Meet our New Playwriting/Screenwriting Instructor
Are you an erstwhile theater kid? A movie buff? A TV nerd? Do you dream of writing for one or all of these media?
We’re offering our first-ever screenwriting/playwriting class starting in January 2020! We sat down with instructor Annie Sarac, who holds a playwriting MFA from UNLV and has had plays staged in Ohio, Nevada, and California, to find out more about her and this exciting new course.
Redbud: Can you tell us about your favorite exercise that you teach in the class, so students can get a taste of what to expect?
We’re going to start off with a task using a fun spin from Polti’s thirty-six dramatic situations. It gets the creativity rolling. We’ll also read off a few pages of each other's work, hiding the character names, and see if we can figure out who is saying the line based on rhythm, word choice, and pacing. Since plays need an audience, we’ll end up with a reading/workshop so we can hear each other’s work. Bring actual paper and a pen for some of these exercises.
Redbud: Your class will appeal to writers of both plays and screenplays. Can you tell us a bit about the difference between those genres, and the different skills one must learn to master each?
At its most basic, a theatre audience has full access to everything on stage and can experience any portion of the stage, any character, at any time. In film, the director tells the audience what to focus on. In theatre, actors need an audience, and each performance is a new experience. Energetic Friday night audiences experience different performances than Sunday matinee audiences. In film, the movie is there no matter who is watching, and the film doesn’t change based on the moviegoer. Regardless of your focus for your manuscript, starting off with a strong play will have you a few steps ahead of the game should you go on and adapt it to film.
Redbud: What's your favorite play you've ever written and had staged? Tell us a bit about it.
Three plays come to mind. One is a takeoff of Poe’s “Tell-Tale Heart” where a prisoner is sentenced to relive his crime again and again. The second is a short play that turns bittersweet as it brings to light homelessness right under our noses. The sets were minimal and the lighting was essential in each. I had a play produced that took place on an island where the characters were operating a scam pretending to be tribal inhabitants. That show was heavy on sound and easy on set pieces. The fine art of collaboration is essential and can bring out the best in your work.
Redbud: What's your favorite play to go see/favorite play you've ever seen? How about your favorite TV show right now?
Right now I love to watch anything from the BBC, but I have to say my favorite TV show of all time is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The dialogue is skillfully trimmed, and each character has quite an arc. In terms of plays, my favorites have been smaller productions, limited casts, and cozy black box venues. I’m a big fan of original works and new playwrights. I’ll go see any original piece tagged as a dark comedy.
Redbud: What's your assessment of the theater community here in Raleigh? Are there any groups that our readers should absolutely check out/venues where they should make sure to go see a play?
I’m new to the area, but I’ve been trying to get to the Burning Coal theatre. I'd love to see more smaller venues scattered around Raleigh. My plan is to get a season pass to NC State’s theatre program. I’ve discovered the FB pages Triangle Playwrights, Cary Playwrights Forum, and The Official Playwrights of Facebook.
Redbud: Anything else we should know about you, the course, or the fine art of playwriting/screenwriting?
Learning is so much better with a healthy dose of humor. So please bring some to class. I do take a structured approach to playwriting, but once you get all the bones down, it’s much easier to go at it before the next draft. Coming from a program that fosters original works, I strive to make my classroom environment as welcoming as possible regardless of where you are on your playwriting journey. As long as you have a passion for the stage and an open mind, this course will be fun!