Interview: Nikole Beckwith (2012 Nicholl Winner, 2012 Black List) — Part 4

Nikole Beckwith’s original screenplay, the gripping drama “Stockholm, Pennsylvania” won a 2012 Nicholl Fellowship and a spot on the 2012 Black List.

Nikole was kind enough to agree to an interview and we had a probing conversation about her background, her award-winning screenplay, and her unique insight into the craft of screenwriting given her background as an actor, musician and playwright.

Today in Part 4, Nikole discusses the Hollywood ‘bottle water’ tour, the current status of “Stockholm, Pennsylvania,” and what it was like to make the Black List:

Scott: In your acceptance speech you noted one of the most profound benefits was the affirmation that you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing with your life, writing. You said, “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can receive, that knowledge.” Could you elaborate on that, why that was so impactful to you, this affirmation with the Nicholl.

Nikole: I think everybody feels this way. I think especially artists of any kind with our sensitive, sensitive souls. It’s an amazing gift to be assured that you’re on the right road, you’re doing the thing that you’re best at. I think, in many ways, that’s all you want to hear. You’re doing the thing that you’re best at. I don’t have to succeed at it. I don’t even have to make a living doing it. I certainly plan to and hope to. But just to know that I am doing what I’m best at is success in itself, because it allows you to commit and move forward and to not worry. And maybe someday I will have health insurance. Maybe someday I will have money to pay my dentist. But even if I don’t, at least I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.

Scott: Well, moving into the realm of dental plans and 401Ks, there is the business side of screenwriting and you signed with, as I understand it, ICM and Dan Halsted in management. Is that correct?

Nikole: Yeah, I was with them before “The Fellowship” actually.

Scott: Through your playwriting?

Nikole: Yeah, through my playwriting which is also lovely because The Fellowship was a real whirlwind, and it was crazy. It was lovely to have the support of ICM and Management. They believed in me regardless of the Nicholl. They were thrilled for me when it happened, and they made my time in Los Angeles extremely productive. It was great. I feel very lucky. They were an incredible resource for me while I was out there. Also it is grounding and reassuring to know that I had them in my corner before.

They really know my work, and they really know me. That was great. It was something we all got to celebrate together also. They were really thrilled. I was really thrilled. I was thrilled that they were thrilled. Yeah, that was great.

Scott: Did you do a round of general meetings out there in Los Angeles?

Nikole: Definitely. I did tons of meetings. I drank more bottled water than I thought was humanly possible.

Scott: [laughs]

Nikole: I understand that that’s why the Granola bar was invented. Put a snack in your backpack. [laughs] Your blood sugar is going to drop. Yeah, I was in meetings a lot, and that was great. I had an incredible time. I really connected with the people I was talking to and meeting with. Los Angeles is less of a scary, unknown place. There are a lot of friendly faces for me there.

Scott: I’m curious, was there a common thread in their reactions to “Stockholm, Pennsylvania”?

Nikole: Yeah, I think everybody really responded to the characters and the conflict. What I heard a lot was that people hadn’t read a script like that before, which is great. That’s what I guess I was aiming to do. You want to cultivate a voice or a point of view that is distinct. That’s what I was hearing. That was nice.

Scott: What’s the status on “Stockholm Pennsylvania”?

Nikole: Well, we are going to make it. I’ve signed on as the director, which is really exciting, I’m over the moon about that. We have some financing, which is also exciting and I am headed to LA again this week for my final lap of meetings with potential creative producers. I know it’s a puzzle. It’s a really intricate constellation that you put together in order to make a movie. And right now that assembly is almost as fun as writing the script was.

Scott: I’m sure it doesn’t hurt making the Black List.

Nikole: That was amazing. That was honestly like a fantasy. I was like, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if this happened?” I didn’t actually expect it to happen. It did and that was like an incredible, wonderful affirmation that I should dedicate the next however many years of my life to getting this movie made. It’s nice to have that, “Keep going, this is worth it.” That’s what I’m doing. The Nicholl really affirmed for me that I should be writing films. I should be doing this and so that’s what I’m doing. The Black List really affirmed for me is that “Stockholm, Pennsylvania” is a film that should be made.

Tomorrow in Part 5, Nikole shares some insights into her approach to the writing craft.

For Part 1, go here.

For Part 2, go here.

For Part 3, go here.

Please stop by comments to thank Nikole and ask any questions you may have.

Nikole is repped by ICM Partners and Manage-Ment.

Twitter: @nikolebeckwith.