Interview with Alex Spieth

Ep 10 of @blankmylife https://t.co/sGMSbM6bEW

— Alex Spieth (@AlexSpeech) April 15, 2016

How would you describe your writing
Quirky, Surreal, Fast-Paced, Stream of Conscious

You can watch all the episodes to [Blank] right here and our Facebook is here.

How did you get into writing
I got into writing because it felt like an outlet that didn’t require a team (the way acting does). When you act, you need another person to connect to. You can do monologues in your basement all day long, but I think it’s not really acting, it’s not really fun, and it’s not really satisfying until you get another person there. Writing can be singular, and it’s one of the reasons I gravitated towards it.

However, my conscious decision to begin REALLY writing was after I got dropped, cause like I was unrepresented, what the hell did I have left to lose? I was like: “Must do something to make myself feel better about myself!!!!!!” I would encourage everyone who feels down to make their own work.

Did you study writing
I have taken 1 sketch class at UCB (highly recommend! Great Teacher! Great program!), but that is the only formal training I’ve ever done, other than a poetry class here and there in college and high school.

What is the difference between a screenplay and a play
“The difference is whatever you select on Celtx and hope that the formatting will guide you home.”–Alex Spieth, 2016

How do you turn an idea into a play
I have only written one play (which I have not yet produced outside of a staged reading). Honestly, I have dealt mostly in shorter form, and I feel like the concept of “plot” is one I find tricky and elusive. I think I’m fairly good at imitating moments, but I always struggle with being like “Where do we go from here?” I have a lot of respect for writers who have both honed their long game and short structures.

You can watch all the episodes to [Blank] right here and our Facebook is here.

What do you do to get an idea into a play
Honestly, the way I write is letting my fingers type until I find an idea that emerges naturally. When I think have a great idea, I’ve found I have a hard time making the dialogue relatable and honest and the characters more than cardboard cutouts. However, if I just start with a whiff of something (an image, a feeling, a line) rather than a full-fledged idea, I personally find it easier to make a script that I like.

Briefly describe a few wrong impressions writers indulge in
1). “You can not practice and still be a genius”: I would never consider myself a genius and most days I don’t necessarily consider myself a writer. I’m like, “Oh there’s no way I’m a writer the same way Hemingway or Kushner is a writer!” And those guys are TITANS, most of the time I feel like I’m not a real writer like people who write plays for people other than themselves. However, I do practice a LOT. I write (lots and lots and lots of) bad stuff which is eventually chucked for the few good things. I’ve written whole movies that I found to be crap nearly 3 minutes after writing them. I think you will stumble and stumble and stumble and the best thing you can do is try to learn stumble more artfully, so people sometimes don’t notice even if you aren’t totally pleased.

2). “You have to have studied”: I have not. And for what I want to do, that’s fine. However, if you want to be a great, great writer, you should study. It’s about knowing where you want to go. I am an incredibly trained actor (and I loved my education), and for the places I want to go, I think I needed to be trained in that aspect.

You can watch all the episodes to [Blank] right here and our Facebook is here.

Do you often take courses in writing to increase your craft
No. But, if I had more $$$$ maybe I would? Let me know if you are looking for a protege who is a beautiful-funny-neurotic-female!!!!!!! I can be your girl!!!!!!

What books do you read
Just finished The Furies by Natalie Haynes, which I very much enjoyed. Sadly, I haven’t read as much as I wanted to, because between work, acting, writing, and like trying to keep my body vaguely attractive I have less hours in the day than I want. In my free time, I usually see plays. Recently, I saw Hadestown at NYTW written by Anais Mitchell, and it’s wonderful. I hope very much the productions sees a future life.

2016 Top Five Web Series Contender:
Title: [Blank] My Life
Created by: Alexandra Spieth pic.twitter.com/hPnUm06Dx0

— Big MINI Media (@bigminimedia) September 3, 2016

What do you do to keep in shape as a writer
I write nearly every day, and during the summer I get up and write a script every morning. When the web series begins to have to take shape as far as producing and putting it together, I have to let the writing hat go to for a bit to make sure the series ACTUALLY happens. But, for the past 4 out of 6 months, I’ve written at least 10 pages a day.

