ISA Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch Interview With Zoë Hodge

Well, thank you for taking the time to speak with me today

And congratulations on being one of the 25 screenwriters to watch for the ISA

Very few. To get started, I'd love to hear a bit about your background and how you kind of got started in screenwriting

Yeah. So I, as I say, I've been writing my whole life

I went to perform art school for creative writing. And then in my senior year, I was like, trying to

to figure out where I was going to go for school. And I really love film, but then I really love variety because I don't want to

like not do one or not do the other. And then my mom was like, well, you know, you could do screenwriting

And I was like, oh. And I didn't realize like that was a thing that you could do. And it combined both of my interests

So I got my associates. And then I did my bachelor's at Fordham

And then I went to Royal Holloway for my master's. but because COVID it was online so I didn't get to go to London but the experience was still really cool

that's awesome so you loved movies and you loved writing and thanks to mom you realize that you could

do both um is there a a movie or or show or something that you wish you could have written

like that you just look at and you're like oh that's perfection um honestly I'd say shameless

my, I wish, like I never, a lot of times I don't have that moment that like, oh, I wish I could

have wrote this. But like, shameless, I've been watching it for the first time. And I think like

I'm only on season four right now, but I honestly think it's like the best thing I've ever seen

I had like a good show combination. Yeah. And like it combines like all of my favorite things

about TV and writing like in terms of like, you know, like the drama aspect and the romance aspect

but then also like the family aspect. And I just think like it's perfection

Like it really is one of my favorites. Yeah, there's definitely a lot of humor too

Yeah. It's a huge part of shameless. Awesome. So tell us a bit about the projects that you've worked on and are currently working on

Yeah. So the one that I, I guess my first, I'll say big project that got me a lot of accolades was

my TV dromedy called daffative guide to falling apart and that one's about this girl who is

seeking to reinvent her life after a failed suicide pact and that one's kind of like

I'll say that's my magnum opus at the moment just because it's like

like this part feels semi autobiographical I guess as I was writing on it was like this is like very healing

for me, and I didn't even realize it until I was right at working on it

And so I wrote that during my master's program. And so I got, you know, my first manager with that before, like, you know, she left the business

So that got me that. And then, you know, got me on to ISA's developments late as well

And so that was really like, I think after that I was like, okay, like I could do writing as a career

Like, it's possible. And so ever since then, you know, I've been doing a lot of, I love period pieces and like romantic dramas

Like romance is my favorite genre too, right? So everything I write has a little bit of romance in it

And so, you know, I've done a 90s queer period drama called Arliss

And, you know, that got me in eight on the blacklist. And I was like, oh, this is so exciting

And then I, this one I just wrote a rom-com flash, And that's what I won ISA's Table Read My Screenplay Contest with

And so that one was kind of like I guess an homage for my sister Just like something fun but also serious I guess so that talks about issues in the black community and things like that

And so I just really love doing, like, romance things, but then also adding, like, a little bit of depth to it

But then still keeping, like, a heart of, like, the character and journey in it

I love that. So I'd love to ask a few things about kind of your process and how you feel, you know

a lot of this can be very beneficial to people that are out there wanting to be in your shoes

screenwriters that, you know, haven't necessarily had any kind of breaks. So I'd love to ask a few aspects of it

One being, do you think it's important to get a manager early on? Because I noticed that you mentioned that and not everybody that I've talked to or not everybody I know does go that route

So I'm just wondering your opinion on that. And also how important is things like the ISA as far as their programs and stuff

In terms of the manager, I honestly don't know because I had my manager for maybe

it was a short period of time because I had just signed with her and then maybe like three months later

she decided to leave the business. So then I was managerless once again

So I didn't really get to root the benefits of having a manager. However, I will say that having like mentors is more important and having like a writing group

has been more beneficial for me than a manager, only because like, you know, the only difference

with the manager is that, you know, they get you writing work, which I haven't like paid writing

work, which I haven't had yet. However, they also like help you build your craft. And I feel like having a mentor and

having a writing group gives you that same benefit of building your craft and having that

support system. And so I think everybody says the manager will come to you. And I think

yes, that's true. But I think it doesn't matter what, like, if they come to you, if you reach

out to them, if you don't have samples and, like, good riding and confidence in your own writing

And I think that only comes with continuous riding and having that, like, support system. So I don't

I don't think of things. You did. No, actually, that's terrific advice. That was perfect

And so you mentioned mentors. So do you think, like, development slates and different things like that the ISA offer

has that been really valuable to you as far as coming, you know, strengthening your craft

Yeah, I think, like, with the ISA, their development slate that they have is always, like

it's always nice to be like, okay, I know somebody's, like, out there championing

my work for me while I'm like either too busy to do it or like trying to find like managing

agencies a lot of work because you have to do all the research and reach out and you know get like

the ignoring emails and rejection on that so it's nice knowing that I say is doing some of that work

for you and so it doesn't feel like as daunting um being like okay like I have to try and do some of this

myself because I know like somebody else is helping me with it um so yeah I feel like they've been

helpful with that. And then just like knowing that, you know, you can send them an email or

and set up a like a meeting and things like that. And like they'll, they're more than willing to

meet with you and discuss with you and like see how they can help you move forward, I guess

in the business. Yeah. I love that. So as far as your process in writing, to outline or not to

outline? I'm not going to lie. I love outlining. Only because, like, like

Like, for me, I'm like a very scattered, I'll say scattered writing in a sense that when I'm writing, I'll get an idea for something

I like oh and then I just start like typing that section out and then I forget the previous section And so like what I normally do is I start off with like a scene in my head I like I really want to have like a movie around the scene

