Author Ingrid St. John: Why we should expand the movement for urban farming
The ideas are not new however, I would like to help with urban farming, and seeing that every state has clean running water. Homelessness is rising, and creating affordable, sustainable housing is happening but should be happening at a faster rate. It would be awesome to include urban farming and clean water irrigation into the sustainable housing umbrella. Life skills classes, and various art programs for high school students would be awesome as well.
I had the pleasure to interview Ingrid St. John. Ingrid is an author, screenwriter, founder & CEO of 1287 Pictures. Ingrid is currently working on an untitled graphic novel and a sequel to HaUNTED. In her spare time she loves to collect vinyl and secretly would like to be featured on “What’s In My Bag?”
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
In sixth grade I wrote a Dynasty-esque soap opera and had my friends read the parts during recess. I loved Dynasty and The Edge of Night. They were glamorous, campy and fun and I wanted to write something like it. One of my friends said I should keep writing however, my mother went through my book bag and threw my soap opera away, which prompted me to keep writing in secret. In high school I wrote a screenplay about 1920s gangsters after watching The Cotton Club and Harlem Nights, just to see if I could. By the time I turned 21 I had written a few music video treatments and had some poems published through a creative writing program at a city college I attended. HaUNTED has brought everything full circle today.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
An indirect sequel to HaUNTED.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Please live your life. Have hobbies, do other things outside your craft because it will nourish your craft.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Thank you. The ideas are not new however, I would like to help with urban farming, and seeing that every state has clean running water. Homelessness is rising, and creating affordable, sustainable housing is happening but should be happening at a faster rate. It would be awesome to include urban farming and clean water irrigation into the sustainable housing umbrella. Life skills classes, and various art programs for high school students would be awesome as well.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
I don’t have stories for all so it will be a mix of share and advice…
- Have great writing habits — it is an ongoing process and lifetime commitment.
- Take the right workshops and classes on writing, strengthen your craft.
- Keep everything you have written — when I was younger my soap opera was thrown away. Even if I never revisit my former works, it is great to see how far I’ve come.
- You are not a failed writer because you caught a case of writer’s block — it happens, walk away for awhile, you will get your mojo back. You’ll be glad you did and will have fresh thoughts.
- Read, read, read scripts. Learn structure, tone, pacing and style.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. — Maya Angelou
This is my favorite quote because when we get in our own way we miss out on what could have been. Pursue your passion otherwise you will regret it.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
A gentleman by the name of JD Washington. It was a few years back and we were shooting the breeze about corporate world, life and various topics. He asked what my real passion was. I mentioned that I am a writer and I wanted to incorporate a film company into the fold and I was researching how to obtain an LLC. He offered to help and he did and today I have my LLC. In retrospect he was my angel investor just from a simple conversation and I will be forever grateful for that.
Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Kevin Smith. He exudes sincerity in his work, and he does not conform to fit a certain mold. From his comics (Cacophony, is a favorite) to his films Tusk, Chasing Amy and now the return of Jay and Silent Bob, it shows that there will always be an audience who will love what you create regardless if it has a mainstream or cult following.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
I am on Twitter: @ingridstjohn and Facebook: St.John.Ingrid
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!