you do (i.e. hobbies) in your spare time?
In my spare time, I listen to music, watch television, surf the Internet and occasionally read a book.
- Anything else special about you that you’d like everyone to know?
Big things come in small packages.
