Interview: Ashleigh Powell (2012 Black List) — Part 4
Ashleigh Powell hit it big in 2012 when she sold her dystopian thriller “Somacell” to Warner Bros, officially marking her entry into the ranks of professional screenwriter.
Today in Part 4, Ashleigh shares what it was like to sell a spec script and make the Black List.
Scott: What was the single most challenging aspect of writing “Somacell?”
Ashleigh: First of all, it was making sure that everything tracked, making sure it all made sense and it was coming across on the page in a way that even if readers didn’t necessarily know what was happening at the moment, they didn’t ever feel lost. And then figuring out how to get that ending just right. There’s a final twist that I really enjoyed. I knew it would probably be a point of contention, but I thought was important to the story and could make it really memorable.
Scott: It did. It’s a really surprising and, in a dark way, satisfying ending.
Ashleigh: Good. Personally, I like dark endings.
Scott: So you write this script. How did David Goyer get involved and what was the process whereby it ended up selling?
Ashleigh: I wrote the script. I was going out to a handful of producers that I had already met and had a relationship with. We gave it to an exec I actually knew from my assistant days — we were both on desks at the same time and were always scheduling meetings and calls for our respective bosses. He read it and liked it, but ultimately it wasn’t right for his company. But he passed it on to his wife to read… and she just happened to be David Goyer’s Creative Executive. So that’s how it got into his hands. Which was amazing. I was just thrilled for that. Then, simultaneously, Warner Bros. somehow ended up with it. No one on my team even knew they were reading it, and one evening they called up my agents and said, “Hey, we want to make a deal on this script tonight.” It was shocking moment. It took us all by surprise. It was just a random confluence of events.
Scott: Boy, does that speak to the power of writing a great script.
Ashleigh: It’s been really fun for me to hear that people are passing the script to their friends or to other executives on their own, without any intervention from my manager or agent or anything like that. It’s just working its way around. I’m thrilled.
Scott: Precisely where were you and what were you doing when you found out that Warner Bros. made an offer on the script?
Ashleigh: I was at my apartment. I was in the middle of doing laundry. I got this phone call. It’s everyone on my team. They’re like, “Ashleigh, sit down. Warner Bros. wants to make an offer on this script tonight. Hang tight and we’ll call you back.” That’s it. And then I paced around my apartment for a couple hours after that, frantically cleaning anything I could find, just to keep busy. Just staring at my phone and waiting for that phone call. But I think by seven o’clock that night, it was official. This crazy thing had actually happened and my life had changed forever.
Scott: Continuing in the good news vein, how did you find out you’d made the 2012 Black List?
Ashleigh: First of all, this was something that, back when I was an executive assistant and I first learned that the Black List even existed… It was a life goal for me. I was determined that I was going to make it on this list one day. So it’s been amazing to be included on it. This year. It really is something I can check off my bucket list, I guess. I didn’t find out until the morning that it was announced. My manager had said he thought that I might have a chance of making it on it. Apparently, I learned after the fact, my team already knew. Because I guess someone from the Black List had called to verify my information or something. But no one told me. So I was up early in the morning, on Twitter, watching as all of the names were tweeted at random. I learned in real time. It was a lot of fun.
Scott: Of course it happens right at the time when Hollywood shuts down for the holidays. But have you noticed a bump in activity or interest in you and the script since it made the Black List?
Ashleigh: Yeah. Since it’s sold I’ve been inundated with a bunch of general meetings, which has been a blast. It’s been really fun getting to know a lot of interesting people. I’m doing the water bottle tour. For a while there it was two meetings a day. I needed time to actually be productive and write, so now I’m down to one a day and I’m not sure that the end is in sight, yet. I’m definitely making my rounds.
Scott: OK, got to ask it. For aspiring writers out there who may have an opportunity like yours, what’s one lesson you’ve learned about the whole meet and greet tour?
Ashleigh: It took me a little while to be able to effectively communicate my point of view as a writer, to explain who I was and the type of material like to write. I think you want to pigeon‑hole yourself, which can counterintuitive for a lot of writers. For me personally, I’m interested in so many different types of stories, there’s a part of me that wants to say, “I want to write everything!” But that’s not helpful for an executive to hear. They don’t want a jack of all trades, they want a master of one. I think it’s just being very specific about how to sell yourself.
Scott: That’s true, I think. They’re very busy people, and so they do tend to lump writers into various genres or types. So that’s pretty smart to be thinking about what type of material you want to be known for. What type of genre do you want to write?
Ashleigh: I’ve learned to say, “grounded sci-fi and supernatural” stories. I like creating mythologies and building worlds, but keeping them relatable and recognizable; the world as we know it, but one thing is a little bit off.
Scott: You’re with Benderspink and Gersh?
Ashleigh: Yeah.
Scott: How’s that been working with your representatives?
Ashleigh: It’s been great. I have nothing but good things to say about all of them and I think they’re incredibly smart people, but also just genuinely nice people. It’s such a relief to hear, when I walk into a meeting, more often than not the executive will say, “Oh I know so-and-so and they’re just lovely. They’re actually good, caring people. They’re a pleasure to work with.” I think that goes a long way.
In Part 5, Ashleigh sheds some light on her approach to the craft of screenwriting.
For Part 1 of the series, go here
For Part 2, go here.
For Part 3, go here.
Please stop by comments to thank Ashleigh and ask any questions you may have.
Ashleigh is repped by the Gersh Agency and BenderSpink.
You may follow Ashleigh on Twitter: @SecretEnemyAsh.
Comment Archive