Spring Break
OSU graduate, screenwriter of 'The Rookie' visits Austin Entrepreneurs
Practice makes perfect for screenwriter Mike Rich who graduated from Oregon State, directed "The Rookie," "Finding Forrester"
Melissa Petersen
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: News
Now, Rich writes five days out of the week - four hours each day - and takes the weekends off. He believes that it's good to have time off.
The hours Rich spends writing include no distractions, just pure, intense writing. Even though he has weekends off, he always carries a small notebook with him to jot down dialogue as it comes to him.
With each story, Rich also puts in a bit of research.
"If it's based on a real life individual, I will fly out there to meet with them for more than just a day or two. I will meet with friends, family, etc. One of the great things is meeting people I never would've met," said Rich.
His inspiration for "Finding Forrester" came from exploration.
"During an interview we were talking about the great writers and how reclusive they were and how nobody got through the wall," Rich said.
"For me it was, what if somebody got through the wall?"
The story of "The Rookie" became attractive to Rich, because it was similar to his own story.
"[Jim Morrison was a] high school teacher pursuing the crazy notion of becoming a pitcher. I was a radio announcer with the crazy notion of becoming a screenwriter. The stories I'm attracted to are of ordinary people doing extraordinary things."
Currently, Rich is involved in an ongoing movie project.
"I'm back in the Disney camp again. I've worked with Disney for four movies now," he said.
He is currently working on a movie about Secretariat - one of the last horses to win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
"You don't have to worry about where you're going. You can make a change at any time. Look at me, I was in my thirties when I wrote 'Finding Forrester.'"
Melissa Petersen, news writer
new@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
The hours Rich spends writing include no distractions, just pure, intense writing. Even though he has weekends off, he always carries a small notebook with him to jot down dialogue as it comes to him.
With each story, Rich also puts in a bit of research.
"If it's based on a real life individual, I will fly out there to meet with them for more than just a day or two. I will meet with friends, family, etc. One of the great things is meeting people I never would've met," said Rich.
His inspiration for "Finding Forrester" came from exploration.
"During an interview we were talking about the great writers and how reclusive they were and how nobody got through the wall," Rich said.
"For me it was, what if somebody got through the wall?"
The story of "The Rookie" became attractive to Rich, because it was similar to his own story.
"[Jim Morrison was a] high school teacher pursuing the crazy notion of becoming a pitcher. I was a radio announcer with the crazy notion of becoming a screenwriter. The stories I'm attracted to are of ordinary people doing extraordinary things."
Currently, Rich is involved in an ongoing movie project.
"I'm back in the Disney camp again. I've worked with Disney for four movies now," he said.
He is currently working on a movie about Secretariat - one of the last horses to win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
"You don't have to worry about where you're going. You can make a change at any time. Look at me, I was in my thirties when I wrote 'Finding Forrester.'"
Melissa Petersen, news writer
new@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Comments by registered users are approved by default.