Former York countian-turned-screen-writer Laurice Elehwany: How to make it as a writer
In a March 10, 1995, story, The York Daily Record tells about the then-upcoming “The Brady Bunch Movie,” written by former York countian Laurice Elehwany. Background posts: Cameron Mitchell, Craig Sheffer, Dixie Chick born here and Artist Jeff Koons came back to York for a show and Add another to list of entertainers with York links.
“Until she was 13, Laurice Elehwany lived a few miles outside Spring Grove. She swam in Lake Pahagaco. She ate cotton candy at the York Fair. She directed her neighborhood friends in skits she devised. And she watched ‘The Brady Bunch’ on TV. Today 30-year-old Elehwany lives in Hollywood and writes screenplays. She achieved her first success three years ago with ‘My Girl.’ Now she can also lay claim to the current hit ‘The Brady Bunch Movie.’ ”
That’s how a York Daily Record story in 1995 introduced local-girl-made-good Laurice Elehwany.
The recent Jefferson Carnival reminded me of Elehwany, successful in Hollywood but almost forgotten around York County.
She small-town setting in “My Girl” was based on her memories of Jefferson borough in southwestern York County, according to the Daily Record… .
As part of that 1995 article, Elehwany provide tips about “How to make it as a writer”:
So you want to live in Hollywood and write movies for the stars?
If you really want to write screenplays, Laurice Elehwany believes you must, after you develop your writing skills, be persistent. You must also move to Los Angeles.
“If you want to be successful, you’ve got to go where the film industry is. You have got to be here, because you need to build contacts.” She also recommends you go to film school.
“Going to film school is a help but not a necessity. I know lots of people who never went, but you do need to learn basic film-writing structure somewhere. You need to know how character and dialogue are developed.” Film school, she said, also provides an excellent opportunity to meet people who are working in the movie business.
Without contacts, she explained, you won’t find anyone willing to read your work. Later, after you’ve established a name for yourself, you might be able to live somewhere else.
Not that she’s complaining. She feels very lucky, and much of the time she makes her own schedule. “When you’re working on a project, it can be very intense. I usually take three to four months to finish a script. When I finish, I can take off for a while.”
Writing scripts has taken some of the pleasure from watching movies. “I don’t watch movies anymore. I analyze them.” This year, she did find one she loved. “I thought “Quiz Show’ was an excellent movie.”
Caption/Lead: So you want to live in Hollywood and write movies for the stars?
If you really want to write screenplays, Laurice Elehwany believes you must, after you develop your writing skills, be persistent. You must also move to Los Angeles.