When you are offered a play to write what is your routine
I have never had such an HONOR. But, I imagine my routine will be like
1). CALL MOM AND DAD!!!!!!
2). CALL MY BFFS AND GUY I’M DATING!!!!
3). DIE!!!
4). COME BACK TO LIFE!!!
5). Stress about how to write this thing…

However, I think having parameters will always help you. That’s what comforts me late at night is knowing that I’m good at finishing assignments, and the hope someone would ask me for something specific would be a relief versus bush-whacking through the wilderness trying to find out if this is the right way to reality or not.

How do you develop a character in a script to be honest and believable
I try to be myself in every character. When I write for myself/others/whatever/x/y/TBD/vague/specific characters, I try to write things that I, Alex Spieth, would say, and then cast actors who are interesting choices. They’ll make the characters their own by being who they are.

📷 thereelwomen: @blankmylife: Why did you decide to get into this industry? I’ve wanted to be an actor… https://t.co/8E8QGiTb5G

— Alex Spieth (@AlexSpeech) June 13, 2016

What is the most memorable character you have created
Bill, from Beg For It (Episode 06), is to me one of the best characters in the season. He’s funny, real, mannered, ridiculous, and alive. Part of that is my writing, but a huge part is that Adam Hagenbuch, my dear friend and the actor, is WONDERFUL, and was exactly what the episode needed.

What do you want from a director during production
To tell me what to do and where to stand and how to say the lines. Literally.

I jest in part, but since I both write and star in the series, I find it hard to have an unbiased eye, and I look to the directors I work with to provide me with that. All of them are awesome, and I cannot foresee a future in which I would want to work on my writing without a director. That other set of eyes is so important.

Additionally, I find it hard to be the most confident person in the room. Director always have to be the bravest part of the production. Actors and writers get a little more wriggle room for public insecurity, but directors need to convey that they are in control of the situation. That’s a quality that I admire incredibly, and I love turning the process over to someone who’s ready to do that.

How do you prefer to work with a director during production
100%. I. Hate. Directing. Too. Much. Stress.

Do you get offers from Hollywood
Not yet.

******IF YOU ARE FROM THE FILM INDUSTRY AND REALIZE I AM THE LADY VOICE OF 2016 AND BEYOND, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AT [email protected]!!! WE CAN GET COFFEE AND/OR A BEER FOR I AM EASY GOING AND WILL DRINK BOTH SUBSTANCES!!!!*

What do you think a writer can do to get into the industry.
Continue making and writing and producing your stuff as often as you can. I’m a big believer that quantity (especially in web work) is as important as quality. Obviously, you don’t want to put up something that will damage your career or is very, VERY humiliating, but you can always improve and then take it down the less-quality products as you accumulate more work from a higher quality.

Who is your favorite writer?
My favorite writer is Eugene O’Neill

Why
At the end of the day, I could think of a more “hip” answer, but O’Neill really gets it. Long Day’s Journey Into Night is my favorite play I’ve ever read, and every time I read it or see it, I love it more. He was also incredibly prolific and diverse in his writing which I find appealing. As far as poetry goes, I love Jeffrey McDaniel, because his poems remind me of the way people speak if they spoke in the most beautiful and apt ways. He’s colloquial and universal and smart.

What advice would you give to amateur writers around the world.
Just do it. (Nike Swoosh).

Briefly write about my career.
I graduated from Carnegie Mellon in 2013 with a BFA in Acting. Currently, I often collaborate with Irondale Ensemble and Tele-Violet. Most recently, I’ve performed in the 1599 Project (NYT Review) and Steubenville. Writing [Blank] My Life made me a better actor because I was less afraid. I began writing to remind myself that I was someone when I felt low and lost, and in pretending to be brave enough to write a series, I realized the bravery wasn’t a mask. It’s who I am.

You can watch all the episodes to [Blank] right here and our Facebook is here.

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