And then I'll just create something around that. And that's kind of where I go from there

So, like, and that line helps me make sure the plot is still there while I, like, try to get to this one scene that I've been, like, working towards my, for the project

So I do like to outline. I know a lot of people don't, though. But I love it

Surprisingly, I've heard more of more outline when I've asked this question. Yeah

I know. I was starting to think, like, maybe I should outline more. Yeah

But see, I think it depends on the kind of outline you do. Like, I won't say, I don't have outlining sessions per se

I just, it's best to, like, just start writing. And then when you start getting, like, inspiration, then I have that separate document

I can just like, okay, now we can start outlining. Like, you have to be in the mood for it kind of thing

Yeah, it's true. Have you also written it in the way that you just kind of let your characters kind of speak and see where it goes

Have you had a project like that? Um, I will say, I don't know

I think, like, for me because I don't, um, I don't, um

I will say yes and no. Like for me, I'm very like scene focused

Like that's just how the first thing I think of as the scene, not necessarily the character

And so I guess I do base it up. Like I think of a scene. I'm like, okay, like how would this character react in it

But I do have like, okay, I know I for sure I want this character to like react this way to it

And so then I have to even have to like force them to do it. And sometimes, you know, they don't want to

And I'm just like, well, we'll make a way. work somehow. So if I, you know, change their character and things like that to fit it, I will

most of the time. So we talked about shameless. Is there any, are there any screenwriters or any

films just in general, even before you were writing scripts that really inspired you or

that you just love and would like to show? Yeah. Well, A Bronxdale is my favorite movie of all time

my mom made me watch it, but then I never remembered it. And then, like, I watched it again years when I was, I was, like, 12 or something

And then I was like, this is everything. Like, it has the romance and the drama aspect and the family aspect

which I guess it's like my three things that I write is romance drama and, like, family

friendship, that kind of stuff. So I guess the Bronx tale for sure

And then Moonlight, of course, like, I feel like every single black writer was changed

was everything light. And so like definitely that. And then Lars and the Real Girl was like life changing for me as well

Another movie I watched when I was young. And I just think it was just like perfect and like the whimsical sense

Like it just feels like bright and like alive. And I just really love that movie so much

So yeah. Yeah. It's a great way to describe. movie actually. Yeah

Awesome. So are you working on anything right now or is there anything

in development for you? Yeah, I'm working on my first, I'm like a writer

and director, so I wrote a adaptation of Dorian Gray. And so

I'm, it's like race and gender vent. So I'm in the process

of like turning it into I guess like figuring out how to get it

produced so I can direct it and that would be like my feature debut I guess so as a movie or

TV yeah yeah as a movie okay that really interesting great story I mean great you know bones with Dore and Gray exactly Yeah So I really excited for that one And then I have excuse me I working on like another

I just watched this movie called Femm. I can't remember the director of it

but I think it's Sam Freeman maybe. But it's like this British, like, erotic revenge thriller kind of thing

And so I wanted to write like a, another kind of thriller movie

And so I'm writing another one called Mariam Down the River. And it's about like this

trans woman and she kidnaps her younger sister because she like doesn't want her to move away from her

And it's like about the journey that they go on. But it's really about like a sisterly relationship. So that's my next. That's my current stuff

Yeah, you said Thriller and I was like, oh, she's moving away from family. And then no. Yeah

Yeah. Yeah. that's awesome. So you're very busy, it sounds like. You're trying to start to stay busy. Yeah. That's the way to be

Awesome. Well, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me. This has been a lot of fun

And I guess just final, final question would be if you have any advice for anybody that's

a screenwriter that's questioning whether or not they're any good and should apply to things like this

because, I mean, just from everybody I've spoken with in this, so far, in this 25

really talks about how important, you know, things like this have been for their career

getting more involved, applying to things, whether it be contests or, you know

development slates or anything like that. Yeah. So yeah. Yeah. I'd say, for me, when I first started, I was applying to everything

And it's good because, you know, it helps. build up the, you know, the rejection. Like, you can, you're getting used to rejection. Um

but I think as you go on, like, you start to, like, do more research and think, okay, what do I

want from this competition if I were to win? And is this reward worth, like, you know, the months

long of waiting to maybe a rejection kind of thing? And so I think for me, which is why I applied

for, like, a table read, you know, I was like, I want this project to have something and, like

to have a table read or something because it's like very personal and like fun for me

And so that's, which is why I apply. So I think don't just apply to things

just because everybody's saying to apply or like, oh, you know, it's a big fellowship

and everybody just apply to them. Maybe just apply to things that you feel

that you personally like would benefit from and that you want the reward because it will be good for your project

I guess, as opposed to, oh, this is going to help my career which is why I want to win it kind of thing

Right. Yeah, that makes perfect sense. And actually, how was the table read

What did that, what was that like? It was really, it was very exciting

We, I was actually, like, going to a festival for my film that got into, like, Outfest

And so I was doing, like, both room at the same time. And so I was doing, like, a table read

And, you know, we would meet every day on Zoom and, like, we would discuss the project

And, like, they'd be like, oh, go rewrite this. scene. And they're like, okay. And then I like rewrite it and send it and like the actors are

just like immediately get it. And it was just like, oh, so this is like what

A writing experience is like when you're like essentially like making a movie. And then like

watching it live is just like very like, oh like we put our energy into this. And like it's here

and it's happening. So it was like real. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's amazing. Well, congratulations

on all of those things. That's really amazing. And I look forward to seeing your projects on the

screen, especially excited about that Doreen Gray one, too. Yeah. But thank you for speaking with me, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day, and

congrats again. Thanks. Bye. Bye