"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" star Marg Helgenberger took a break from finding evidence and solving crimes to offer advice to Northwestern's aspiring writers, directors and actors on Friday.
Helgenberger, an Emmy award winner who also appeared in "Mr. Brooks" and "Erin Brockovich," was one of six speakers at "Writing for the Screen and Stage: An Interdisciplinary Panel" Friday afternoon at the Block Museum of Art . About 130 people attended the event, which was sponsored by the Masters of Fine Artsin Writing for the Screen and Stage, the Radio-TV-Film department and the Office of the Dean for the School of Communication.
This is the fourth year the school has held a writing panel.
"This year we thought it would be interesting, rather than bring people who identify themselves primarily as writers, to bring people who work in gatekeeper roles for writers," said panel moderator David Tolchinsky, director of the program in Writing for the Screen and Stage.
Speakers also discussed the differences between writing for TV, film, theater and other media. The panel's discussion concentrated on the process that actors and writers go through in choosing scripts and then collaborating once a script has been chosen.
.Panel members discussed many of the difficulties of the writing process, including the challenge of identifying good scripts when the content doesn't appeal to them personally.
"Sometimes I run across pieces that don't speak to me, but people who come to see that piece are really struck by it," said Aaron Carter, literary manager of Victory Gardens Theater and a panel participant.
Panel members also emphasized the need to be open to collaboration and constructive criticism.
It's important to allow the script to develop throughout the production process and "leave your ego at the door," said Richard J. Lewis, a director, writer and producer for "CSI."
Lewis, Communication '83, was adamant about the need to listen to others and to be willing to edit material that just doesn't work.
2008 Woodie Awards
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