Christine Conradt 100 Movies and Counting
Tips on Writing and Working From this Uber Successful Screenwriter. Plus a Link to Author Patricia Huff's latest Book. And What I’m Working on.
Hey Guys,
Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with super successful screenwriter, Christine Conradt. She has over 100 produced movie credits and counting. That’s impressive to say the least, so I wanted to find out more about her and her amazing career.
Hi Christine, thanks for chatting with me today. You have over 100 produced credits in your screenwriting career. Can you tell us how you got there?
Sure! I'm originally from Nebraska but moved to Los Angeles right after high school upon being accepted to the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. There, I earned a BFA in Screenwriting. After graduating, I started working for a temp company that would call me to replace vacationing assistants to studio execs. I worked at a lot of talent agencies and studios until I ended up temping for an open position at (then) Twentieth Century Fox and ended up working as an assistant for about a year until I received a call from John Furia, jr. who was, at the time, the head of the screenwriting program at USC and asked if I'd like to take a permanent development position at a company in West Hollywood. I told him yes and he got me an interview at a now defunct company called Image Organization. I got the job and became an assistant to producer Clark Peterson. When the company was sold, I moved with Clark to a new company but didn't love the culture there and decided to move. I started doing coverage for the studios and distributors and eventually the head of Image Organization called me and asked what I was doing. I told him and he hired me to do a rewrite on a screenplay they were having trouble cracking. After that project, I took a leadership job at a local YMCA (I grew up in the Y and that non-profit has always been close to my heart) until that same producer got back in touch with me and hired me to do more rewrites for him. I eventually asked if I could start and finish the screenplays instead of just rewriting other people, and he said yes. At the time, he had an output deal with Lifetime so I started writing thrillers-- lots of them! There were some years where I was writing five movies a year. Eventually, one of the execs at Lifetime moved to Hallmark. I'd always loved working with her and she brought me on to rewrite a rom-com titled Pearl in Paradise. And that's how I added rom coms and holiday family movies to my credit list.
What are some of your favorite projects you’ve worked on?
One of my favorite projects, even though we made it on a shoestring budget (and it shows!) is '12 Days of Giving.' It's a sweet, Christmas movie that I wrote, directed and produced and I still get emails every holiday season from people who have seen it for the first time and tell me that they enjoyed it. It originally aired on UPtv but now it's available on Amazon Prime. I also really enjoyed working on an upcoming Lifetime Original which I can't talk about yet, but it is based on a true story and while the subject matter is pretty dark, I enjoyed the deep dive I did researching the real people involved.
You must be very busy with the writing producing and directing that you do and yet you still offer help to up-and-coming writers through your website and your Substack newsletter. What makes you willing to spend time to help other Writers?
It's actually very selfish! I get a huge thrill out of helping people hone the craft, become better writers, and sell their scripts. It's a very difficult industry and it truly makes me feel good to see other people who love storytelling as much as I do, take steps forward. I'm in a unique position to help them either through consulting on their projects or by putting out articles I write on the craft and business of screenwriting so it's my way of giving back.
Any advice for writers like me who literally cannot see their own errors (spelling and grammar) on the page before them?
If spelling and grammar are your only problems in your writing, you're actually in good shape! I cannot proofread myself so I hire a proofreader before I send out a script-- and she always catches my errors! It's worth it because syntax and spelling errors are distracting to readers and having an error-free screenplay or manuscript levels you up as a professional.
You are based in LA, would you say that a screenwriter trying to break into the business needs to move to LA, or have times changed enough that they might not need to relocate?
That's a tough one. For me, I can honestly say that being in L.A. is what helped me get as far as I have in my career. I could not have done that if I had stayed in Nebraska. That said... I was breaking in in the 90s and a lot has changed. We are much more of a telecommuting society now and there are thriving industries all over the country and all over the world that didn't exist 30 years ago. You also can get a free education about screenwriting through online programs, webinars, and yes, substack! that you couldn't get back when I was diving in. So my current answer is... if you want to write for episodic TV, you do need to be in a writers room and most of those are in L.A. If you want to write for streamers, theatrical, or non-weekly TV, then no, you don't. You can do that from anywhere physically. The key is networking with people who can get projects made, so if you're in a city where you can find those folks, there are opportunities.
You’ve also written young adult novels, if you weren’t a screen writer, would you be writing books or doing something completely different?
Possibly! I have some books I keep trying to write but screenwriting, directing, and producing keep getting in the way (my choice!). If I couldn't write, produce and direct for television and film, then yes, I would definitely be writing books.
Any parting thoughts for us?
One thing I always tell my clients is that there is no one way to break in as a screenwriter. New writers often want to know how seasoned writers broke in so that they can emulate it but that will never work. There is no path. If you want to be a doctor, there's a series of steps you follow-- med school, residency, etc. Screenwriters come from all walks of life, every direction. Some are novelists that transition to screenwriting. Some are actors who come up with a story they want to tell. Some are just regular plain people who have had an interesting life experience that makes for a great story (like a war vet or a showgirl or a plane crash survivor). You have to do two things: hone your writing skills and get really good; and then find the people who like your writing and can get your scripts made. Those two things equal success. And there are a million permutations of ways to make them happen from attending film school to self-education, from paying to network, to volunteering at your local film festival. Put yourself in as many places as you can where opportunities will find you. :)
Thanks so much Christine, I can’t wait to see your next movie.
LA based author, and my cousin, Patricia Huff has another book out in her SPA series. Be sure to check it out.
I am still typing away while hoping for that big break, or a least a placement in the Big Break and Austin Film Festivals screenwriting contests. I just finished a short script about me and my bestie since the second grade. It’s a comedy, of course, and I may have embellished it a bit. (I totally make stuff up).
BESTIES - A Sorta True Story about Really True Friends.
Friends since 2nd grade, two women fight, literally, to support each other through; petty larceny, five weddings, one funeral, and a shopping spree that nearly cost them their lives.
Stop by MossWords when you get a minute.
Next month I will be talking with Barbara Holliday from Flappers Comedy Club about their Burbank Comedy Festival starting on August 9th, with Jay Leno.