Joan Tewkesbury recounts how she went from stay-at-home mom to script supervisor to screenwriter & director with Robert Altman as her champion.

Key Insights

Just make something. Learn as you go: you simply need to deliver the work.
Never stop creating. If a project stalls or fails on some level, move on to the next thing and don't be afraid that you won't be able to make it work.
Altman was interested in energy, being driven by behavior, and a loose construct that gave you room for anything.

Joan Tewkesbury

Screenwriter

Joan Tewkesbury began her career at age ten as a dancer in THE UNFINISHED DANCE with Margaret O'Brien and Cyd Charisse. She was an Ostrich and Mary Martin's flying understudy in Jerome Robins’ PETER PAN, choreographed and danced in nightclubs in San Francisco and Reno, Nevada, and directed and choreographed for theatre in the U.S., Scotland and London. She has amassed credits as a writer, director, producer, and choreographer in feature film, theatre and television. more...

Join the Discussion

Keep Exploring

Learn Now

Screenwriter Liz Hannah on THE POST

Liz Hannah

Screenwriter

Learn Now

Peter Sollett: RAISING VICTOR VARGAS Case Study

Peter Sollett

Director

Link

How to Avoid Plot Holes in Your Writing

If you’ve ever watched a movie or TV show and felt like something doesn't quite make sense, or that a series of events doesn’t work out logically, you likely encountered a plot hole. This article defines plot holes, shares examples, and offers screenwriting tips and tricks to avoid falling into the dreaded plot hole yourself.

Learn Now

A Day in the Life of a Screenwriter

Beth de Araújo

Screenwriter